COM1
YOUR CHANCE TO TAKE UNPRECEDENTED ACTION
Private pilots, charter and airline captains, weekend warriors… all see the same airport differently. What they read varies from publication to publication, but what unifies most distributed or sold printed matter is advertising.
We’d like to present an interesting perspective to you in hopes that you’ll write aviation magazine editors once you better understand their world. The future of many airports could depend on it.
For the most part, editorial content is tacitly held hostage by advertising dollars. If magazines print outrageous or consistently negative material, few mainstream advertisers will want to be associated with your publication. Some niche markets will always seek exposure, but the warm and fuzzy dollars live in safe publications.
The one issue we all share a common interest in is the future of our airports, yet there is precious little source material available to explain concepts like avigation easements, airport land use commissions, noise abatement legalities, and a host of other items that ultimately dictate the future of an airport.
This subject matter COULD be written about extensively in the major aviation publications. Question is: Why isn’t it?
Two reasons: 1) Negative overtones (which scare off advertisers) and 2) Readers aren’t demanding it.
If the entire flying population of states like California, Texas, and Florida were to write the editorial offices of Flying, Plane & Pilot and Private Pilot (three of the largest national General Aviation publications on the market), insisting that more airport defending articles be presented, imagine how quickly the overall flying population could become educated and armed.
Sound far-fetched?
Not hardly. Editors sit at their desks wondering how to fill pages from month to month (I am speaking from direct personal experience.-Ed). If they believe readers want to know more about airport defending, and if enough readers wrote in to convince advertisers that this would be a good thing… the desired singular focus could actually be achieved.
Address your e-mails to Editor, and put “Airport Defending articles” in the subject line.
Flying: [email protected]
Private Pilot: [email protected]
Plane and Pilot: [email protected]
Just ask for more content about how to keep airports open, and in doing so, never underestimate the power of your own press…
We learned shortly before press time that Turlock Regional Aviation Association president Allen Palmer was killed in a plane crash near Paso Robles on April 28. CPA extends sincere condolences to Mr. Palmer’s family, friends and fellow pilots in the Turlock area. California Pilot will be running an article on Mr. Palmer in the next issue.-Ed.
