WORTH THE READ: CLAY SIMMONS GUEST EDITORIAL

Our many RAF supporters have such vast and varied experience, and we’re capturing some of their words of wisdom to share with you. This month’s guest editorial is by Clay Simmons, a young pilot and member of the RAF’s Backcountry Etiquette Team.

I’m supposed to be the adult now?

When I say I’ve been flying my whole life, it sounds facetious, but it’s about 99 percent truth. At 10 days old (ish, as it has been a debate) I took my first flight. Since then I have been fortunate enough to see all types of aviation, from the fast and high turbines, to the lowest and slowest of pistons, and a few aircraft in between. I have forever been enamored with anything that defies gravity, despite my wallet’s disdain for the passion.

It was only natural that my corner of aviation is full of the backcountry machines, in the remote environments, as this is how I experienced it growing up. With some phenomenal help, I became one of the youngest airplane builders, finishing a carbon cub just after my 22nd birthday. This leads to the adventures west (thank goodness for autopilot!), where we can see the beauty of the country, the incredible terrain, and of course, the kind of flying we at the RAF all love so much.

I was inadvertently thrust into a position of, at least partially, representing a generation of aviators. At 23 years old, I am about as young and green as they come, but I love to help out and lean in where I can. Along with this has come a unique sense of purpose. I consider myself to be one of the luckiest kids around, getting to experience so much of aviation in just over two decades, so now my focus has shifted. How can I give back? How do I start making a difference now, to give my grandchildren the same wonder I have been able to experience?

The answer is quite simple: we already do.

Whenever I am at the airport, I am the first person to invite anyone, especially kids, to poke at the airplane, sit in it, and explain how things work in an age-appropriate manner. This often leads to the parents learning a thing or two, and profusely thanking me. My response is always the same “Well, it wasn’t very long ago that I was the kid wanting to sit in airplanes too!”. And candidly, nothing makes me happier than sharing what I love so much, and I’d wager if you’re reading this, you’re in the same boat.

This is the giving back that I had been chasing. I had been doing it all along, but I believed that I needed to make a scene out of it, that I had to preach to hundreds of people why aviation matters, how you can make a living in it, and what you need to do, but that’s not the beginning, that’s the end. It starts with one person taking 30 seconds to share what they love. That is the impact.

I am very fortunate to be a part of the backcountry etiquette committee, a group within the RAF dedicated to creating guidelines for how to operate in the remote spaces in order to be most symbiotic with all other parties such as hikers, bikers, rafters, rangers, and more. I talk about giving back and inviting kids into the airplanes, but this is the bigger picture of that purpose. Protecting and curating the spaces we love so much is why we do it. As fun as it is to go enjoy these amazing places, it’s always better with friends and family.

I was fortunate enough to converse with Bill McGlynn about some of these same topics that extend throughout aviation. Getting kids involved, protecting the space we love, and promoting safety. It was a great conversation with some fantastic ideas shared, but the two of us cannot solve these issues alone, it takes an army. That’s part of the reason I love the chance to speak on the topics I hold so dearly, because if even a single person uses it as their reason to invoke change, I’m all for it.

Despite the ramble, I leave you with an ask:

Lean into the 30 second interactions at the airport.

Those 30 seconds of opening someone’s eyes to aviation is the foundation for all of the things that the RAF stands for, the things that we, as pilots and enthusiasts should stand for, and in reality, what aviation is about. Those 30 seconds are how we build our army, to protect aviation for those who get to be the caretakers next. I look forward to seeing y’all in the sky!

Submitted August 27, 2024