... is this guy good or bad for GA ?

Good question. AOPA gave a fairly positive response but that could be a political move as not wanting to burn a bridge of someone who they're going to have to work with.

http://www.aopa.org/advocacy/articles/2 ... bbitt.html

Here's another article.

http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show ... 5276.shtml

I'm concerned his work with the airlines might make him a proponent of the airline industry point of view. Recall how they pushed so hard to shove extra costs onto GA and tried to paint GA as the bad guys causing passenger delays at the airports when the reality was overbooking by the airlines themselves.

I'd like to know a LOT more about this guy and where he stands regarding GA.

Hmmm......lets see, Obama is jacking up the national dept to what, 3 Trillion this year? And does anybody really think those "rich" pilots are going to avoid paying a little more of their share? (I'm flying a lot now, while I still can.)

Apparently, he's not and hasn't been an airline pilot for some time. He flew for Eastern, and stopped flying airline when Eastern went belly up. Supposedly, ALPA had to change their rules to permit him to remain on as President, since the job formerly required that the Pres. be an active airline pilot.

So, he's neither an airline pilot, nor probably a GA pilot. So what's that make him? A union organizer.

We'll see, I reckon.

MTV

You know what the big iron pilots and GA pilots have in common. They both want to fly small piston singles low and slow.

Rob

RobBurson wrote:You know what the big iron pilots and GA pilots have in common. They both want to fly small piston singles low and slow.

Rob

Maybe, but I doubt it has much to do with what the pilots want. They just work for the big corporations. Now don't get me wrong. I'm as pro business as they come. But, corporate America has gotten way too powerful. These guys own the US government lock, stock, and barrel. They get whatever they want.

OscarDeuce wrote:

RobBurson wrote:You know what the big iron pilots and GA pilots have in common. They both want to fly small piston singles low and slow.

Rob

Maybe, but I doubt it has much to do with what the pilots want. They just work for the big corporations. Now don't get me wrong. I'm as pro business as they come. But, corporate America has gotten way too powerful. These guys own the US government lock, stock, and barrel. They get whatever they want.

yep, I'm afraid your right. I hate to be so negative but there doesn't seem to be much to be positive about as it relates to business and government.

I know there are people out there who think the present administration is the 2nd coming of Christ I don't. (IMO)

There are lots of positive things in my life and I am thankful for each and every blessing. I have my health. That is all that is really important.

Cheers...Rob

Randy Babbitt,

Was an exceptional President of ALPA., perhap the best of my 35 year membership. There was not a requirement that one had to be an active airline pilot to be ALPA president although historically all prior presidents had been pilots of an existing airline. His father, Slim Babbitt, was also a powerful, pilot union leader at EAL in the 50s. It is true that Eastern had ceased to operate before Randy was elected ALPA president. After his retirement from ALPA Randy founded and then merged his successful aviation consulting firm. A rarity among airline pilots.... Randy was a democrat.

I seriously doubt that his appointment will have any effect positive or negative upon general aviation. He will be an administrator as have those before him. Neither friend or foe. At least he is a pilot....something that cannot be said of all our prior FAA administrators.

The real boogie man, in my opinion, is the TSA. If they have it their way general aviation will become so hamstrung that our freedom to fly will be virtually non-existant. We may well find that the FAA will be our ally in opposing unecessary TSA rules.

I would suggest that airline pilots have never been enemies of general aviation. However our airline/employers have not been friends.

Summer is coming. Enjoy,

Bob

The real boogie man, in my opinion, is the TSA. If they have it their way general aviation will become so hamstrung that our freedom to fly will be virtually non-existant. We may well find that the FAA will be our ally in opposing unecessary TSA rules.

100% agreed. With the exception that "boogie man" would not have been my choice of words.