What's Up - October 2012
Really Difficult, But Really Important
By Larry Shapiro
Every now and then I give myself a little pat on the back because I think I bring very important thoughts and ideas to you – and in some cases, I’ll take a bow. However, after writing about a very sensitive subject more than once, and as recently as two months ago, visiting the subject of when to call it quits, or limit your flying, or even fly with a mentor or second PIC for safety reasons, I missed an even more important perspective of this issue.
So I now pose this question to you: What about the non-pilot spouse that loves you and sits next to you on most of your flights? They love you too much to ask you to call it “quits,” they don’t want to break your heart, and they know what the effect might be to your life. Pilots are very unique in many ways, and suggesting that they stop sitting on that little piece of paper that says, “you’re special,” is a very up-hill challenge. The bottom line here is simple – this is a life threatening issue.
Yes, I know about “pinch hitter” courses, and I have suggested that to 99 percent of my client’s non-flying partners or spouses. In the end the right decision is the hard one, but it’s the best one. Please think about it and please find a minute to share your thoughts with me about this. I’d rather you think about what I have to say than be invited to a memorial service in your honor.
Oops!
Sometimes you can’t see “the forest for the trees.” I was never sure what that meant, but I think I got it now. In my quest to keep you abreast of what’s up in our community, I neglected to congratulate my neighbors on their fortieth anniversary. So, congratulations and well done to The West Valley Flying Club. You must be very special if our AOPA President stops by to join in on your celebration!
Just Another Day
Just another day – well not exactly. I am writing this column for you today to try and dispel the myth that I have a dream job. You know the one: Working at an airport, hangar flying all day with a bunch of green-checkers and other types of retirees. Oh yes, and all of the student pilots – plus dozens of CFIs, some good ones and some not so good – I can’t fix that part.
So, in the spirit of destroying that myth, here’s what a recent Thursday morning, a Friday afternoon and a whole Saturday looked like last month. Please keep in mind that we were all recovering from the devastating news that the Shuttle Endeavour fly-over was postponed by 24 hours. Shoot, and after I had my hair and nails done. Here is how it went:
Day one – Thursday. Step one: Show up earlier than usual. There’s a big ramp party planned and planes have to be moved, weeds have to be picked, and certain things washed down.
We moved four airplanes for the party, washed one of them, and then painted a smile on my face with the intent of making those around me think I was really having a good time and happy to be helping.
Oops, plans changed, had to wash two airplanes for the party instead of one. Then I had to find time to brag about selling two airplanes yesterday over scrambled eggs (please, no jokes about “over easy”). But, they were great buyers and they made a great deal, which always works when you feed me.
Time out! I forgot I had to interview some food trucks scheduled for our Airport Day and give them a site visit. Mission accomplished – but then I had to check their paperwork and permits – check! That part was easy.
Step Two: don’t forget to get my cameras charged and ready for the party and most important – remember this was just my morning – now the rest of the day.
Charge my radios for Airport Day, check trunks for APD, change clothes from day image to party image, change personality, check on my dogs still sleeping in my office, check on wife’s ETA for the party, thank AOPA president Craig Fuller for stopping by, express shock that the temps were so low, remember not to forget to take pictures with AOPA president Fuller, feed dogs, show up for the party. Burp!
The Next Day
Good morning everyone and welcome to Friday. Are you ready for the really good part of the day? The Space Shuttle is due to make a low pass over our field and that was going to be the biggie for us – like, how often does this happen? Most of the day was listening to the latest up-date on its ETA over Palo Alto Airport (PAO). In the end, it was almost on time and if you need me to tell you how exciting it was to have it that close, you probably should start another hand of solitaire.
It was more fun than a Stinson full of Monkeys! I got calls from Sacramento (SAC) from friends who were there screaming, “Lar, Lar! It just flew over us!”
Well that was helpful, that meant it was 89 nautical miles away from my peepers. Then came the silence, and then more silence, finally my wife said, “OMG,” as she looked south towards Moffitt Field. There were thousands of people lined up as far as you could see just for the opportunity of experiencing this aviation moment in history. Okay, I’ll admit it, on a scale of one to 10 it was a strong 18.
So, everyone around me was looking northeast toward what they thought was SFO because someone had just received a call from there saying it had just gone over, and that’s just minutes down the road from us. Just then I happened to look over my left shoulder looking west towards the ocean and there it was, escort and all, coming right at us. WOW, WOW, WOW! Give me a minute to wipe away my tears, it was an amazing sight to behold.
It crossed over the north end of our field turned right and headed for Moffitt for its final good-bye to NASA and then on to LAX. Isn’t life grand! It got really quiet again and then a storm of applause and yelling, it was a sight and sound not soon to be forgotten.
I really enjoyed the chatter around the field all day with shared thoughts from the other spectators. I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention the first call I got was from Southern California from a new client, a student pilot that was stuttering because he was talking so fast telling me he just saw it fly over him. That was followed by a call from Disneyland from a friend there, with his wife and daughters, and they too got a thrill of a lifetime seeing the shuttle fly over them. Their dad told me about the time when he was a small child and saw the glide testing on television and then this. I suppose I should mention that he is now a Captain with United Air Lines.
Now it was time to focus on the, soon to be served, tenant BBQ provided by Santa Clara County.
Someone finally did it right!
After at least a couple dozen years someone actually did it right and used my “first timer questionnaire form” off my website. Wow! Did that make my day. Here’s how it went. After the heartburn from the BBQ settled down, I had to remember not to forget a client interview at 1,600 hrs, you know, as in actual work.
That went really well, and I got to meet a really nice couple and their beautiful little girls. I was most impressed with the little seven year old that new the phonetic alphabet. This potential client did it right by using our questionnaire and for that I’m very grateful, it made the interview so much easier for all of us and I’m sure he agrees.
By now the set was setting on another romantic, exciting day at the “Field.” Finally, just 12 hours after I arrived there, I crawled to my car and asked someone, “Where do I live?”
Another Not Just Another Day – PAO Airport Day 2012
I’m at it again. Now it’s day three. Move more airplanes, complain that the Shuttle bagged on Thursday but did come on Friday. Better late than never. Check my radios to make sure they were charged, load the trunks in my car, express shock that I missed the Shuttle flyover because of low ceiling – just kidding, wanted to see if you were paying attention.
Set up Canopy for APD, load tables and chairs for APD, decide what costume (and shoes – really important part) to wear, unload tables and chairs, complain more about the Shuttle, get ready for another ramp party (we do that a lot around here), remember to eat, do sound check (!), thank my wife for helping, hold my newest dog (we now have three), mention again how much my feet hurt after two very long days,
Change personalities again, thank my partner Ben for being such a great assistant, turn on sound system … “Welcome to Palo Alto Airport Day, 2012 … another 5,000 plus neighbors and friends shared the day with us at PAO just strolling around – and that’s the way it should be – thank you one and all for making this day very special.
Much easier day, BFFL Kimberly was there to help – mostly to keep me semi-sane. So, at the end of my third 12-hour day we try to remember where I parked my car … never mind, I decided to leave it at the airport and ride home with my wife … she knows where we live.
So at the end of that day, what did I learn? Have something for everyone – it’s not only good PR, it’s also needed PR – non-profits add to the day, food trucks feed the day, and, most important, our visitors make the day.
I’m Just Saying …
There are so many stories and things I always want to share with you, but then I remember how limited I am for space. I’m always thinking about you and I always want to give you my very best effort … I’m just saying …
On final …
So by now you’ve filed your tax extensions, at least I hope so. You’re probably still deciding whom not to vote for, and asking if the Prez actually brought some of our Heroes home. I know what we read in the press, I’m just never sure what they mean. I hate war, I want out troops home with us here. If you’re hiring, try to hire one or more of them, in the spirit of America …
Until next time …
That’s Thirty!
“Over”
