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What's Up: Service
By Larry Shapiro
I’ve had so much fun thinking about how many times and places we see and use the word: “service.” Here are a few of my thoughts on this important word. (Please feel free to share some of your favorites and not so favorites).
I know I’ll miss some, but for starters, I was in the Service … and I’m very proud of it. How many times have you heard the word used when there is a uniform involved?
I couldn’t guess the amount of service stations I’ve used, and how I evaluated each of them. I still do. Ever wonder why they’re called “Service Stations?”
A great meal at your favorite restaurant with bad service becomes a least favorite place. On the other hand, great service at your favorite greasy spoon or drive through becomes a regular. I’ve always loved this: A good meal served badly ends up being a bad meal. Bad food coupled with good service is what you remember and will go back to.
In conversations about retail stores, hotels, and other places of pleasure, the questions of service always comes up. We can’t help ourselves; we all are aware of the “service” provided.
Contrails: Escape From Plenty
By Steve Weaver
Autumn in West Virginia. (Steve Weaver)Autumn has worked its way down the slopes of the Appalachians and colored the leaves in the foothills of West Virginia, the place where I was born and where I now spend the six warm months each year. Looking down the bank outside my window into the slow drifting waters of the Buckhannon River I can see flotillas of gaily colored leaves making their way downstream to the place they will come to rest and slowly turn to soil.
It’s said that autumn is a time to reflect and I think that must be so, because I find I do most of my deep (deep being a relative word here) thinking about life in general, and my life in particular, during this time of year.
A few days ago in such a state, I started pondering how the business of selling airplanes has changed in the last dozen years or so and about how completely my life has changed during the same period.
Contrails
Flying With the Newly Dead
By Steve Weaver
I don’t know, but when I look back at the almost 50 years I’ve spent in aviation, it seems to me that my career didn’t unfold as it really should have. Rather than the orderly, planned and supervised tempering of my peers, my progression into and through the various aviation endeavors always seemed to happen in spasmodic bursts that often left me with Alice in Wonderland-like bewilderment. Looking around at my next role, as a flight instructor, or a survey pilot or whatever new phase I found myself in, I found myself totally clueless about how to properly proceed.
For one thing, I had no real mentors, other than the odd instructors that popped up at vital times, and then were gone. I was a restless student pilot with my own airplane, and by keeping it at small, out of the way strips I managed to stay under the radar for about 300 hours of dangerous wandering before settling down enough to get my private license. Adding the commercial license seemed like a natural thing to do since my logbook was fat with hours, and when the examiner told me I flew well enough to pass the flight instructor’s exam I decided to get that rating too.
What's Up? - December 2011
Favorite month and season continued …
By Larry Shapiro
Larry ShapiroI think that last month I forgot to mention that I was sentenced to a week in Texas and got off with some silly behavior. (Formerly known as “Good Time”)
The trip reminded me of why being able to fly myself is so important. I can’t begin to tell you how much I hate to wait in lines and go through some of the most embarrassing security checks in the world. I mean, come on folks, are my shoes, bluetooth and belt presenting any apparent danger? This isn’t real security, it’s a job stimulus program. I guess I’m spoiled after living in Israel and seeing what real security is about.
How can we expect some of the lowest paid people at your airports to do one of the highest priority jobs when they don’t even have the support of most of the people whose time they are wasting. At best, all I see are people missing their flights, and I have the hardest time believing that they are saving any lives. Please feel free to disagree with me but if you do, don’t tell the person sitting next to you, tell me.
I have traveled through some of this world’s biggest and best airports where security lives up to its name and is worth the time it costs you.
What's Up? - October 2011
Reno…
By Larry Shapiro
I suppose there wasn’t any way this column could have been written without the mention of Reno. After all, this is an aviation publication, I write about aviation, and you would have to live in a cave not to know about Reno 2011.
Okay, my aviation friends, here’s what I have to say about this. People much more qualified than me, since they were there and witnesses, are telling their stories on other pages in this issue of In Flight USA.
Here’s what I know for sure. Reno is the “Super Bowl” of aviation. Without Reno the Reno area will take an economical hit worse than a flood. Furthermore, general aviation and professional air racing would simply not be the same without all Reno offers, from the thrills around the pylons to the live entertainment to the promotion of great skilled and talented pilots.
What's Up? - July 2011
It Blows My Mind
By Larry Shapiro
For the more than 12 years I’ve had the privilege and pleasure of writing this column I’ve never been more surprised than by the lack of response to the beginning of my June column. I actually thought about wearing a helmet and body armor while writing it and for days after it was published.
I always get a few emails or anonymous calls from nameless readers with a comment or two and a mild threat on my life. Surprisingly, it didn’t happen once since my June column hit the ramps. I have surmised that all the copies were gone before you got yours, you were away having plastic surgery done, in the middle of the divorce you wanted so badly, or you are so old now you can’t read the small print.
What's Up!? - February 2011
Bucket Heads VS. More Common Sense/Cents
By Larry Shapiro
I remember back in the days when you could legally ride a motorcycle without being required to wear a helmet for fear of getting stopped by the local legal pistol packers. Back then it wasn’t required and a really cheap date was to sit in the ER of your local hospital and watch them bring in the left over body parts from motorcycle mishaps.
I learned then why motorcycles were called “donor” cycles. It was not a pretty picture and a few bucks could have made a difference and maybe saved a life or two and tons of medical bills.
What's Up?!
2011: I Want to Start off the New Year With a Bang, So BANG!
By Larry Shapiro
Looking back some of you may know I’ve had to deal with some major health issues in the past 12 or so months and I chose to share them with you. Of course, with my sense of humor, I laughed at them because I’m invincible and even though I can’t leap over tall building, I have flown over a few.
Lesson learned: Be careful, you might get what you wish for or some things you didn’t wish for.
In early November I had a rather severe accident. No it didn’t involve an airplane or car. The fact is, I don’t know what happened. I can tell you a couple of things: one is that it was the scariest thing that has every happened to me in my 70 years and second, it was also the most painful.
The Pylon Place - December 2010
The Beginning of Biplane Racing at Reno
By Marilyn Dash
Marilyn DashThe first Air Races in Reno started in 1964. Most of you know the story of Bill Stead and his dream to recreate the Cleveland Air Races in the high desert. But, not many of you know how the Biplanes became part of the project.
Legend has it that Stead went to the Merced Antique Fly-In in 1964 and met up with Sandy Sanders. Sandy was there announcing for several of the airshow acts. Bill was there to promote the upcoming races and to look over some of the acts with an eye on booking them for the races. Bill told Sandy about the event and asked him to come up and assist with the announcing duties.
What's Up?!
Looking Back
By Larry Shapiro
Larry ShapiroIt’s hard to believe we’ve being hanging out together for almost ten years but we have. During that time I’ve tried to cover a lot of topics dealing with aviation or it least close to the subject. My favorite thing and I hope yours was that I tried to deal with some serious subjects using as much humor as I could without being sent to my room by the In Flight staff and publisher. Trust me on this, it hasn’t been easy for them; there have been many times I almost broke my leash.
I have never meant to hurt or embarrass anyone. Okay, maybe one or two, but only in fun. Of course there have been many subjects that have been too serious to play with. As the end of 2010 comes to a close I would like to share some love, joy and a-whole-lot-learned wisdom with you.
What's Up!?
Don’t Assume
By Larry Shapiro
As a child I remember folks telling me to never assume anything because it makes an ass out of you and me! Now, a ton of years later it still holds true. I hear “I assumed this and that” time after time and no one seems to heed the words and learn the lesson. Drum role please … I’m as guilty as I’m sure many of you are. How many times have you asked for directions, whether or not the food is good at the Road Kill Café, or whether the dude wrenching on your bird of paradise is a licensed and insured mechanic. One more assumption that’s a real pain … don’t assume you don’t need to get it in writing; you do!
What's Up - March 2010
Larry ShapiroW O R D S!
By Larry Shapiro
Words: they’re amazing little tools and they can be used so many different ways, some good and some bad.
I started this column a few weeks back as I was thinking how confusing some words in the English language could be. I am in awe of how well the exchange students who stay with us know and use our language. In retrospect I would probably fail if English were going to be my second or third language.
I initially was going to use words like, “pretty” and “ugly.” We’ve all heard, “wow that was pretty ugly.” See what I mean?
Now because of two particular aviation incidents that occurred in the past few weeks, and yes, I know there were more, words still seem to be very confusing to our friends and neighbors outside the aviation community. What does IFR mean to them? What does a standard departure or approach mean? I won’t even try to explain minimums. The hardest question: Why did he take off? It was so foggy!