12 Ideas You Can Use to Promote GA
In the grand scheme of things, most of these ideas won’t really move the needle. We need solutions to several very large issues, but my goal is offer some relatively simple things we can do individually to promote General Aviation.
Incrementally, if we all took up the challenge, we might make a dent, in spite of all the adversity GA faces today.
Talk about flying – Testifying about how awesome flying is can really bring out the latent interest in a person. Now you can be obnoxious about this to complete non-believers, but they weren’t going to be converted anyway so who cares. Usually I don’t have to even bring it up, friends and family routinely ask me questions about flying as small talk. Doesn’t get an easier than this and it costs you nothing.
Give rides – This will cost you money, but it will really sets the hook if they are even remotely inclined to explore aviation. My best recommendation is to target the folks who are most likely to convert and then work your way to the fringe. Young Eagles rides are really great and it’s an amazing program, but our local chapter sees a lot of “free amusement ride” patrons who aren’t likely to ever fly recreationally.
Organize an event – This takes some energy, but what better way than to have an open house, or a fly-in to bring Joe Q. Public out to mix with the aviators. Kills two birds with one stone because it gives existing flyers a venue to ply their craft and it potentially introduces newbies to the equation.
Youth outreach – Like I said, Young Eagles is awesome, but we should be more targeted. Maybe volunteer to speak for a group of students about aviation or lecture at a scout event. You don’t need to be a professional pilot to talk about flying as long as you do your homework.
Habit 1 – Seeks perfection. I believe this is a key trait and it should not be limited to the professional. If you always strive to be the best, you’ll need to know how to accept coming up short without being frustrated. If you fall down you just dust yourself off and get back on the horse. 
Habit 3 – Always thinking ahead. This is just good airmanship, but knowing how to see the way forward is hugely important. At a macro level this involves seeing where you’ll be in 10 years as an aviator or at the micro level, it’s staying ahead of the airplane in a given maneuver or procedure. 
Habit 4 – Doesn’t let the ego get out of control. As a pilot It’s good to have a healthy ego. This business of flying airplanes isn’t for the meek. But there are all kinds of problems associated with an over-inflated ego. It’s a balance that isn’t always easy to manage for some of us, but the best aviators have this dialed in.
Habit 5 – Values safety and manages risk. Successful pilots must respect the need to be safe. Risk management is a large part of what we do as pilots, the good ones give it the appropriate amount of attention. The bad ones just create more statistics and make it hard for the rest of us. 
Does flying lack value? In talking to a pilot friend I hadn’t seen in a while, the topic of flying came up, of course.
