When did I ever say that working at an airport automatically included you in the aviation industry? I consider things such as airport manager, aviation consultant, airport operations, and pilots as a "professional" occupation (See the AIH Chp 8 for a definition of professional). If I could not fly, I would try to put myself in another professional occupation in the industry. As far as what you consider "in aviation" and what I consider, it doesn't really matter and has no bearing on the argument. You want to say that an airport manager isn't in the aviation industry...fine...but AAAE and the hundreds of airport managers around the country might disagree with you. And while an airport manager could go work at Dairy Queen...and manager for Dairy Queen could not just up and go run an airport. If you think they can, then you have very little knowledge as to exactly what that particular job and the training/experience required entails. But if you want to nit pick and go down the line of every job that has someone go near an airplane and determine if it's "in aviation" or not, then by all means...knock yourself out. But the people reading this thread might get a little bored...