WHEN TIME FLIES..

It seems like we just went through the Christmas season and here it is spring that feels like summer. Fires are forcing TFRs to arrive like little Easter eggs on our charts. It pays to use the FREE Flight Service to see what is in your ‘neck of the woods’ for your next trip. It wouldn’t hurt to call your congressman and ask him to keep those services FREE with no user fees. There is an undercurrent around aviation that is working toward making our FREE Flight Service not-so- FREE. Steve Bill Hanshew had an outstanding article last issue that said “Fees are like Fleas” – Once you get them… well you know the rest of the story. If you missed it, get a copy of the April issue. It is worth reading. 

EDITORIAL COMMENT

Fly-Low has received several comments this month about our last issue, all good. Some commented on our editorials, yes we do editorialize. Often, I feel that we are “preaching to the choir.” I will tell you that we do practice what we preach. That is when we say “Write that letter to your congressman,” ours is already in the mail.  There is strength in numbers, only if those numbers speak. That is the way it has been since our Revolutionary War. Sometimes it takes a “Boston Tea Party” to get the attention from those in charge. 

THE RIGHT ATTITUDE!!!

This month we have several stories that will get an ear tweaked. One is about a small airport in Tennessee. We called the story “The Right Attitude!!!” Why? Well, read the story. You’ll find out why some airports receive accolades while other grasp to hold on. The story reminded me of an event that took place in the sixties. I worked at a full service Gulf gas station owned by Chester. As people do then they travel, they stop at a service station to use the restroom and not purchase fuel.   

Chester’s face would turn red and he would go into wild tirade. Often going out and insulting the person who was using the restroom and purchasing no fuel. They would drive off, never to return.  Chester sold the Gulf Station to Pat about mid-summer. After Pat had been owner a few weeks, I couldn’t resist this question, “Are you going to do what Chester did when people drive up for a restroom stop and not buy fuel?” Pat didn’t understand the question, so I explained the tirade that Chester would throw when those people stopped. Chester would scream, “There goes another five cents down the drain.” 

Pat’s answer taught me more about how to succeed in business than I ever learned in College. His words of wisdom flowed so smoothly after a few seconds of thought he said, “No! I don’t want you to do what Chester did, nor will I. What I want you to do is when they drive up to the side of the building to just use the restrooms, go out and wash their windows, check the air in their tires, and check their oil. That is what I want you to do.”  I thought he was joking. Remember, I had only experienced Chester’s method of handling the situation.  

Folks, I am here to tell you that what I learned was the “Mona Lisa” of business. I started doing what Pat suggested. People would tip me… get in the car and pull over to the pumps for fuel… promise to stop on the way back through the town and purchase fuel…. What a change and what a different result. 

I tell you all this to explain that I feel Hank Williamson in Shelbyville must have some of Pat’s attitude. This story is worth reading and dropping in front of your airport commission. There is a key to success in the story and it won’t take a rocket scientist to figure it out. My thanks to Hank for being so open with us. If you’re ever near KSYI, stop in…