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Friday, October 11, 2024 - 04:30 AM

INDEPENDENT CONSERVATIVE VOICE OF UPSTATE SOUTH CAROLINA

First Published in 1994

INDEPENDENT CONSERVATIVE VOICE OF
UPSTATE SOUTH CAROLINA

In 1980-85 I was a member of the California City Airport Advisory Committee. Whenever the City Council dealt with issues that involved the airport we attended their meetings and contributed mostly helpful advice. For reasons I don’t now remember we decided in 1983 to hold a fly-in/airshow at our airport. We divided the responsibilities: Vendors, car parking, aircraft parking, advertising, event registration, etc. I took on the responsibility for the air show.

Several businesses operated out of our airport. I contacted all the proprietors and invited them to participate in the planning so they would have a suitable slot in which to display their products and services. All but one were delighted with this arrangement. Victor (not his real name) the owner of the parachute jump school refused to participate. He even told people that we were insane to think we could stage a fly-in/airshow at this tiny airport way out in the Tullies. So I scheduled a spot landing contest and a flour bombing contest in the slots Victor could have had.

Realizing we could have more than 100 aircraft arriving between 7:00 and 9:00 A.M. on the day of the event, and the same 100 plus wanting to depart between 4:00 and 5:00, I contacted the FAA and requested the services of a mobile control tower, so we could accommodate the air traffic safely.

Up until about 2:00 the event was coming off amazingly well. None of us could have dreamed that it would go so smoothly. We had 124 aircraft and about 100,000 spectators. About 2:00 one of the Committee members ran up to me and gasped, “Frank, better get to the control tower ASAP. Victor has ordered the controllers to get off the airport.”

Needless to say, I ran to the control tower. The controllers were packing up their things, getting ready to leave. “NO, no, no,” I said, “Don’t leave us. We need you to get all these planes out of here safely when this thing is over.”

“Victor ordered us to leave,” they explained.

“Victor is just pretending that he has the authority to kick you out. He doesn’t have that authority. I am the one who requested your services, and I am the only one who has the authority to ask you to leave. You guys did a terrific job getting all these planes in here safely, and I need you to work the same magic getting them out safely.” As I talked, out of the corner of my eye I saw Victor enter and stand behind me, so I repeated, “Victor doesn’t have the authority to order you to leave. I am the only one who has that authority.”

“Then you’d better exercise that authority quick,” Victor interrupted, “your G__d d___m air show is costing me money. I have a plane load of jumpers ready to take off and these idiots won’t give me clearance to go.”

One of the controllers explained, “His drop zone is under the downwind leg of the traffic pattern. We have from 10 to 25 planes using that airspace until 5:00. I told him I could clear him after 5:00 P.M. but he wasn’t happy with that.”

“Victor, I tried to get you to participate in the planning of this event, but you refused. You could have had two slots, one for beginners and one for your advanced jumpers, but you turned them down. So, if you lose money it’s your own fault.” I turned to get back to my duties shepherding the acrobatic pilots and their acts.

“I’ll take you to court. I’ll sue you for everything you’ve got!” he called after me.

“Fine. I’ll see you in court,” and I hurried away.

“You Communist! You anti-business bas___d! You anti-American NAZI!” Victor shouted at my vanishing image.

History has a way of repeating itself. This month we have President Barrack Hussein Obama pretending that he has the authority to cancel sanctions and make treaties with Iran. A committee of Republican Senators wrote a letter to the Iranian negotiators in essence telling them that BHO is pretending to have the authority to do what you agree upon. He doesn’t. Per our Constitution we, and only we, have that authority. Any agreements you make with him will have validity only if we concur. You might be wise to pay more attention to our requirements.

BHO and his lackeys are furious that his deceitful theatrical performance has been exposed. They are calling the Senators all kinds of hideous names. BHO has a record of being the world’s worst negotiator. I am very, very glad the Senators stepped in and set the record straight before BHO gave away the farm again for nothing in return.