Airport Journals


The Laryngitis Equation	Jan '07

By Cliff Robertson

Recently I came down with laryngitis. You don't "come up" with that distressing affliction! Typical of my hang-tough, fake macho denial, I ignored the obvious symptoms, continued on with my wide speech commitment, and finally had to bite the bullet: shut my big mouth (to the delight of many) and confine my speeches to a merciful few. Certain realities emerged from this suppression:

I was forced to write my speeches and comments about aviation, movies, the political spectrum and the world's ills. I was forced to examine my thoughts before speaking, like a thorough preflight of one's aircraft before taking off.

I had to consider my words before transmitting. Consider the controller: keep it brief, pithy and clear.

I remembered to take water—plenty of it—for long flight mental awareness and throat relief. Let's not forget kidney relief! Keep convenient and readily available.

Keep strong menthol lozenges handy. They can prove soothing at altitude.

These five fidelities will be a constant reminder that you are accepting your responsibilities as P.I.C. That you are not without relief, in several forms, and that we have utilized "a negative"—transformed it into a "productive positive." Would that we might apply this to our daily fraught-filled lives on the ground—and in Washington, D.C.

I think we are all surfeited with the avalanche of recent political electioneering. Like many of you, I have tired of the ubiquitous comment at the end of each T.V. spot. Example: "I am John Doe, and I approve of this message." I, for one, do not approve of the continual contamination of our airwaves. We, the public, are being "dumped on" by unbridled vainglorious excess. When are the networks and sponsors going to abide by their own caveat: "Less is more."

P.S. My name is Cliff Robertson, and I approve of these statements!

Academy Award and Emmy Award winning screen star Cliff Robertson has owned and flown a wide array of aircraft, including a Spitfire MK IX, a Messerschmitt ME-108, a French aerobatic Stampe SV4 biplane, a Grob Astir glider (in which he still holds a distance record) and a Beech Baron 58. A holder of single, multi, instrument and commercial licenses, as well as balloon, the pilot of many thousands of hours has accumulated many aviation awards, including EAA's highest Eagle award and the AOPA Sharples award. He was recently inducted into the National Aviation Hall of Fame, and the American Veteran Association has honored him as Veteran of the Year. His columns will appear in his soon-to-be-published book. For more information, visit [http://www.cliffrobertson.info].