Only yesterday I made a big mistake.
I answered a trick question by an “experienced” young Dutch policy maker working in the area of sustainability.
What did I contribute to a livable future in which Aviation is on a Paris Proof track?
In my enthusiasm I summed up my involvement in several sustainability meetings over the years, extremely stupid of me. Not only didn’t he like my answer, I think no answer would have satisfied his urge to funnel his own.
And there it was……(according to him) Aviation should be banned completely…
Be aware my fellow pilots, aviators, these kinds of people are fanatic haters of everything that has a glimpse of aviation and that includes US Pilots.
This is exactly why the website Justairborne is so incredibly important. Not only to share our experience and fun, but also show “the world” how important aviation is for so many!.
As we all know there is a bit of a lobby against aviation, not only general aviation but all of it.
People that don’t have a passion for aviation, don’t get thrilled by each and every airplane that they fly in. No goosebumps for them at airshows, no pilot friends or endless hours at airfields. Boy, those people don’t know what great hobby they COULD have!
Of course everyone is entitled to their own vision but do NOT tell ME to stop flying and quit a passion that I have lived for since 1980.
He probably didn’t have a dad like me, who built model airplanes in his spare time, took me to airshows, gave me an abundance of details about each vintage aircraft, filled me with WW2 history facts and enlisted me to become a youth member at a gliding club at age 16.
Let’s be careful about this growing trend of anti aviation people that are trying to “change” the world, they are the wolves hidden in sheep’s clothes. They are desperate to put the word “shame of flight” in our mouths and basically want the world to go back to the stoneages. Seemingly not understanding that without aviation our economy would come to a halt and would project us back a century in time.
At a recent AOPA Netherlands assembly I learned that GA Netherlands contributes only 1% to CO2 levels, very low compared to other sectors. The point is, we pilots and aviation are just a very easy target and therefore GET these kinds of reactions.
Our sector is very conscious and serious about reaching goals and applying to rules. More electrical aircraft and cleaner Aviation Fuel types are being introduced.
I will NOT have my fun for flying spoiled even if in times where General Aviation seems a bit under pressure. I will enjoy it even more and will continue doing so, just like the very first day I got flight controls in my hands. I am Just Airborne.
Ada Aukje Engel auk.engel@gmail.com