I got an e-mail from a friend of mine today, she was with her son last night at a boy scout meeting here in Greeley and it just so happens that the Greeley airport manager was at the same boy scout meeting with his son….my friend happened to mention that maybe we could pool our efforts and possibly get the Collings Foundation bombers to stop through later this summer…the Greeley airport manager responded that he still had a bit of a bad taste in his mouth from his last Bomber stop through, with the CAF’s ‘Sentimental Journey’ a few summers ago…they charged the ramp guys to go through the plane even after the ramp rats had helped them set up, the crew made a bunch of demands that were met (and considerable finances spent by the airport to meet them) and the things that were ordered for them were never used, apparently the plane crew was rude to a lot of folks (drawing complaints to the airport staff) and they left a big mess on the ramp when they left….by that I’m assuming oil stains and rags and other detritus…and so the manager of the airport now really isn’t interested in trying to get anymore bombers or warbird groups through here anytime soon…and this is a guy who USED to own a hangar down in Ft. Worth Texas where they restored the LB-30 ‘Diamond Lil’, and when the plane was done and flying, they took him up in the plane to thank him for letting them use his hangar! What do you do to smooth out a situation like this, where warbirds and the folks involved with them left a bad taste in someone’s mouth? Would love to get the Collings bombers in here some day, but it’s gonna take a LOT of talking to this guy to get him to do it…
Mark
By: JDK - 2nd March 2005 at 07:06
Tough one Mark.
RER’s suggestion is good, but to give some shape – and applying some (not all) of my experience in customer complaints…
1. Hear him out – all the way, ask questions – get all the gripe from him, to you.
2. Offer good references for the other guys, but in his kinda job – I’m sure Ryan can provide folks who’ve loved them.
3. Don’t push it, but point out the ‘bad apple’ problem, i.e. spoils it for the rest. ‘Doesn’t another group deserve a chance?’
4. See if there can be a pre-‘care package’ sent first – I’m sure Collings would be happy to send a few Ts and zaps as an expression of good intent.
5. Keep it positive – don’t do the other guys down, but do focus on what Collings HAVE done – positive (but realistic) PR.
It’s worth doing, cos if you turn the guy around, he’ll be the a1 advocate.
And let’s remember we ALL need to work on ‘old aeroplanes need friends’ – let’s see some support here!
Good luck,
By: crazymainer - 2nd March 2005 at 00:05
Hi Mark,
I would give Ryan a call at the Foundation and have a chat with him. If you need his # send me a e-mail offline and I will give it to you.
RER
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March 2, 2005 at 12:00 am