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General aviation feels pinch Photo of Mike White by Drew Fleming Private pilots with VFR ratings can't fly, so business suffers By GREG STILES Major airlines and aircraft builders aren't alone in the financial crisis brought on by last Tuesday's terrorist attacks. Companies across America that supply the goods and services for general aviation - essentially most private air travel in light planes - have been hit hard in the aftermath of last week's events. Although instrument flight rules operation allowed limited flying on Monday, the overwhelming majority of general aviation fliers remained grounded. However, late Wednesday there was word that the majority of restrictions would be lifted today. Even after commercial flights resumed Friday, the normal stream of activity at the Medford airport slowed to a trickle for the folks who rent and fix airplanes, sell fuel and avionics equipment, and provide flying lessons. "There's a lot of talk about helping airlines, but there is a whole other industry that's hurting big time," said Mike White, an airplane and helicopter mechanic, on Wednesday. "I fly to Merlin every day and since this (terrorist attack) I haven't had any work. I can't fly in or out and I can't test fly. I've had no income whatsoever and it's the same for flight instructors, because they have to fly under visual flight rules. We're all out of work." Multiply that by thousands across the country and the anxiety graph takes a sharp turn north. Just one in 10 general aviation pilots are instrument rated - qualified to fly "IFR" using instruments without having to see the horizon - leaving 90 percent grounded. Pilots are allowed to fly only between FAA-controlled fields. The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association has worked as an advocate for general aviation pilots during the grounding. "They are telling us that there still may be threats to our national security. And decisions about restoring VFR (visual flight rules) flight will be made ultimately at the highest levels of government, including the National Security Council," AOPA president Phil Boyer told his members earlier in the week. "We know from phone calls and e-mails that many members remain stranded away from their families and businesses. "We understand that flight schools and other aviation businesses are at risk of failure right now. AOPA has made sure that federal decision-makers understand these ramifications." Local businesses such as Logan & Reavis Aviation, Jet Center of Medford and Skinner Aviation of Ashland are crawling at a time when business normally hops. "This is usually a pretty busy time with people flying in to see Shakespeare, because the weather is so good in September and October," said Mignon Skinner of Skinner Aviation, the fixed-base operator of Ashland's municipal airport. The only plane flying out of Ashland on Thursday was piloted by Skinner's husband, Bob, who is flying fire reconnaissance in the aftermath of last weekend's thunderstorm. Even mechanical work on the ground has been slowed because parts are not readily available due to last week's interruption of airborne parcel service. Jet Center President Danny George said his 43-employee operation has lost almost all its normal business. "Ninety percent of our business was gone," George said. "Other than maintenance, we were doing nothing while the airlines were grounded. We sent people home. Since the airlines started back up we're up to about 40 percent of our business." Most local instrument-rated pilots, George said, are business owners or corporate fliers. "They fly in weather when business needs to get done," he said. "If it's not business- or corporate-related, there's really no need to be instrument rated because pilots don't want to fly in bad weather. They want to fly in something that's severely clear." Rick Hamilton of Logan & Reavis said his company hasn't launched a plane in eight days. But maintenance work goes on and planes are allowed to taxi. "We do have fueling capability, but we don't compete with Jet Center or Pacific Flights," Hamilton said. "We've got one plane in the shop from the Forest Service, though. We're fortunate enough that they're flying enough to need some maintenance." Reach reporter Greg Stiles at 776-4463 or e-mail [email protected] Mail Tribune Home | Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. | Dow Jones & Co., Inc. | Privacy | Contact Us Copyright � 2001 Mail Tribune, Inc.