News/Analysis and Opinion By ANN Editor-In-Chief/CEO Jim Campbell

Tho' much is taken, much abides; and tho'
We are not now that strength which in old days
Moved earth and heaven, that which we are, we are;
One equal temper of heroic hearts,
Made weak by time and fate, but strong in will
To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield.

Ulysses by Alfred Lord Tennyson

Hi folks…

It's been a while since I pontificated via ‘Barnstorming,’ but it's been kinda busy here as we continue to build up back everything in the aftermath of a tough couple of years, and as we reflect aggressively on the state of aviation.

Do not mistake my silence for disinterest…

But more as a time to reflect, strategize, and build on the platforms that I started with Aero-News, Kindred Spirit Press, Airborne, the Hoover Foundation, and other projects.

As a matter of fact; after nearly 50 years of writing about aviation, and utilizing a fair part of that to speak out on behalf of all things aeronautical, I think my best work is yet to come, or at least, SHOULD be yet to come… And with that a whole lot of attitude.

Let me explain.

I have observed over half a century of the aviation world since soloing a glider on a COLD and blustery day in Northern New Jersey… And in that time, I expected great things to happen for us all, and have been sorely disappointed when they didn’t.

We’re losing too many battles for issues that concern us all, while they unfortunately contribute to our increasingly poor positioning for the future. We’re losing airports. Media pillories us. Aircraft numbers continue to decline. We’re killing pilots with the same kind of accidents we were killing them with when I started in this business. We have amazing new technology, and extraordinary airframes… But they're too rare, too expensive, and the regulatory environment becomes more restrictive by the day, giving us less and less as we try to utilize them all in our lives.

The pivotal power structures/leaders that I looked up to, as I entered into aviation, have mostly abrogated their responsibility to speak up, kick butt where necessary, and earn their keep. It didn't happen overnight, but over time, looking good became more important than doing good.

And to say that I remain disappointed is beyond true explanation.

There have been some really bad steppingstones as aviation lost its footing.

When FAA was robbed of its responsibility to promote the industry it regulated, we lost ground.

When the FAA allowed Chicago to destroy Meig's field with nary a whimper, we lost ground.

When the regulatory workload to certify or even sign off the simplest things became a war of complexity and butt-covering, we lost ground.

When the FAA turned its back on Santa Monica Airport, and despite aviation’s near universal disapproval, still seems intent on allowing political morons to destroy an aviation jewel in Southern California, we not only lost ground, but it became apparent that we lost any real backing from the FAA as regards our collective future.

As we try to wrap her brains around the digital age, we see so-called "influencers" posting blogs and videos, many of whom are expressing expertise they clearly do not have, rushing to judgment about crashes and other tragedies in aviation within days or hours of the accident (and long before all the facts are truly known), and making pronouncements that they clearly do not have the expertise to undertake… And boy, do we lose ground with all this misinformation, hype, 'Bravo-Sierra', and click bait.

There's SO much more… I can probably give you the better part of 100 issues in which we lost ground, and in which there were exceptional opportunities to either make it up or build something better as a result. And we blew it.

Why? Aviation… Is not as organized as it once was.

It does not fight for itself, as it once did.

It is not led, as well, as it once was.

The sense of community, especially that which I saw in the 90s as we fought to get Bob Hoover back in the air, has all but disappeared. Our elected officials and the media look on private aviation as a distraction, a toy for the rich, and spew forth voluminous amounts of errant garbage, using us, more often than not, as a whipping boy to get something else that they want no matter what it does to us all in the process.

I'm tired of this.

I am brutally tired of this.

But as you know, I'm just one guy with a big mouth, a fair amount of insight/expertise and a unique platform… I promise you that my heart has always been in the right place – meaning that I’ve always been looking to help build a future in which aviation can prosper for you - and all those who follow.

Okay… So, I'm working on a few things, at the moment… with much more to come.  

I have again taken on the leadership of the Bob Hoover Legacy Foundation, even though it's the last thing my workload would seem to allow… Both because I think the Foundation has a lot to offer aviation (with the right direction and programming), and because of my endearing friendship with Bob and my obligation to do the right thing on his behalf. The BHLF has the potential to do amazing things, and it’s my job to make sure it realizes that potential.

We are finally really, truly, aggressively, at work on a whole new generation of SportPlane Resource Guides. It's like nothing we've EVER done before, taking advantage of all things digital… But for those of you struggling to find a way to afford to fly, to afford aircraft ownership, and to truly enjoy all that aviation allows, the upcoming digital edition of the SportPlane Resource Guide (eSPRG) may be the most powerful, evolving, tool we can offer you. We will have a lot more to say about this as we go forward, but you will see the first steps in the upcoming year-long project to build the eSPRG right after the Christmas.

And after that, stand back… You've been warned.

I swear to you, in no uncertain terms, that what we have in mind for this thing is truly amazing – and will grow by the day.

Additionally, Aero-News continues to grow, he continues to take on new capabilities, new partnerships, new programs and projects, and continue to out-innovate every other aviation media offering extant. But this year we’re making some big steps forward, both in terms of content and programs, but also in sticking our nose into every aspect of aviation that is showing its age, showing its weakness, and not holding up its obligation to support those who dream of flight. And we’re going to aggressively work on behalf of an aviation future that can grow with us all…

There's so much I need to say here… But what I guess I'm really trying to say is that I refuse to stand idly by and watch aviation take any more kicks in the ass, watch aviation be maligned by folks who don't know us, don't care about us, and do not wish us well; and if you thought we were active, in speaking up for aviators everywhere, before (even to the point of being a little obnoxious about it -- for all the right reasons), then… you ain't seen nothing yet.

I have much more to say in the coming weeks, in the meantime I am working my butt off on a whole raft of projects and fully expect the upcoming year to be our most amazing yet… Even as Aero-News turns 26 years of age. I hope we will have your support. But more important, I hope we will have your input. I am working, right now, with the most talented people I know, picking their brains, and utilizing their support wherever I possibly can, and the current effort is but the tip of the iceberg…

Aviation is too valuable, too extraordinary, too inspirational, and of such pivotal importance to those of us who share the dream, to let it all be washed away by neglect, ignorance, and false witness.

To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield…

FMI: jim@aero-news.net