Involvement Equals Success!

by Bruce Botterman, President
Wisconsin Aviation Trades Association

EDITOR'S NOTE: The following article is an editorial by the author, and may not reflect the opinion of other WATA members, corporate sponsors, MIDWEST FLYER MAGAZINE or its advertisers. Nothing can be reprinted without the written consent of the author, WATA and MIDWEST FLYER MAGAZINE. Any use of the information presented is done so without permission and at the user's risk.

Whether it is one's business, community, church, school, or extracurricular activity, it seems that the people who are "involved" are successful in life. Having just completed a survey of Wisconsin fixed base operators, this belief is reconfirmed.

The main objective of the survey was to assess member needs and desires, and how the Wisconsin Aviation Trades Association (WATA) can best serve its members. Unfortunately as with most surveys, the response rate was poor, but better than most with nearly 20 percent of the operators responding.

The first question we asked operators was which organizations they are members of and why. Some - but regrettably not many - are involved in their local chambers of commerce, some are members of the National Business Aviation Association (NBAA), and some involved with the National Association of Flight Instructors (NAFI). The greatest number operators are members of the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA), Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA), and/or the National Air Transportation Association (NATA).

The reason why these operators are members of these organizations is because of "perceived" and "real" benefits. They generally feel that our national associations are doing an excellent job of addressing industry issues and watching over governmental agencies on their behalf, as businesses and as individual pilots.

There does seem to be a correlation between those operators who are involved in WATA and who are members of other trade organizations, and their level of success. For instance, those operators who attend seminars and conferences, and who are members of various organizations tend to be the operators whose greatest concern is "not having enough employees to handle the amount of business they have." Conversely, those operators who do not attend seminars and conferences, and who are not members of organizations, tend to identify "not having enough business" as their greatest concern.

The survey also suggested that there are quite a few operators willing to serve on the WATA Board of Directors or on a special committee. Most of these operators have never served on the board or committee in the past.

As business owners, fixed base operators in Wisconsin see "not having enough personnel" as their greatest challenge, followed by not having enough business, having too much business, a lack of management skills on their part, airport relations, lack of hangar space, concern that the local FAA Flight Standards District Office is trying to eliminate small operators, poor profit margin, high state taxes, and containing operating costs.

While 63 percent of the operators responding did not attend a recent flight training business success seminar sponsored by WATA, 82 percent feel WATA should continue to sponsor such worthwhile programs. Why didn't more operators attend the seminar? Not enough time and a lack of employees may be reasons. But once operators realize the "value" in such seminars, we think they will be more likely to attend in the future.

Also encouraging was the fact that if operators felt their concerns were addressed at future state aviation conferences, then they would attend. The survey indicates that we could increase attendance by 14 percent.

One conclusion we can derive from the survey is that while it may be difficult to get away from one's business, a lot can be gained from taking off one day once or twice a year to attend seminars and conferences. If an operator can take home just one good idea, and network with other operators, vendors and government officials, they will likely improve their bottom line, and learn to work smarter, not harder! 

Wisconsin Businesses Launch Statewide Aviation Association by Dave Weiman 

RACINE, WIS. - Major corporations in Wisconsin came together June 28 at the Meadow Brook Country Club in Racine to formulate the bylaws for a new association called the "Wisconsin Business Aviation Association." The purpose of the organization is also strictly business!

Businesses with aircraft need airports, and it is believed that an association which represents both large and small businesses will have the political clout needed to protect and improve existing airports in the state. Racine attorney Gary Thompson, who flys for business himself, is one of the organizers, along with such notables as David Mann, manager of Racine Commercial Airport who chairs the newly formed board, and former Wisconsin Bureau of Aeronautics Director Fred Gammon, who is now the director of aviation for Johnson Controls in Milwaukee.

Other corporations represented were Waupaca Foundry, Modine, D.W. Davies Chemical Co., and S.C. Johnson. Bob Kunkel, director of the Wisconsin Bureau of Aeronautics in Madison, who was also in attendance at the meeting, says that the newly formed Wisconsin Business Aviation Association (WBAA) will be able to lobby in support of airport development projects in the state, and communicate to legislators what safe and efficient airports mean to the state's economy.

WBAA has already lent support to expanding Rock County Airport in Janesville, and is urging the state and the Federal Aviation Administration to lengthen the runways at airports with large corporate aircraft operations to a minimum of 5,000 feet.

The concept of state business aviation associations is not new. In the Upper Midwest alone, similar organizations exist in Minnesota and Michigan. Most, if not all, state organizations are modeled after the National Business Aviation Association (NBAA), which focuses its attention on national legislative issues.

Businesses of all sizes are welcomed to join WBAA, and dues have been set according to the degree a company or individual wishes to be involved. Business memberships are $200. Affiliate memberships are $50. Only business members are eligible to vote. For additional information or membership application, write to David Mann, WBAA Chairman, c/o Racine Commercial Airport, 3239 North Green Bay Road, Racine, WI 53404 or call 262-631-5620.

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