If you have questions about what you can do for the Public Relations effort, please don't hesitate to email or call NAATS PRT - (303) 693-8570.
I have five areas I want to concentrate on in Public Relations:
| Current Users: | Promote our image and service to the general aviation community through conventions, user forums, articles in aviation magazines, |
| Limited or non-users: | Promote Flight Service to other areas of the aviation community where we could provide specific services to pilots and/or operators who do not currently use us. |
| General Public: | Promote Flight Service and the vital role it plays in aviation safety to the general public through press releases, news articles, education, forums, etc. |
| Congress: | The President will be handling most of the congressional activities for the Union, but PRT will assist in educating the members on what they can do with their own representatives. |
| Members: | Promote the Union and encourage membership throughout the bargaining unit through education, information and promotion of what the Union is doing for the members. |
We are active in several of the major aviation events and I'm looking to expand that exposure. I plan to focus on those events where a majority of the attendees are our customers - Oshkosh, Sun 'n Fun, the AOPA Convention - and to look at some of the larger airshows. I believe the majority of the work at airshows should be done by local reps; controllers who know the area and work with the pilots there. PRT will provide handouts and guidance. FacReps should solicit volunteers from the membership and see if you can get admin time for attendees. What we are doing is promoting Flight Service.
Attn: FacReps:- Let me know if you need NAATS handouts for local airshows you will be attending. The sooner I know the better.
The Military and the Airline Industry. There is a lot we can do for both these groups that for one reason or another, we don't do routinely. I would like to increase our service to both groups and that is largely an education piece. How many times have you flown in the cockpit of an air carrier and they have said "Are you still open"? This shows how poorly the agency (and we) have promoted our services.
This involves contacts with the media and letting them know who we are and what we do and offering to advise them on news articles pertaining to aviation, in particular as they relate to FSS and weather.
Attn: FacReps:- Please collect a list of email contacts at the primary media sources in your area (Newspaper, Radio and TV) and forward them to me. I would like Media name, contact name phone number, FAX number and email address. If need be, call around and get this information. The News Focal responsible for your facility is listed on the focal page.
Wally has been sending out information for members to take with them when they visit their representatives. We need to keep Congress informed about who we are and how vital our service is to both aviation safety and the safety of the general public.
We need to work actively to get everyone involved and behind NAATS. This means we need to ensure all members get information on what we are doing and how they can help.