General aviation is an extraordinary industry with a terrible appellation. How is it that the industry spawned by the heroic efforts of the Wright brothers, the industry that gave birth to the jewel of the U.S.'s industrial might–the aerospace industry–and the industry that includes the magic of teaching anyone interested how to fly, goes by the generic-sounding term "general aviation?"

And why is there so much hand wringing about "saving" general aviation (GA)? Multiple efforts have been launched by various organizations trying to "save" GA. There is www.save-ga.org and www.gaservesamerica.com. Bob Miller, who operates a flight school in Buffalo, N.Y., and publishes the "Over The Airwaves" safety newsletter, has long fretted about GA's poor safety record and how the lack of quality training is holding GA back. The Experimental Aircraft Associationπs Young Eagles program has introduced more than 1.6 million children to aviation via a ride in a light airplane in an effort to spark interest in aviation. Sporty's Pilot Shop helps with the next step, offering a free logbook and free online access to its pilot training course for Young Eagles fliers. The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA), which developed the GA Serves America Web site, supports a variety of programs, including lobbying the government, a network of volunteer airport supporters, safety courses from the Air Safety Institute and a Pilots and Teachers Handbook to help teachers show how GA relates to secondary school subjects such as math, science, physics, history and technology. NBAA and the General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA) jointly run the No Plane, No Gain campaign, which "is designed to educate the public on the importance of business aviation to our country and its communities, companies and citizens."