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Wayne,
I, too have noticed the change in interest of the young folks. I suspect it
has several sources.
One, the availability of more $$ , boats, cars, etc...dilutes the interest
level...
BUT, I suspect the real causes is that in many locations, the small
airports are OLD....OLD, dirty, crappy furniture with worn out upholstry,
etc... Some communities have addressed this, but often it has been too
late.
I think this atmosphere turns off many young folks, who are
embarassed to bring out their dates to see and lounge around in such an
atmosphere.
The Lake, new boats, nice club house, etc are much more attractive and
inducive to having one's date attend.
So, it's only the very dedicated, very interested folks who now end up at
the airport....often alone with wonder and dreams of flying....very few show up
with their dates.....
In many larger airports, the local FBO have upgraded their lounges, but
again, mostly taylored to the corporate jet set...and not the local fun
fliers....
"tis a shame.....and I may be wrong ...but here are many small FBO
operations I have visited where the atmosphere was not conducive to a newby
being welcome.... IS YOUR LOCAL FBO A PLACE WHERE YOU WOULD PROUDLY
TAKE A NEW DATE ???? IT SHOULD BE!
Now, if this is the problem, how do we encourage the industry to make major
changes...and welcome DREAMERS ??
HARRY FRANCIS (71 GOING ON 17)
ELLISTON VA
N93530 - since 1982
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