Airport Journals


National Transportation Safety Board Bar Association	Sep '08

By Cliff Robertson

Recently the National Transportation Safety Board Bar Association invited me to Washington, DC. It seems like yesterday that I attended one of its meetings in Los Angeles. At the time, I was impressed with its tight security and professionalism. Alas, that was more than two decades ago. During those 20-some-odd years, the association has continued to grow and develop at an impressive rate. I think we are all impressed with the many comprehensive studies it has brought to our attention—not only we flying people, but America's flying public—and its excellent appraisal of accidents and judgment thereof.

Below is my greeting to this excellent board as it enters its 25th year:

Too many government agencies are viewed with a rather paranoidal eye. A sign of encroaching bureaucracy. A sense that "The government is coming! The government is coming!" Not the British. Not the Russians. But that specter of bureaucracy—that sense of impotence we feel whenever our freedom is threatened. A smell of socialism threatening our liberties.

From this weary citizen I bring a note of optimism. A note of good cheer. A note of relief from bureaucratic encroachment. I am sure many of you share my joy and relief from one government agency that promises and delivers improvement in our safety in the air. The National Transportation Safety Board Bar Association is an agency that truly works. It is an agency that is continually improving its investigative techniques. It is an agency that is not held down in bureaucratic bogs. The National Transportation Safety Board Bar Association is an agency dedicated to the safety of citizens everywhere—not just America, but around the world. Its investigative processes are dedicated to saving lives everywhere. And it is effective! It is a government agency that is truly efficient, up-to-date and ever watchful for the safety of citizens throughout the world. A world presently threatened by violence and extremism.

The United Nations, at times, appears unable to agree with itself. Too bad it does not have the efficacy of our National Transportation Safety Board Bar Association. Too bad it is not as clearly focused as our men and women in the agency, who respond with compassionate alacrity to the needs of our air-flying citizens.

I, for one, am grateful for the continual safety provided by the National Transportation Safety Board Bar Association. Its vigil is my assurance that, whether flying in my own aircraft or a commercial aircraft, my safety is monitored and assured by this unheralded group of men and women, working constantly to provide its citizens with the safety we so deserve.

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 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].

Don Williams
October 7, 2009 05:08

Did Cliff know glider champion Bill Ivans of La Jolla?

Ihad the pleasure of flying with Bill before his untimely death.