Hi Vitabene
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Have you arranged a demo for interested parties- that may help your cause?
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We have offered multiple times, at our own expense to perform demonstration jumps for all the interested parties, dating back as early as 2008. We have offered it to the airport board, the airport manager and the Gilford and Laconia elected officials.
Every time we offer it, we are flatly denied, with no explanation, other than the catch phrase "that is simply not an option."
This, despite the fact that I hold an FAA sanctioned "Pro Rating" and can legally skydive/parachute into stadiums. (I jumped into Lincoln field last summer for a Philadelphia Eagles Fan Appreciation Day).
This, despite the fact that we have "demo insurance" to satisfy the airport's insurance requirement.
This, despite the fact that the airport is practically a ghost town November-April.
This, despite the fact that the airport is practically empty during the week even in the summer months.
This, despite the fact there are only two businesses operating out of the entire airport.
The reason they flatly deny us of course though, is that they don't want us proving them wrong. The moment we land our parachutes safely and accurately, their arguement and all of their fear mongering comes to an abrupt end.
That is why they continue to refuse us access to the airport for a demonstration jump.
At this point however, I wouldn't care to even consider a demonstration jump.
Why?
I could land a sport or tandem parachute anywhere on the field that they asked me to, repeatedly, all day long. But in doing so, it would not sway their opinions. Hence, at this point it would simply be a waste of my time and money to demonstrate what I have been asking to demonstrate for the last three years.
Make no mistake, this is no longer an issue of airport access, it is an issue of self entitlement. For the airport authority to now concede that we can operate, is for them to concede that they were in fact completely, and utterly wrong from the outset of this process, and they will never, ever, ever do that. It's a matter of vanity. Who are we to tell them what they can and cannot allow on THEIR airport.
At this point, atleast when the FAA finally orders them to let us on, they can atleast attempt to salvage some credibility in this process by claiming that the FAA made them let us operate..........
Till then.......
Blue skies to all and to all a good flight,
Tom