Page 4 - Volume 17 Number 10

2 • TWIN & TURBINEOCTOBER 2013editor’sbriefingThe Value Of AssociationMy daughters snagged me a fine pair of sons-in-law, both of whom sell for a living. I nearly starved to death when I tried that, so I admire my boys for their tenacity and resilience. But, in a way, we’re all in sales...one way or another. Every day, in whatever endeavor we pursue, we presentourselves to the rest of the world, hoping to be accepted for our worth.One of my salesman-sons calls on firms to sell association memberships. In a few minutes, he has to convince a prospect to fork over cash to join a national group to represent the firm’s interests in Washington. He doesn’t waste a lot of time; he believes in his product, but if the would-be member doesn’t agree, he moves on in five minutes. In his view, you either want to join your voice with the rest of your industry, or you’re one of those people who wants to be left alone.Which brings me around to general aviation, a relatively small, sectorized industry that badly needs to band together if it is to resist the ill-informed barbarians always storming its gates. There are several “alphabet” organizations that work to represent us when we’re too busy to give testimony ourselves. I venture to say, none of them are perfect. You might have issues with an organization’s management team, or policy, or the way it spends your money, but the alternative of not having them speaking for us in the halls of Congress, before city council or at court, is a whole lot worse.Like you, I carry several aviation association membership cards in my wallet. I also volunteer for a few, figuring I might be able to give back some of what I have gained from the organization. And, yes, if I could, I’d run some things differently. But you and I shouldn’t let petty grievances stop us from paying dues and adding a number to the voice presented in Washington. There aren’t enough pilots, plane owners, airport users and operators to individually carry the weight of influence. Join and work with NBAA, AOPA, EAA, GAMA, NATA, AEA and your state and local aviation groups. As wise old Ben Franklin put it at the signing of the Declaration of Independence, “We must all hang together, or assuredly we shall all hang separately.”In This IssueFor this month, we’re profiling a great old cabin-class twin that has served in a variety of roles and was modified to fill even more. Piper’s basic Navajo is not only a great personal traveling airplane, it can serve as a business aircraft as well as a charter, air ambulance, freighter and public service utility twin. Read how Geoff Hood’s airplane works for his family travel.In his usual fashion, David Miller’s On Final tells how he had more than a dozen fellow aviators with him on a recent flight, Kevin Dingman gives advice about coping with winter, Tom Turner reminds us about the purpose of crossfeeding fuel in our twin and Russ Smith gives his perspective on meeting the “pilot shortage.” There’s something here for everyone.LeRoy Cook, Editor