Avionics News February 2017 - 63
THE VIEW FROM WASHINGTON
Continued from page 11
had only recently been introduced. Ed King introduced
the KX 175 in 1970. In 1972, the aircraft band channel
spacing for voice communication split from 50 kHz
to 25 kHz, which provide 720 usable channels. It was
further expanded in 1990, adding the additional 40
channels to create the 760 channels we employ today.
And two of my favorite facts from 1975: George
Carlin hosted the first Saturday Night Live, and Paul
Simon won the Album of the Year: Still Crazy After All
These Years. I can relate to both!
In 1965, no more than 20 percent
of Americans had ever flown in
an airplane. By 2000, 50 percent
of the country took at least one
round-trip flight a year. The
average was two round-trip tickets.
Detroit was introducing its "Less is More" campaign
with the introduction of the Gremlin, Vega and Pinto.
For those Volkswagen fans, this was the year that
the VW Rabbit was introduced in the U.S. to replace
the Beetle. In reality, there wasn't a lot of difference
between your 1975 Gremlin and your latest generation
GA aircraft.
But what was important was that the personal aircraft
played a much more widespread purpose back in the
1970s.
When I was hitchhiking the California coast back in
the 1960s, the main north-south highways were U.S.
Highway 101 (along the Pacific coast - now the Pacific
Coast Highway) and U.S. Highway 99 (now California
99) along the western edge of the Sierra Mountains.
Interstate 5 over Tejon Pass and the Grapevine, the
major route between Los Angeles and the Central Valley,
was opened by 1970 but fed most traffic onto U.S.
99 at Bakersfield until 1979, when the last section of
Interstate 5 was completed near Stockton, California.
To put this into perspective, to drive the 390 miles or
so between Sacramento and Los Angeles would take
about 5.5 hours today, according to Google (I seem to
remember closer to six or seven hours). On the other
hand, traveling through all of the towns on the eastern
edge of the Central Valley routinely took eight to 10
hours.
So instead of driving your brand new AMC Pacer,
Chevy Vega, Ford Granada or Buick Skyhawk, you
might fly your $20,000 Cessna Skyhawk at twice the
speed and cover the Central Valley in four hours instead
of eight - a definite benefit. Today, Southwest Airlines
flies from any of four LA airports to Sacramento for as
little as $59.
That is not to say that the business traveler cannot or
should not consider and use general aviation to support
their business. Certainly, time is a major consideration.
Travel time and time away from the family are two great
reasons to get to their appointment and back, to reduce
the hotel stays by getting out and back in one day. To be
able to address pressing issues on your schedule rather
than the airlines' schedule are all huge benefits for the
business use of general aviation.
We routinely see this with meetings at the AEA
international headquarters in Lees Summit, Missouri.
It is not unusual for at least one attendee in each
conference to fly into the local Lees Summit Airport.
The convenience, logistical expediency, and flexibility is
quite evident.
But for the pleasure flyer, buying the equivalent of a
second home to support a weekend hobby is challenging
at best. When we go back to the cost of living in the
1970s, it took roughly twice the annual income to buy a
Cessna 172. Today, it takes nearly five times the average
salary.
Although this may sound a bit "doom and gloom,"
I disagree. As Mark Twain quipped about his reported
death in 1897, the reports of general aviation's death are
greatly exaggerated. However, as the inventory of 30-,
40- and 50-year-old general aviation aircraft become
cost prohibited to fly, maintain and upgrade, I suspect
their replacements will be in the form of experimental,
amateur-built aircraft or their distant cousins, the light
sport aircraft.
While I plan to be flying for at least a few more years,
I predict a shifting landscape as more of the recreational
aircraft are replaced with the next generation of "sport
planes," while the legacy general aviation focuses on
supporting the business owners and commuters and
training the next generation of aviators.
Yesterday is but a memory and tomorrow a dream. q
avionics news
*
february
2017
63
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Avionics News February 2017
No label
Avionics News February 2017 - Intro
Avionics News February 2017 - No label
Avionics News February 2017 - Cover2
Avionics News February 2017 - 1
Avionics News February 2017 - 2
Avionics News February 2017 - 3
Avionics News February 2017 - 4
Avionics News February 2017 - 5
Avionics News February 2017 - 6
Avionics News February 2017 - 7
Avionics News February 2017 - 8
Avionics News February 2017 - 9
Avionics News February 2017 - 10
Avionics News February 2017 - 11
Avionics News February 2017 - 12
Avionics News February 2017 - 13
Avionics News February 2017 - 14
Avionics News February 2017 - 15
Avionics News February 2017 - 16
Avionics News February 2017 - 17
Avionics News February 2017 - 18
Avionics News February 2017 - 19
Avionics News February 2017 - 20
Avionics News February 2017 - 21
Avionics News February 2017 - 22
Avionics News February 2017 - 23
Avionics News February 2017 - 24
Avionics News February 2017 - 25
Avionics News February 2017 - 26
Avionics News February 2017 - 27
Avionics News February 2017 - 28
Avionics News February 2017 - 29
Avionics News February 2017 - 30
Avionics News February 2017 - 31
Avionics News February 2017 - 32
Avionics News February 2017 - 33
Avionics News February 2017 - 34
Avionics News February 2017 - 35
Avionics News February 2017 - 36
Avionics News February 2017 - 37
Avionics News February 2017 - 38
Avionics News February 2017 - 39
Avionics News February 2017 - 40
Avionics News February 2017 - 41
Avionics News February 2017 - 42
Avionics News February 2017 - 43
Avionics News February 2017 - 44
Avionics News February 2017 - 45
Avionics News February 2017 - 46
Avionics News February 2017 - 47
Avionics News February 2017 - 48
Avionics News February 2017 - 49
Avionics News February 2017 - 50
Avionics News February 2017 - 51
Avionics News February 2017 - 52
Avionics News February 2017 - 53
Avionics News February 2017 - 54
Avionics News February 2017 - 55
Avionics News February 2017 - 56
Avionics News February 2017 - 57
Avionics News February 2017 - 58
Avionics News February 2017 - 59
Avionics News February 2017 - 60
Avionics News February 2017 - 61
Avionics News February 2017 - 62
Avionics News February 2017 - 63
Avionics News February 2017 - 64
Avionics News February 2017 - 65
Avionics News February 2017 - 66
Avionics News February 2017 - 67
Avionics News February 2017 - 68
Avionics News February 2017 - 69
Avionics News February 2017 - 70
Avionics News February 2017 - 71
Avionics News February 2017 - 72
Avionics News February 2017 - Cover3
Avionics News February 2017 - Cover4
https://www.nxtbook.com/allen/avne/60-10
https://www.nxtbook.com/allen/avne/60-9
https://www.nxtbook.com/allen/avne/60-8
https://www.nxtbook.com/allen/avne/60-7
https://www.nxtbook.com/allen/avne/60-6
https://www.nxtbook.com/allen/avne/60-5
https://www.nxtbook.com/allen/avne/60-4
https://www.nxtbook.com/allen/avne/60-3
https://www.nxtbook.com/allen/avne/60-2
https://www.nxtbook.com/allen/avne/60-1
https://www.nxtbook.com/allen/avne/59-12
https://www.nxtbook.com/allen/avne/59-11
https://www.nxtbook.com/allen/avne/59-10
https://www.nxtbook.com/allen/avne/59-9
https://www.nxtbook.com/allen/avne/59-8
https://www.nxtbook.com/allen/avne/59-7
https://www.nxtbook.com/allen/avne/59-6
https://www.nxtbook.com/allen/avne/59-5
https://www.nxtbook.com/allen/avne/59-4
https://www.nxtbook.com/allen/avne/59-3
https://www.nxtbook.com/allen/avne/59-2
https://www.nxtbook.com/allen/avne/59-1
http://www.brightcopy.net/allen/avne/58-12
http://www.brightcopy.net/allen/avne/58-11
http://www.brightcopy.net/allen/avne/58-10
http://www.brightcopy.net/allen/avne/58-9
http://www.brightcopy.net/allen/avne/58-8
http://www.brightcopy.net/allen/avne/58-7
http://www.brightcopy.net/allen/avne/58-6
http://www.brightcopy.net/allen/avne/58-5
http://www.brightcopy.net/allen/avne/58-4
http://www.brightcopy.net/allen/avne/58-3
http://www.brightcopy.net/allen/avne/58-2
http://www.brightcopy.net/allen/avne/58-1
http://www.brightcopy.net/allen/avne/57-12
http://www.brightcopy.net/allen/avne/57-11
http://www.brightcopy.net/allen/avne/57-10
http://www.brightcopy.net/allen/avne/57-9
http://www.brightcopy.net/allen/avne/57-8
http://www.brightcopy.net/allen/avne/57-7
http://www.brightcopy.net/allen/avne/57-6
http://www.brightcopy.net/allen/avne/57-5
http://www.brightcopy.net/allen/avne/57-4
http://www.brightcopy.net/allen/avne/57-3
http://www.brightcopy.net/allen/avne/57-2
http://www.brightcopy.net/allen/avne/57-1
http://www.brightcopy.net/allen/avne/56-12
http://www.brightcopy.net/allen/avne/56-11
http://www.brightcopy.net/allen/avne/56-10
http://www.brightcopy.net/allen/avne/56-9
http://www.brightcopy.net/allen/avne/56-8
http://www.brightcopy.net/allen/avne/56-7
http://www.brightcopy.net/allen/avne/56-6
http://www.brightcopy.net/allen/avne/56-5
http://www.brightcopy.net/allen/avne/56-4
http://www.brightcopy.net/allen/avne/56-3
http://www.brightcopy.net/allen/avne/56-2
http://www.brightcopy.net/allen/avne/56-1
http://www.brightcopy.net/allen/avne/55-12
http://www.brightcopy.net/allen/avne/55-11
http://www.brightcopy.net/allen/avne/55-10
http://www.brightcopy.net/allen/avne/55-9
http://www.brightcopy.net/allen/avne/55-8
http://www.brightcopy.net/allen/avne/55-7
http://www.brightcopy.net/allen/avne/55-6
http://www.brightcopy.net/allen/avne/55-5
http://www.brightcopy.net/allen/avne/55-4
http://www.brightcopy.net/allen/avne/55-3
http://www.brightcopy.net/allen/avne/55-02
http://www.brightcopy.net/allen/avne/55-01
http://www.brightcopy.net/allen/avne/54-12
http://www.brightcopy.net/allen/avne/54-11
http://www.brightcopy.net/allen/avne/54-10
http://www.brightcopy.net/allen/avne/54-9
http://www.brightcopy.net/allen/avne/54-8
http://www.brightcopy.net/allen/avne/54-7
http://www.brightcopy.net/allen/avne/54-6
http://www.brightcopy.net/allen/avne/54-5
http://www.brightcopy.net/allen/avne/54-4
http://www.brightcopy.net/allen/avne/54-3
http://www.brightcopy.net/allen/avne/54-2
http://www.brightcopy.net/allen/avne/54-1
http://www.brightcopy.net/allen/avne/53-12
http://www.brightcopy.net/allen/avne/53-11
http://www.brightcopy.net/allen/avne/53-10
http://www.brightcopy.net/allen/avne/53-9
http://www.brightcopy.net/allen/avne/53-8
http://www.brightcopy.net/allen/avne/53-7
http://www.brightcopy.net/allen/avne/53-6
http://www.brightcopy.net/allen/avne/53-5
http://www.brightcopy.net/allen/avne/53-4
http://www.brightcopy.net/allen/avne/53-3
http://www.brightcopy.net/allen/avne/53-2
http://www.brightcopy.net/allen/avne/53-1
http://www.brightcopy.net/allen/avne/52-12
http://www.brightcopy.net/allen/avne/52-11
http://www.brightcopy.net/allen/avne/52-10
http://www.brightcopy.net/allen/avne/52-9
http://www.brightcopy.net/allen/avne/52-8
https://www.nxtbook.com/allen/avne/52-7
https://www.nxtbook.com/allen/avne/52-6
https://www.nxtbook.com/allen/avne/52-5
https://www.nxtbook.com/allen/avne/52-4
https://www.nxtbook.com/allen/avne/52-3
https://www.nxtbook.com/allen/avne/52-2
https://www.nxtbook.com/allen/avne/52-1
https://www.nxtbook.com/allen/avne/51-12
https://www.nxtbook.com/allen/avne/51-11
https://www.nxtbook.com/allen/avne/51-10
https://www.nxtbook.com/allen/avne/51-9
https://www.nxtbook.com/allen/avne/51-8
https://www.nxtbook.com/allen/avne/51-7
https://www.nxtbook.com/allen/avne/51-6
https://www.nxtbook.com/allen/avne/51-5
https://www.nxtbook.com/allen/avne/51-4
https://www.nxtbook.com/allen/avne/51-3
https://www.nxtbook.com/allen/avne/51-2
https://www.nxtbook.com/allen/avne/51-1
https://www.nxtbook.com/allen/avne/50-12
https://www.nxtbook.com/allen/avne/50-11
https://www.nxtbook.com/allen/avne/50-10
https://www.nxtbook.com/allen/avne/50-9
https://www.nxtbook.com/allen/avne/50-8
https://www.nxtbook.com/allen/avne/50-7
https://www.nxtbook.com/allen/avne/50-6
https://www.nxtbook.com/allen/avne/50-5
https://www.nxtbook.com/allen/avne/50-4
https://www.nxtbook.com/allen/avne/50-3
https://www.nxtbook.com/allen/avne/50-2
https://www.nxtbook.com/allen/avne/50-1
https://www.nxtbook.com/allen/avne/49-12
https://www.nxtbook.com/allen/avne/49-11
https://www.nxtbook.com/allen/avne/49-10
https://www.nxtbook.com/allen/avne/49-9
https://www.nxtbook.com/allen/avne/49-8
https://www.nxtbook.com/allen/avne/49-7
https://www.nxtbook.com/allen/avne/49-6
https://www.nxtbook.com/allen/avne/49-5
https://www.nxtbook.com/allen/avne/49-4
https://www.nxtbook.com/allen/avne/49-3
https://www.nxtbook.com/allen/avne/49-2
https://www.nxtbook.com/allen/avne/49-1
https://www.nxtbook.com/allen/avne/48-12
https://www.nxtbook.com/allen/avne/48-11
https://www.nxtbookmedia.com