It's unfortunate that GA is always the left out in the cold when Commercial Air Transport decide they want to take over. CAT pushes GA out of airfields and airspace for commercial gain.
It's a pity that the annexation of airspace and facilities by big business does not seem to carry any quid pro quo in the way of provision for those displaced.
So in this vein, how about a few statistics, lifted shamelessly from
the GAAC website
"It may surprise you to learn that, in terms of flying activity, GA is a much bigger activity than Commercial Air Transport (CAT).
Did you know for instance that:
there are more Private Pilot Licences than Commercial Licences?
there are eight times more GA aircraft in the UK than there are airliners?
there are at least six times more movements by GA aircraft in the UK than by CAT craft?
worldwide, GA aircraft accounted for 75% of all hours flown by civil aircraft?
of the 118 million aircraft departures Worldwide, 101 million were General Aviation
in 1989 there were 40,230 people employed in CAT Worldwide but 335,400 employed in GA
in 1989 CAT employed only 21% of all pilots Worldwide
in Europe, of 24.3 million aircraft movements in 1989, 18.6 million were accounted for by GA
in the UK in 1989, there were on average 1,289 daily movements of CAT aircraft. The figure for GA aircraft was 8,375
(Source: ICAO figures for 1989 excl.USSR/China)"
But then of course flying in light aircraft is a "leisure activity" whereas the thousands of people who fly out of Luton each day exporting money from the UK with the aid of tax-free fuel are by contrast engaged in .... errr..... going on holiday!
Yours, gently stirring the pot
Mike