The Folks Who Made This Year So.... "Interesting"

Each year ANN selects the person(s) who, for good or bad reasons, made the most tangible impact on the aviation world in the past year.

Once again, we tackle this task with a mixture of enthusiasm and trepidation.

Presented in alphabetical order and in four parts, we present a dozen of the most prominent newsmakers ANN has covered over the past year and why we think so…

Phil Boyer and 'Team AOPA'

For way too many years, aviation was bereft of strong leaders with the courage to offer aggressive guidance to an industry hungry for same. That has changed over the last few years as AOPA President Phil Boyer has not only embraced his responsibilities as the head of the largest pilots' organization in the world, but has defined what the new century's aviation leaders must do to help this industry grow in the face of new foes and tribulations. Best of all, he's assembled one of the most capable management teams of any aviation association, and uses each member of that team to their best advantage... no small feat, that.

While we thought the worst was behind us after 9/11, that tragic but historic moment is obviously going to be dogging us for years, if not longer, and the AOPA gang is fully aware of that issue.

ANN's Editor-In-Chief, Jim Campbell, flew right seat in the AOPA CitationJet a year and some months back with Phil Boyer. He gained additional insight into the man and the organization, detailed in a 3-part series entitled "Above and Below FL 180 with Phil Boyer."

At that time, Jim noted that, "One of the reasons that I decided to do this extended story, this way, was the fact that aviation is too often led by those who can "talk the talk" but sure as hell can't "walk the walk," especially with the history of leadership at the FAA. It's been too long since the FAA was led by an actual pilot and unless our new Administrator starts taking flying lessons, its gonna be a long while longer. Thankfully; the AOPA situation is much different.

So… while I have always felt pretty positive about the skills and talents of AOPA's leadership, I feel quite good about the fact that the world's largest pilot's organization is not only well-led, politically, but also led by a guy who can handle an airplane quite well. I might also add that one of the things that Phil has been talking up lately is the intensive taildragger training he went through recently in order to get checked out in a Citabria and then, a Waco. It pleased me in no small measure that among the things that Phil seems most pleased with lately, as a pilot, are the new skills he picked up in an open-cockpit biplane. He obviously had a ball and it's a fortuitous thing, indeed, that we have a guy fighting for us who can shoot an ILS to minimums, after two funky missed approaches, in a small biz-jet as well as land a somewhat blind (but no less delightful) biplane in a crosswind.

That's a damned good thing, folks… and reason why we continue to strongly endorse the current leadership of AOPA (while reserving our right to give Phil all kinds of hell at a moment's notice--grin-its FUN to be a journalist)… We are reminded (all too often) that the quality of our leadership will be CRITICAL to the survival of aviation at a time when the threats are greater than at any other time in our history."

GA is fortunate to be led, in part, by Boyer and the dynamic men and women of 'Team AOPA.'

FMI: Above and Below FL180 with Phil Boyer, (Part One), Above and Below FL180 with Phil Boyer (Part Two), Above and Below FL180 with Phil Boyer (Part Three), www.aopa.org

The Crew of Orbiter Columbia, STS-107

I could natter on with all things profound… but last February we lost seven of the aerospace world's brightest stars. The best way to remember them, though, comes from one of those lost.

STS-107 Crewperson Laurel Clark was obviously having a GREAT time aboard Columbia when she wrote an e-mail home, just hours before 'heading west.' What an amazing lady... and how poorer we all are for not having such a person amongst us anymore.

"HELLO FROM ABOVE our magnificent planet Earth. The perspective is truly awe-inspiring. This is a terrific mission and we are very busy doing science round the clock. Just getting a moment to type e-mail is precious so this will be short, and distributed to many who I know and love.

I have seen some incredible sights: lightning spreading over the Pacific, the Aurora Australis lighting up the entire visible horizon with the cityglow of Australia below, the crescent moon setting over the limb of the Earth, the vast plains of Africa and the dunes on Cape Horn, rivers breaking through tall mountain passes, the scars of humanity, the continuous line of life extending from North America, through Central America and into South America, a crescent moon setting over the limb of our blue planet. Mount Fuji looks life a small bump from up here, but it does stand out as a very distinct landmark. 

Magically, the very first day we flew over Lake Michigan and I saw Wind Point (Wis.) clearly. Haven't been so lucky since. Every orbit we go over a slightly different part of the Earth. Of course, much of the time I'm working back in Spacehab and don't see any of it. Whenever I do get to look out, it is glorious. Even the stars have a special brightness.

I have seen my 'friend' Orion several times. Taking photos of the earth is a real challenge, but a steep learning curve. I think I have finally gotten some beautiful shots the last 2 days. Keeping my fingers crossed that they're in sharp focus.

My near vision has gotten a little worse up here so you may have seen pics/video of me wearing glasses. I feel blessed to be here representing our country and carrying out the research of scientists around the world. All of the experiments have accomplished most of their goals despite the inevitable hiccups that occur when such a complicated undertaking is undertaken. Some experiments have even done extra science. A few are finished and one is just getting started today.

The food is great and I am feeling very comfortable in this new, totally different environment. It still takes a while to eat as gravity doesn't help pull food down your esophagus. It is also a constant challenge to stay adequately hydrated. Since our body fluids are shifted toward our heads our sense of thirst is almost nonexistent.

Thanks to many of you who have supported me and my adventures throughout the years. This was definitely one to beat all. I hope you could feel the positive energy that beamed to the whole planet as we glided over our shared planet.

Love to all, Laurel "

FMI: www.spaceflight.nasa.gov

Mayor Richard Daley

He is easily the most despised man in all of aviation.

Under cover of darkness, and with a willful effort to avoid the proper legalities, Chicago Mayor Richard Daley took bulldozers to a valued aviation treasure, ultimately (as it appears) destroying a much valued part of GA's critical transportation infrastructure. In the early hours of March 31st, greed and political dishonesty ruled the roost as Daley destroyed Meigs Field, in secret, and using armed police to bar those who sought to find out what the bull-dozers were up to.

The eventual NOTAM, issued long after the bulldozers did their worst said it all.

KCGX MERRILL C MEIGS
03/006 - AP CLSD 31 MAR 12:00 UNTIL UFN

For weeks and months afterward, Daley BS'ed his way through the fallout, using all manner of excuses to validate his lack of integrity and ramapant use of highly questionable political skullduggery.

The 'Friends of Meigs,' though, said it best… "The City of Chicago today used surprise and shock tactics to start demolishing Meigs Field, the world-renowned airport serving downtown, ripping up runway without notice in the dark of night under police guard."

"We are in shock," said Rachel Goodstein, president of the Friends of Meigs Field. "The City of Chicago had agreed to keep Meigs Field open until 2026," she said, citing a December 2001 agreement between Mayor Daley and Governor Ryan.

"This smacks of totalitarianism," said Goodstein. "It is nothing but an unmitigated land grab."

The demolition came without warning, when dozens of heavy earth-movers descended on Meigs shortly after it closed at 10:00 P.M. Sunday night. The Friends of Meigs only received warning via news media inquiries. When Friends of Meigs representatives tried to visit the airport to talk to officials about the situation, they were turned away from the area by armed police.

"We understand that the City is trying to use 'homeland security' as an excuse to destroy Meigs without notice," said Goodstein. "Of all of the possible things they could do, that's the worst possible for public security. If there is a security issue at an airport, you work with the users to resolve it in the least disruptive manner, you don't destroy millions of dollars of taxpayer property."

Over the months since, the infamous Chicago political machine has covered it's tracks well and outspent the private citizens who banded together to try and save their beloved airport. But attempts to turn back the clock by Meigs' advocates appear to have come to no avail… and all of aviation has been cheated of a vital resource by a greedy little political thug who wields too much power with too little sense. Mayor Daley is a shameful and repugnant character deserving of the scorn expressed by virtually everyone in aviation.

FMI: mayordaley@ci.chi.il.us

To Be Continued...