Building A Template For A New Generation Of Aviation Events..
and Thereby Rebuild Aviation
Do you feel that?
It's slipping away... little bit by little bit. Do you feel them
-- the golden bits and silver pieces, the ones we treasure the most
about all that is right and good in aviation -- slipping away...
stolen by the thieves of time, government, indifference,
misunderstanding, economics, and a world that fails to value the
true treasures that exist in its midst?
It's getting tough for all things aviation and while I
(regrettably) have neither the expertise or power to fix it all,
I'd like to take a stab at a little of it -- hence the highly
emotional struggle I've undertaken to try and save what used to be
an amazing way to celebrate aviation for all those who love it --
and to bring in those new souls who might someday come to treasure
it as we do. In my younger years, I built my aeronautical life
around the heady times that I could come together with my fellow
flyers, see great new things, watch amazing flight displays, and
simply immerse myself in all things aviation... because that's how
you recharged your personal aero-batteries a few decades ago.
Now... not so much.
Think of it... Fly-Ins used to be a big part of how we grew
aviation... and again, now, not so much.
What happened?
What went wrong?
Did the world outgrow the need to celebrate all things aviation
(among so many other things that used to be so magical)?
Our latest missive on
the many problems inherent in the Lakeland Fly-In brought in a huge
amount of email and not just a few phone calls. While we got the
usual dozen or so pieces of hate mail (often from folks who should
know that their IP pretty much betrays who they work for), we
received over 2100 responses in just a few weeks on the issues
we raised.
Many of the responses were passionate, detailed and truly
illuminating... and have had me thinking non-stop for a number of
days. ANN has proposed that the mess that has become Lakeland needs
to be replaced since all attempts to fix it have failed. But...
replace it with... what?
And more important, while few folks deny that Lakeland is
failing and failing fast, they're not the only ones... as we
continue to conduct Fly-Ins and aviation events the same way we
have for a number of decades...
As The World Has Changed, Fly-Ins Have Not
Therein lies the core issue. The Fly-In network harkens back to
a lovely long-ago golden age of sport and general aviation... and
with few exceptions, these hallowed events have truly failed to
keep up with the times. We live in an ever-changing, NewMedia,
internet world, where incredible amounts of information are to be
had with a couple of keystrokes and read on something
so small we can fit it in our pocket -- an carry it everywhere
we go... so there has to be a truly compelling number of reasons to
bring people to one location from all over the nation, if not the
world. This demands a new set of solutions, a "Fly-In 2.0" design
that not only keeps and UPDATES the best of what was, but also
offers a number of new and compelling features to convince people
to come to one place, now and then, recharge their love for
aviation, and celebrate flight.
Let me suggest this... especially in light of the fact that this
is just what I and a few folks have been engaged in discussing for
the last few years. It's time to start with a clean sheet of paper.
Fly-Ins are old hat... at least the way that we've been conducting
them (by and large). It's time to throw out all that we have done,
especially all those things that get labeled with the adage,
"well, that's the way its always been done," and strongly
consider what it is we want to do and to conjure up a modern,
relevant and attractive means by which to accomplish those
goals.
Fly-ins look the same, act the same, and are as depressingly
grey as most of those left who cling to them for what inspiration
and enlightenment that they might provide (and yes, I resemble that
remark -- heavy sigh...). If we are to attract the new, the old,
AND keep the faithful, we need a new plan. A vibrant, modern,
unique, innovative and truly up-to-date action plan. Worse; those
who are most devoted to attending these events are getting
old... and one of the reasons that we are likely (and have seen)
such a decline in a number of the attendance figures is the simple
fact that too many of those who enjoyed these events have become
too old to go, or worse, have gone west.
Everything Has To Change... Everything
Fly-Ins need to be more exciting, more accessible, more
appropriately marketed, provide more value and must be prepared to
compete in a world where the iPod and iPhone reign supreme. For
example... look at airshows themselves... how many Fly-Ins have you
been to that featured a half dozen biplane or monoplane acts and a
warbird or two... just like the one that you went to a month
before?
That's gotta change.
Why aren't there truly extensive outreach programs to welcome
new people (who have never been to a Fly-In but have qualified
themselves as truly interested in aviation) to the fold?
That's gotta change.
Why isn't there a truly customer-oriented approach to dealing
with vendors who provide so much of an attraction o what's left of
the Fly-In scene... the complaints about truly atrocious customer
service (especially at Lakeland) are legion... and a proper
customer service approach can only make vendors that much more
likely to come out and make their best presentations... thereby
enhancing the value of the Fly-In event.
That's gotta change.
Why isn't more attention give to what to do with family members
who accompany the interested aviator -- there is a valuable issue
here in which too many of those who get dragged to a Fly-In by a
significant other/parent/etc. are not addressed... the same ones
who will complain vehemently the next time the subject of
attending a Fly-In comes up -- take care of those people and you
now have some powerful allies in attracting Fly-In
participants.
That's gotta change.
There's more... so much more... and yes, we
have some truly innovative and exciting ideas that we've been
working on for a number of years that are not getting dusted off
and made ready for prime-time.
But... what about you? As the prime audience for such events...
what keeps you going? What keeps you away? What do you miss about
Fly-Ins that may now be gone and forgotten? What would you like to
see? What would attract you? What ideas might you have to
truly innovate a new style of aviation gathering?
Folks, we are building a truly superlative Board of
Advisors to give Aero-Fest the expert and passionate guidance
it deserves. Some of these folks are among the most expert and
powerful names in aviation and aerospace... and I value their
counsel beyond all measure... except for that one most
important input -- yours.
I'd like YOUR counsel -- your ideas, your concerns, your needs,
your thoughts, your experiences, your wishes... what YOU need to
leave home for the better part of a week to head across the country
and take up company with your fellow aviators. Most of all... what
would get YOU to sit up and take notice? What would get you excited
to be a part of aviation... all over again?
THAT is what we're aiming for... and nothing less.
In the coming weeks, we're going to introduce you to some new
ideas -- some wild ones, in some cases -- and a group of very
innovative people who have already helped craft new frontiers for
aviation and aerospace... these are some of the most gifted folks I
know... but since it's you they will be
responsible to, and for, we want to hear from you
as we come together and start turning words, dreams, desires, and
ideas into a reality worth crafting.
Let's hear from you... let's hear YOUR very
best ideas and dreams for an event that can help to jump-start a
renewed future for all things aviation. We'll give you some of our
best ideas (some of them are really wild, but very doable) in short
order... but we need to, first and foremost, consider YOUR
interests before we step up and out.
Nothing less will do...
Thanks...
Jim Campbell, ANN E-I-C
Green Cove Springs, Planet Earth (One Orb In From Mars)