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United States Pilots Association |
Here it is the middle of January and we are seeing the results of years and years of mismanagement, ridiculous scheduling, and poor decision making. Some prime examples follow.
Last year the airlines got together and began to spread a big lie stating that the problems of gridlock at certain airports (NYC and others) were caused due to general aviation creating those delays by using the airspace and air traffic control facilities at the same time. This lie was overturned by none other than Marion Blakey, former Administrator, who bluntly stated that too many flights at the same time were the primary cause. The airlines screamed foul. Then the FAA took action, forcing the airlines to limit flights into and out of JFK, EWR, and LGA to so many per hour. Again the airlines howled about the unfairness. Stranding passengers during foul weather and forcing people to sit on airplanes for hours at a time on the ground added to the public rebellion. It is all about money. We have it, they want it. It now appears that the whole user fee idea concocted by the airlines and pushed by their association is deader than last Thanksgiving's turkey.
Now the legacy carriers have come up with another great idea. Merger is the order of the day. Delta wants to merge with anybody. U.S. Air, United, and Continental are looked at as eager future partners. What the airline traveler will no doubt get is more of the same at higher prices with less service. How this bodes for general aviation is anyone's guess. So far I noticed that Southwest Airlines is reducing service to El Paso, TX, and Midland, TX. Flights to Austin from Midland will be down to one a day.
Mesa Airlines, run by Jonathan Ornstein, an acolyte of Frank Lorenzo, has seen its stock value reduced by 70% in the past year. Mesa has now withdrawn entirely from servicing Albuquerque, NM, and all of the southern destinations including Las Cruces, Alamogordo, Silver City, et al. As a result of a lawsuit in Hawaii, it will not surprise me to see this carrier merged with another to avoid bankruptcy. Their aircraft are among the filthiest in the air at any time. Their pilot retention is among the lowest in the industry. Their flights are routinely late--very late.
We in GA have done a wonderful job fending off the user fee proposals, just because we were right. Do not let your guard down. And above all, remember who in Congress was the big proponent of these fees. John McCain, Senator from Arizona, pushed user fees on behalf of the airlines. So did Trent Lott of Mississippi. Mr. Lott got an airport named after him and has decided to retire from the Senate. One can only hope that Senator McCain--he of open borders, immigrant amnesty, and user fees--follows his associate Senator Lott and does the same thing (retires).
I am watching how this all falls out. Frankly it is time for new, forward thinking people to enter the airline industry. We need to continue to show the American public the fallacies of the current airline system. Throw back the allegations in the airline magazines with the truth.
Steve Uslan, President