Publisher Tries to Head Off Fly-In Ban 

Friday, April 2, 1999

By SUSAN BARBOSA
The Ledger 

BARTOW -- A publisher of articles critical of the Sun
'n Fun Fly-In filed a request in Circuit Court on
Thursday for an emergency hearing to prevent Fly-In
officials from banning him from the event that begins
April 11.

James R. Campbell of Aero-Media USA Inc. in Winter
Haven publishes the bimonthly magazine US Aviator.

Campbell said in his petition, filed by Bartow attorney
Daniel D. Moody, that the Fly-In is open to the public
for a fee and journalists are usually encouraged to
attend. Campbell has participated for the past 10 years
as a journalist and as a vendor marketing his magazine.

But now, Campbell claims, he has been "unofficially
informed" that a trespass warning has been issued to
keep him off the property during the Fly-In.

The warning is "without justifiable cause," Campbell
said, and "is done specifically because of various critical
articles calling into question the safety and politics of the
Sun 'n Fun together with questions regarding the
handling of revenue generated by the event."

Campbell's petition claims First Amendment rights to
attend the event as a journalist.

Billy Henderson, executive director of the Fly-In, would
say only that the problem "is not a freedom of speech
issue." He referred questions to his attorney, John
Wendel, in Lakeland.

Wendel confirmed Sun 'n Fun wants to bar Campbell
from the grounds but wouldn't specify exactly what he
had done to warrant the ban.

"I assure you we regret that we have been unsuccessful
resolving our differences with Mr. Campbell," Wendel
said. "But when he indicates this is a freedom of speech
issue, it is not."

Wendel said other members from US Aviator magazine
who are "properly credentialed" will be allowed on the
grounds.

Because the legal action is pending, Wendel said he
cannot discuss the reason Campbell is banned.
Campbell's petition has been assigned to Circuit Judge
Charles Curry and a hearing is scheduled for Tuesday.

The experimental aircraft show starts its weeklong 25th
annual show in Lakeland on April 11. It is recognized as
one of the largest aviation events in the country.