Do you remember the last time you finished writing something and  something was over? I do. Like my last English final that was a 4 essay hand written final that stood between me and graduating college. How about signing a credit card reciept? At that point dinner is over and you are looking for those incredible after dinner mints that kinda melt in your mouth like powder. 
Well I had the pleasure of writing a sentimental airport in somebody's logbook for the last time before the airport is closed by the city. BOOOOO!!! Where is the Dislike button?

 Anyway, it was a lot of fun flying with well known aviation blogger Todd McClamroch creator and writer at MyFlightBlog.com. We had a mission to make one last trip around the pattern at the airport Todd learned to fly out of - The Blue Ash Airport (KISZ) in Cincinnati Ohio. It is always sad to see airports close, but this one is more especially hard to see go. 

Blue Ash is a faded flagship of great airports. Its a stick and rudder airport. Places like PWK and TEB are great airports but, they are flashy airports, fun places to hang out, but they have shinny jets and air conditioning. Blue Ash, was a little different. A type of aviation still exsisted here that you RARELY see any more. I call it stick and rudder aviation. Regular people, flying regular airplanes for the heck of it. Grease monkey's, war heroes, young aspiring aviators pumping gas to pay for flying lessons, all sitting around and enjoying the sights, faces, and sounds of a perfect little airport. The funny thing is, this airport had heavy turbine equipment sitting on the ramp. Blue Ash is settled on a bluff in a heavy hitter industrial park. Near by are tons of manufacturing businesses all the way from Ma & Pa places up to General Electric Aircraft Engine manufacturing plant. Its location is so valuable to aviation, business aviation that is as well as the private aviators that fly out of Blue Ash. 

General Aviation is broken. I have been trying to figure it out, and it is a lot of things. Blue Ash opened my eyes to another reason why. General Aviation currently is a luxury item. Municipalities see that too. General Aviation isn't being held to its highest and best use. It is a tool, a tool for the economy. The Airport Authorities have gotten lazy and not promoted the best asset of their airport to its highest and best use. Blue Ash will be a airport full of memories to be bulldozed for land development. Great, the property tax income for the new development wont do much. Maybe some slick looking buildings will stand tall in the shadows of the airport? :(

The airport is a tool for the economy, its for the other businesses to grow their businesses using aviation. Its just sad to see that the current best and highest value for the Blue Ash airport is land development, when it really can be so much more. Is it kinda weird that I shed a tear while writing this knowing a great piece of aviation history is about to finish writing its story? (Once again, I am proving that I am a nerd, but an aviation one with a heart). Once Blue Ash is done writing, it'll be all over.

RIP Blue Ash! If anybody else finds an airport where you can taxi like a zig zag through the woods, please let me know. 

Al

Finally, the longer days and warmer weather of spring are slowly approaching.  The winter weather for most of the US was at historic highs, and you won’t hear this Midwesterner complain about that.  I have heard many say it is all the hot air coming out of Washington.  Although true, we will leave that discussion to another blogger. 

For me and many others this time of the year brings back that spark to find something new, definitely challenging and as a pilot what great things we can discover.  Many great aviation festivities spring to life with the coming of the “warm months”.  For example, the Oshkosh fly in will kickoff this summer, July 23rd-29th.  Too many Oshkosh is the granddaddy of all fly ins and will play host to more things than you can shake a stick at.  Aviation vendors, speakers, music concerts, aircraft manufacturers, food (very important to pilots), and a daily airshow are just small sample of the entire show.  I hope to make this year my first of many at the Airventure sensation.  For those flying in for the event do not forget the NOTAM that explains important arrival and departure information.  For more info and schedule of events at Airventure take a look at http://www.airventure.org/.

If the craziness of Oshkosh is too much for you to handle consider a smaller local fly in.  Many airports host much smaller events that local pilots attend for the pancakes, aircraft viewing, or the tall tales of pilot conversation.  Some states also hold an annual state fly in where state representatives may stop by or even the local FSDO to show their support.  These fly ins allow general aviation supporter’s young and old a place to gather and share experiences and updates on general aviation current events.  For more ideas on fly in adventures in your area check out http://www.flyins.com/index.po.


A fly in adventure is only one example.  There are many ways to challenge ourselves as pilots this spring and summer.   Just to give you some ideas:

Instrument Rating
Commercial Certificate
Seaplane Training
Tail wheel Training
Mountain Flying
Class B Airspace 

During this period of ever changing weather don’t forget your trusty CFI!!!  If you find yourself a little rusty and that long cross country flight needed to arrive at your destination makes you a little nervous, give him or her a shout.  Your experienced CFI will have no problem getting you back up to speed and confident to make the trek.  Also, remember that a new destination requires thorough preflight planning.  Check weather, aircraft performance, airport information and all other essential info to make your go no-go decision.  Finally, by doing something different you are challenging yourself and keeping your piloting skills sharp.

For those pilots interested in a multiple aircraft flying adventure check back on simpleflight.net soon.

Enjoy your adventure and fly safe.

Travis Ammon