(February 2011) — How do we get more people to join our ranks as pilots? It’s simple; force them to make a trip on a commercial airline. Frankly, it’s amazing to me that the airline experience hasn’t caused a mass migration to general aviation. Ironically, the solution was driven home to me on my trip to the National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) annual convention last October.
I know I’ve been spoiled. For years, when I traveled to the NBAA’s annual meeting, I saddled up my Cessna Cardinal and set my own schedule. Even before I owned the Cardinal, when I was flying a Cessna 150, I flew it to New Orleans, Atlanta, St. Louis and Dallas to cover the NBAA for Aviation International News. After joining Flying and upgrading to the Cardinal, I continued to make the annual pilgrimage to the business aviation mecca in whichever far-flung city it was being held, including Orlando, Atlanta and Las Vegas.
