What is at Stake in Aviation
Our people today, noses deep in their phones
While watching Hogan’s Heroes reruns, I kept seeing these ads for cell phone ‘games’, like Candy Crush, making me realize how ‘plugged in’ society is, how Group speak makes us programmed automatons. As a result, I’ve throttled wa-a-a-ay back on social media. You wouldn’t believe what we miss: Daylight, Trees, the garage needing cleaning or the lawn, mowing. ‘Plugged in’ is an apt metaphor; like in the The Matrix, when Dozer ‘plugged’ Neo into the Matrix. Odd how reality mirrors fiction. Even when you shake off the unquenchable hunger to scroll, social media’s withdrawal effects leave much in their wake.
This economy is killing Aviation. Does anyone believe aviation is safer? Do travelers think the rising costs of aviation fuels which, in turn, cause rising ticket prices, are a win-win for air travel, agriculture, firefighting, job creation? If anyone believes a damaged economy is helping aviation, they aren’t paying attention. With less than two months from the next Presidential election, the outcome might alter American history … for good or bad. What facts does social media provide about the candidates? One candidate laughs a lot; apparently this annoys people. The other candidate writes mean tweets. These things don’t even deserve a shrug of the populace’s shoulders. Social media tells us … NOTHING.
How would each candidate’s election affect the aviation industry? If people would just ignore the political nonsense batted back and forth like high-speed ping-pong; most of it is unfounded or not provable in a proper court of law. The bottom line? All allegations don’t mean a thing for the position sought. Both candidates have histories of improprieties, such as misuse of funds – one political, one business – but again, unproven. It’s ironic, dirty secrets only pose a threat when foreign powers can leverage them against a president. With all these claims being made public, there aren’t any dirty secrets left; blackmail is moot. What the claims amount to are flawed judgments. Political morality went extinct years ago, like the dinosaurs … without the meteor. Therefore, as an experiment in futility, for a few moments let’s dispel with all the name-calling and media-pushed falsehoods and look at what’s before us.
With each new presidential candidate, we hear about “change … change … change”; “My opponent is a communist!” “My opponent is a nazi!” “My opponent did this!” “My opponent didn’t do that!” BORING! This name-calling dates to kindergarten; before that, to the 1860 Lincoln-Douglas debates. But at least Abraham Lincoln and Stephen A. Douglas had senses of humor; libeling served with a wink-and-a-nod. We once had edgy harmony, but it hasn’t been seen since Ronald Reagan and Tip O’Neill.
So, what are we looking at this year? A career politician/former attorney general against a businessman who is, simply stated, a political outsider. The politician campaigns like a politician; the businessman campaigns like … well, a businessman. What’s concerning is we, the people, the electorate, don’t understand the differences between the two. Truthfully, there are differences.
President Eisenhower
Consider George Washington, Andrew Jackson, Ulysses Grant, and Dwight Eisenhower; they didn’t campaign like politicians; they campaigned like military leaders who campaigned on the provable: Their worth as leaders. At important times, they brought their leadership – whether for good or bad – to the Oval Office. Their success was based on decision-making, the ability to think under pressure. They knew how to maneuver against internal and external enemies; and – this is important – they didn’t blame others for their failures, a worthy trait. Are politicians or businessmen proven leaders who accept responsibility?
Aside from the candidates’ characters, what hot topics face our nation? And, in keeping with this webpage, are these the same hot topics the aviation industry also faces as it moves towards the future?
1) The Border: Recently, both candidates have come out in favor of the southern border wall. Does the uncontrolled influx of illegal immigrants make aviation better, safer? Perhaps the question should be: Will airlines and repair stations replace qualified mechanics and flight crew with immigrants? Could this be why there’s been a three-year attraction with keeping the border open?
Ellis Island with Statue of Liberty in foreground
A fair question would be, what dangers do open borders represent? For one, undocumented foreigners are entering without restriction. My paternal grandparents immigrated from Italy in 1905; my maternal grandparents from Ireland in 1885; they each came in and were processed through Ellis Island. Perhaps those who don’t understand immigration choose to forget what having control of all our borders means. There are other reasons for a secure border, such as stopping the flow of illegal drugs, which destroys lives, increases crime, and wipes out families. In addition, children and women are being trafficked at the border. Is this serious? Even if one child is trafficked, it’s one too many. Will these crimes stop while our borders remain open?
But problems with the border don’t end there. The flow of illegal aliens will affect aviation safety … and not in a positive way. Recent unorthodox changes to Title 14 code of federal regulations Part 147 Aviation Maintenance Technician Schools leaves the United States (US) maintenance technician workforce with safety problems that may not manifest themselves for several years. But they will manifest themselves, perhaps sooner with open borders. Does one think the unions will lead the fight for a return to sanity or will they benefit from new, not-so-qualified immigrant technician union dues? What about the airlines; won’t they enjoy paying technicians those lower wages? Does anyone think pilot and flight attendant salary cuts are that far off? What about “Single pilot cockpit?” How about, “Autonomous cockpit?” Maybe “Robo-Flight Attendants?” Some may say, “That’ll never pass the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and its strict regulations.” Does anyone believe the FAA is that effective anymore?
Not only will future technicians’ school training be compromised, but all the airlines who supported these changes to Part 147 will see their candidates – the ones they wanted to hire at lower wages – returning to whence they came, still owing thousands in student loan debt and bringing their US-funded talent to their homeland where they will make a better living, courtesy of US taxpayer dollars. Politicians might say, “Oh, no, illegal immigrants would never do that!” Meanwhile, US citizens will have moved on to other jobs and aviation will become less safe.
2) The Economy appears to be a politician’s Achille’s heel. Is the present economy hurting the aviation industry? Unless politicians, who’ve never personally engaged in business or took a Macroeconomics class, they’ll continue to make emotional, feelings-based economic arguments … with no facts. Would it be optimal to feed and clothe the world? Sure, if we could afford it. But no status class could possibly be taxed enough to pay those bills.
Is it reasonable to make everybody eligible to work their dream job? With the average US male weighing 199.8 pounds, could a 100-pound female firefighter carry that much unconscious weight down several stories on a ladder? Should a pilot who keeps failing their check ride be qualified by their race or gender? Decisions like using Diversity, Equity and Inclusion – DEI – hiring practices in industry and government hurt the aviation industry and its place in the US economy. Furthermore, enabling workers instead of promoting merit, sends tax money to causes that hurt everyone, including those these programs were meant to help; they destroy the US economy by way of overwhelming it. It’s like a Mom putting her child’s oxygen mask on before her own. Government cannot grow the economy – it’s impossible.
3) Intrastate crime usually doesn’t fall under the president’s control … except when it’s impacted by Presidential policy … like open borders. One would have to ask if crime from federal influence has gotten worse or better, and over how long, to demonstrate if the President affected local or state crime. Since open borders can bring about drug traffic, poverty-influenced crime, gang-related events, or those who defy deportation, open borders would be a major contributing factor. With the rise in crime, open borders cannot be dismissed; crime is a major presidential issue.
January 8, 1928 edition of the Brooklyn Eagle with story about Climatic Changes
4) Climate change. Of all the disingenuous issues, this tops them all, not because of any scoffing at the subject, but because there has never been sufficient evidence to support the fear or drive the financial support for it. How many pilots fly an aircraft after maintenance without having a post-maintenance operational check; a deferral without running the maintenance procedure? So, how are the changes in climate policy being checked to ensure problems have been corrected? Do we even verify that electric cars are working, or do they provide even worse challenges? Nobody is testing these alleged fixes!
Acres of Hail Damaged Solar Panels
Burying Life Limited Composite Windmill Blades
And that’s the point! Why change civilization only to create even bigger problems? Did blind trust work when millions of people worldwide were mandated to receive a vaccine that was never approved? Do we anticipate future population health problems and, if so, how long before those problems manifest themselves? How about 5G towers, are there dangers to long-term exposure over time? Offshore windmills; are they messing with ocean life? Solar panels; what about chemical runoff from the cleaning fluids? Millions of dollars are being spent to modernize fuels and other ecological ideas designed to change aviation quickly without the benefit of assuring these changes are safe. It’s odd that climate change advocates like Al Gore, want to promote climate change policies but didn’t champion them when he was vice president?
5) Fracking and oil drilling: these appear to be agreed upon topics, as well. The arguments against them are without facts. The need for plastics, lubricants, and fuels will never go away; they’re crucial to aviation. Are we going to continue buying oil from foreign suppliers, and ignore our own resources? Does that make sense? Isn’t that concept counter to climate change; irresponsible; hurting our economy? Fracking makes the US energy independent. What business wouldn’t want to pay less for heating? Perhaps a happy medium would be to support businesses who look to make fracking safer, oil drilling safer. Will the new lubricants and fuels, without the proper time for testing, lead to more aviation accidents and unsafe events? Is anyone looking into these fuels’ effects on Extended Twin Engine Operations – ETOPS?
Look at this race with an eye on root cause analysis. We’ll find all cabinet position departments, like Defense, Energy, Transportation, Education, over the decades have lost control of their responsibilities. Education has lost control of our children’s education; students are two-plus years behind in their studies because of the pandemic. Look at Transportation, the rail accidents and aviation upsets. What will it take to fix these systemic problems? Political appointees? Oh, please.
The only concern with this election should be if the future winner can do the job. Has either candidate proven their ability? Will the economy recover? Will we go to war? Everyone knows the old adage, “Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result.” Since Eisenhower left office, we’ve elected politicians – almost every time – believing politicians can fix what politicians broke beyond all repair to begin with. Isn’t that insanity?
Frank Borman, President of Eastern Airlines, commercial 1978
The question then becomes: When was the last time anything was fixed by politics? When has aviation been improved by customers loving the certificate holder’s upper management? I remember in 1970, Eastern Airlines President Frank Borman touted, not himself, but the Eastern employees’ desire to ‘Earn our wings, every day’. Former astronaut Borman never played politics; he spotlighted the employees who were Eastern’s strength. Why? Because politics doesn’t offer strength or success, common people do. The successful leader seeks to empower people, not themselves. It’s the true leader who recognizes where the focus is – and will continue to be – namely, the People.
Every air operator, repair station, manufacturer, aviation school, crop duster, aerial fire fighter, tour helicopter, medical evacuation unit, etc. are all businesses; they see a need and reconcile it for the People. Politicians recognize their own needs while imposing their beliefs on the People; politicians see their own vision and push the people to reconcile to it.
We need to unplug people from Group speak, because it’s clear cellphones and computers will tell you what to think … DAMMIT! Think for yourself. Focus less on how a candidate makes us feel and concentrate more on how a candidate will fix this country. And maybe … just maybe, help us fix us.