| Every year in Arizona is the Cactus Fly-in which is one | | | | FBOs still in business will need to hire niche companies |
| of the largest events in the city of Casa Grande AZ | | | | so they can continue to bundle services for aircraft |
| air show and fly-in, which is always well attended and | | | | owners and chief pilots of corporate aircrafts and |
| a huge success. The event seems to be growing | | | | collect a small fee for finding these other smaller |
| every year, much busier this year than last year even | | | | companies additional work. |
| though general aviation has suffered due to 9-11. It is | | | | In many cases such a strategy can save the FBO in |
| events like this that help us promote our general | | | | increasing insurance costs. Let us take aircraft |
| aviation business sector in the United States. | | | | washing for instance by hiring an aircraft washing |
| The weather was great this year, not too hot and no | | | | service, as it saves them on their insurance policies, |
| rain. We are seeing a recovery in general aviation | | | | whose agents typically would rather not attach a rider |
| after many companies, especially FBO at smaller | | | | policy for aircraft washing since most underwriters are |
| airports were forced out of business. Sure many of | | | | against washing due to problems associated with |
| these services will be replaced, but the all in one type | | | | water entering fuel tanks accidentally or water |
| aviation services business will be tough, airport flight | | | | freezing pitot tubes or static ports. Also common are |
| schools may opt out of other type services and | | | | electrical problems or avionics failures due to water |
| concentrate on what they are good at and what is | | | | entering where it shouldn't causing or attributing to a |
| most profitable. We may see less bundling of services | | | | crash. Although there have not been too many NTSB |
| due to costs and outsourcing of other services such | | | | findings where washing procedures cashed a crash, |
| as aircraft washing which requires an extra lineman to | | | | several have attributed to the comedy of errors |
| do washing services on call. | | | | usually associated with crashes, a multiplying of |
| There will be other small businesses fulfilling these | | | | problems which eventually causes a crash. A separate |
| niches thus a cost savings to the FBO (Fixed Based | | | | company specializing in aircraft washing will have its |
| Operator). In airport business magazine in Feb there | | | | own washing procedures and can help aviation safety |
| was an article discussing the plight of the FBO. Those | | | | with regards to washing. |