OK... Fasten Your Seatbelts, Turbulence Ahead --And Time To Rock 'n Roll!

The first generation of ANN, introduced over the course of a number of aggressive and unique iterations, is about to come to an end -- to be supplanted by something -- well, wonderful.

Revolutionary, even.

No kidding.

Before we start the hype, let me state something up front. This is a VERY fluid plan. The ultimate target is well-defined but the execution has been designed right from day one to be as flexible as the ever-changing new-media world demands that it MUST be. And... while many of our plans for ANN 10.0 are fairly well diagrammed at this point, we're definitely looking for additional ideas, clues and suggestions as to what YOU want out of ANN from here on out. So... consider this our request/plea/groveling session for ANN readers and listeners worldwide to chime in on what they think might make a better ANN. We have a clear idea of the direction we need to take to move ANN along its proper path -- but YOUR input will keep us on target throughout the journey. So, don't be bashful... let us have it ... tell us what you think -- the good, the bad, the whole enchilada. 

Let me make something else very clear about ANN 10.0. It is not a single upgrade -- it's a massive shift in thinking and execution. It represents our plans for the next decade of ANN and the growth we believe necessary for both this news service as well as the aviation world, overall. EVERYTHING is on the table, EVERYTHING is due for some manner of upgrade... and we expect to set very high marks for user customization, new-media services, and expanded coverage in a number of exciting venues... and that's just the tip of the iceberg. We've never raised the bar this high before and we've never had as much work cut out for us as we do now... and (best of all) we're looking forward (admittedly, with much fear and trepidation) to every second of it.

What are we doing? Well, it's hard to describe -- but let me put it this way -- we're NOT just continuing to lead the aviation industry in terms of our journalistic efforts... it is our desire to take a lead among all media companies in the adoption of new technologies, new programs, new ideas and most important of all... delivering valued news and information services to our international constituency in the most immediate and valued ways imaginable. ANN once shook up the world of aviation with a new mode of news-dissemination and information provision... now we're preparing to shake up things throughout the entire new-media world with the adoption and establishment of a whole new generation of journalism and information services... dedicated, in our case, to the aviation and aerospace world.

Folks, we're gonna toss the better part (or more) of a half-million dollars at this project... so be sure to let us know what you think, what you need and what else we might do for you so we can dial all that into the action plan as we proceed with this monstrosity.

I don't want to spill too many of the beans since so much of what's coming is destined to be copied like nearly everything else we've done... but do understand this, we're raising the bar as high as we can and we're not letting up for a second. You'll see the first major signs of this by mid-summer when a few of our first-line projects see the light of cyberspace... and we hope you'll be enthused enough to be a part of the process with your ideas, criticism, and thoughts. ANN has always been about what YOU want, and that won't change.

OK... enough of the sales pitch (for now)...

Let's talk about some of the things we've discussed over the past year and fill you in on where we stand.

A New Home For ANN

With the growth we've already committed to and more currently underway, its obvious that we'll outgrow our home digs in no time flat... and in light of the very poor business atmosphere we'd found so close to Lakeland (where the sky, may indeed, be falling...), it's time to give Polk County the heave-ho. And so we did. Without regret.

SO... we moved a few weeks ago to what should be our second-to-last home.

This is not yet our final move. A permanent home for ANN should not be committed to lightly and we're going to spend some time looking over the 200+ offers and invitations we've received to see where ANN-HQ might eventually wind up. We are still actively seeking info about a possible permanent home for ANN and have already identified some excellent prospects and we look forward to researching them carefully. We were amazed at the quality and quantity of the pitches we received about our possible relocation and look forward to finding a home that welcomes our business, celebrates the very best of aviation and offers a climate in which ANN can grow and prosper... unlike Polk County, FL -- which has lost out on this whole gig in a big way. ANN's master plan calls for the creation of some 30 part and full-time jobs in the not too distant future... jobs that will NOT go to those under the thumb of Polk County and Lakeland's myopic government officials and all those who turned a blind eye to the problems that could have been fixed long ago.

In the meantime, though, we've got great new digs that put us right on a lovely little airpark a ways up North, with a great home office, a nice big hangar right outside the door. We're looking forward to enjoying that kind of that experience once again (having lived on an airport about 20 years ago and loved every minute of it). We'll keep you advised about that process as we experience it.

SportPlane Resource Guide

We are, indeed, developing the Third Edition of the world-renowned SportPlane Resource Guide. After some difficulty in finding the right people to edit various parts of the project, we're on track with the first of what will be a TWO-VOLUME set in order to accommodate all the data we think needs to be included in what we unabashedly expect to be the world's most authoritative resource to all things SportPlane.

We're not taking any shortcuts with this critter. We're going to do it right, rather than right now... but thanks to the creative input we're receiving from a number of talented partners and friends (including the folks at EAA), this next edition should be something pretty incredible.

Schedules, prices and details will be released shortly.

The Ongoing Sun 'n Fun Debacle

ANN is a professional news organization and no matter how unprofessional the conduct of those with whom we must interface, maintaining the proper ethical and journalistic protocols is a requirement that we will not compromise. That said, we'll cover the upcoming Sun 'n Fun 2007 event as best as we can, and as well as we think it deserves to be covered... which (for now) means that we will include it as part of our special event coverage.

However; this event is sinking so fast that 2007 may be the last year we devote special coverage to this event. Vendors are pulling out (and many more are ready to do so... including some MAJOR companies); the complaints continue to mount; we've gotten thousands of notes, calls and comments from our readers signaling an intent to either abandon the event altogether or significantly curtail their attendance; and the many problems and excesses we've detailed continue unabated -- and in some cases -- seem to be getting worse. If this continues, ANN will elect to curtail our coverage of this declining event and devote our considerable and valuable resources to more deserving events. ANN's coverage should be devoted to the subjects, topics and issues that matter... not those that are letting aviation down.

On the issue of Sun 'n Fun's ridiculous and embarrassing attempt to subvert proper journalistic processes through the banning, harassment and threats toward (ANN's own Editor-In Chief Jim Campbell) a vocal critic (not only to shut him up, but reportedly as a warning to others who may attempt to confront this organization with its many problems), ANN is electing to continue to fight the issue, legally and ethically, in a manner that does not interfere with the more important roles we need to fulfill. We have attempted to deal with this quietly, of late, in order to alleviate further damage to the reputation of the aviation community as a result of the embarrassing conduct of this arrogant and pitifully unethical organization, but recent talks with several reporters at a major Journalistic confab (some of whom had actually won the Pulitzer) leads us to believe that the conduct of the SnF organization, their arrogance, their lack of ethical standing, their many lies and deceptions and their continued attempts to defeat the treasured tenets of the US Constitution require a more aggressive response. Sun 'n Fun's actions are an embarrassment to aviation and to America -- and should not be ignored -- and so we will confront and fight for our RIGHT to cover this as event as WE choose, and NOT as the arrogant egos of SnF would dictate.

NO OTHER AERO-EVENT has ever banned a journalist like this (much less one who has been such a vocal critic), no other Aero-Event has ever given ANN such grief -- and indeed, Campbell (in particular) can't keep up with the hundreds of invites he receives each year to attend, cover, report on and participate in same. Only SnF seems to find him (or more to the point, his criticism) unwelcome.

So, whatever the pitiful excuse of the day is for their banning efforts, the ultimate reason is clear -- SnF is foolishly and inexplicably attempting to dissuade criticism by punishing the critic... rather than dealing with the salient issues being championed. Any other reason is disproven by the fact that nowhere else in the aero-world is this behavior repeated, and nowhere else in the aero-world is such behavior condoned (AOPA, in a letter addressing the issue, not only notes that they would never ban a journalist from one of their events, but being the kind of organization that they are means that they don't have to...)

SnF is acting (we believe) illegally, unethically, reprehensibly and shamefully, and they are an embarrassment to all who love aviation. So... what to do about it all before it comes crashing down on itself and hurts aviation even more in the process?

Good question. See below...

Aero-Fest

So... that cool Aero-Fest idea, the one where we talked about trying to put together a new generation of Fly-Ins for an ever-changing aviation world -- what happened to it? Did we give up? Did SnF terrorize us into silence? Did we get bought off into quieting down?

Nope... ya gotta know us MUCH better than that by now.

Answer: we studied it, we researched it, we developed it carefully and we have done a phenomenal amount of due-diligence to see if such an event is not only feasible... but in the best/true interests of aviation.

Well... here's the upshot... it IS feasible. It is IS in the best interests of aviation... but it worried the hell out of us in regards to the immense investment in time and resources we would have to commit in order to make it happen. ANN is going well... it's growing like weeds, it's doing amazing things and even more amazing things are in store... and we love every bit of it. So -- as much as we love the idea of Aero-Fest and as much as we have come to believe in it as something that can do a world of good for aviation, we worried greatly that such an effort would take so much of our time and resources that ANN would be harmed as a result.

This brought everything to a hesitation point. When you have something truly good and special and very much on the go; the last thing you want to do is screw it up. So... it got set aside for a bit... to be studied and digested until a solution could be found.

And yet, the solution was right in front of us... through the many comments, complaints and inputs we have received from throughout the industry about this issue. Some of those came from acknowledged experts in the business... people who have been pivotal members of such programs and people whose heads and hearts are in this to try to do something positive and proper for the aero-world. So... we're in the process of reaching agreements with some VERY talented persons, with solid credentials and backgrounds -- as well as a desire to build something AMAZING for the aero-biz, to join us and undertake an agenda that we are formalizing right now. We can't do it all... at least not right now... but with the right friends and partners to help lead the way, the impossible becomes merely another difficult goal to surmount. That's what ANN has always been about...

So... expect announcements and a 'take-no-prisoners' release in the not too distant future as we sign up some of the best folks we can find and put them to work on something that we truly believe needs to be done... ASAP.

ANN's Air Force

ANN's Air Force has been beating up the skies whenever I get home enough to get out to play. The Glasair III is turning out to be a great airplane and a challenging beast to master. I can't tell you how exhilarating it is to have something this fast and responsive available whenever I can find the time to head for the ether. And talk about a GREAT way to clear out some cobwebs... wahoo!

We are looking for a good recommendation by the way, for a solid company or person who does homebuilt interior work... the bird is so gorgeous in so many respects that the still-to-be-replaced and worn out headliner and carpeting REALLY detract from it. If anyone has a good recommendation for someone who can do a solid job on bringing the interior of this bird up to snuff, we'd like to hear from you.

ANN will have to undertake the purchase of a business airplane shortly... one devoted to the travel needs of this increasingly mobile company and ready to be dispatched at a moment's notice to pursue the stories and features YOU need to stay informed. It's gotta have solid IFR dispatch capability and reliability, we need at least four seats (and payload to match) and some mode of anti- or de-ice capability would seem to be a good step up. Like all companies, we're looking at what the budget allows and the real missions we need to fulfill. We'll keep you updated on how that process goes and what we learn from it. 

Spring/Summer Stringers

Summer is coming upon us rapidly... and with it, our annual invite for ANN readers to join the ANN staff as a stringer for one of the several special events we cover each year... most notably, of course... Oshkosh.

A few of our former stringers now work, full or part-time, for Aero-News... others have created great opportunities for themselves as a result of working with ANN. But... it's time, once again, to break in a few "newbies." If you have always wanted to see these events "from the inside," and you can write expertly and take photos, let us know. And if you have any previous radio, podcasting or TV/Video journalism experience/skills, all the better. You might be able to join ANN and get an inside view of some of the most exciting events in the aviation world.

If interested, please send samples of your stories and shots, along with a little background, and tell us what your spring/summer availability will be. You'll be working with the most energetic team in aero-journalism, a group that goes where the stories are and brings 'em back for readers all over planet Earth.

If you have audio, video or other broadcasting skills, send along a clip of your work and a list of the software and equipment that you're comfortable working with. We're going to need a lot more help with our expanded "Osh-Cast" operations this year and this year we'll need all the help we can get.

FMI: Stringers Wanted For 2007!

Kudos for Senior Staffers

ANN is this never-ending source of amazement and joy to me. Imagine a life where you wake up every day with a solid and positive outlook for the challenges and adventures that await... and you pretty much have what occurs to me every day. I've never done anything as fulfilling or as fascinating as ANN. One of the true reasons for that wonderment is the fact that I have the ability to call upon the talents of some VERY solid professionals... the real backbone of this wild and untamed creature we call ANN.

I won't belabor it all, especially in light of how long this missive has already rambled... but without the help of Rob Finfrock, Pete Combs, Paul Plack, Birgit Pauli-Haack, Annette Kurman and SO MANY others (and you know who you are...), this place could not hope to fulfill its mission. With great gratitude, I thank them for their hard work and hope you will take as much pleasure from their efforts as I do each and every day.

OK... enough of the verbal meandering... please drop me a line and respond to any or all of the topics that I've raised thus far. I look forward to your input... YOUR responses can only help me continue to direct ANN on a path that can better serve the aviation world. And again... thanks so much for your support and attention all these years. It is a pleasure and a privilege to serve you all...

ANN HQ, Planet Earth

FMI: Comments, Complaints, Suggestions? Let Us Have It!