All Hail The Aero-Heroes of 2007!

It is both the most "fun," and most difficult, task facing the ANN staff at the end of every year -- determining who, or what, did the most to promote the cause of aviation in the past 365 days... while also chastising those people or entities that did all they could to undermine the many successes the aviation/aerospace community has managed to accomplish.

Thankfully, 2007 was a year in which we saw the best and brightest among us step forward and work tirelessly on behalf of us all. No doubt about it... the challenges we faced in 2007 were numerous, and ongoing... so was the quality of expertise and passion brought to our defense by those who heroically demonstrated to the world the very best side of aviation... via their deeds, words and actions.

It is ANN's honor to recognize a solid dozen of our Aero-Heroes for 2007... in something of an informal order, starting from 12th to the 1st. Let us know what you think of our selections... whom YOU would have liked be included or omitted from such a list. In the meantime, we thank the folks who made this year's list. Thank you, folks... we really needed you this year, and you didn't let us down.

From the Hero's List #3: NBAA's Ed Bolen

Few people got to work the "hot seat" this year, as did Ed Bolen... who, as the head of NBAA, fought many a battle on behalf of business aviation when it became a popular whipping boy for an airline industry looking for a convenient villain (not to mention a cheap shot).

Face it, the airlines tried to kick the crap out of business aviation by portraying the whole bizjet industry as a rich boy's toy chest and flogged the media and public opinion with an intellectually flawed rich v. poor game plan. Their tactics were often riddled with hyperbole, error, and misdirection... and it soon became obvious that the embattled airline industry was willing to burn anyone and everyone it could in order to get what they wanted. But, NBAA (and others) sprang into action with a classy, reasoned, and thoroughly credible approach that shot down the airline innuendo with great accuracy and followed through with extensive outreach/education of the media folks who seemed prepared at one point to swallow what ATA and the airlines were handing out.  

This has been a tough fight, folks, mostly because it has to be waged on a number of fronts... and particularly between those in the media and those with leadership roles in the government. It took exceptional organization, extensive expertise with both camps, and a thoughtful, reasoned approach to break through all the "BS" and reveal the airline stories for what they were... pure fiction. NBAA has a tough sell when it comes to trying to get the sympathy of the public or our law-makers... I mean, how sympathetic does a guy look when he's trying to defend his RIGHT to fly his business jet around the country?

BUT... when you realize that the CEO trying to use that business jet is doing so in order to make sure that business is done, jobs are maintained and/or created, and the commerce of the nation continues unimpeded; then you know how critical the battle was that NBAA continues to wage... It isn't just about allowing businesses to use airplanes the way that they'd like... it's about protecting critical tools of inestimable value to the financial well-being of this country. THAT, my friends is an immense responsibility and Ed Bolen continues to prove he's got the right stuff to do the job. 

FMI: www.nbaa.org