During his State of the Union address, President Obama referred scathingly to business aircraft as luxuries and the perks of highly-paid executives, to the annoyance of business aircraft users – most of whom do not fly jets – and the aviation industry.
The president’s remarks, which were largely focused on the tools needed to recover from a deep economic crisis, made snide, broad, generic references to “private jets” but completely overlooked the millions of jobs involved in business aviation manufacture and support, along with the lifeline provided by business aviation to some 100 communities that have lost airline service, not to mention the tremendous advantage general aviation airplanes provide to businesses that are “struggling to survive and preserve their employee base in this unforgiving economic climate,” as an NBAA news release phrased it.
In response to caustic comments about business aviation from the president and members of Congress, NBAA and GAMA re-launched and updated their No Plane No Gain initiative, aggressively promoting the value of business aviation to citizens, companies and communities across the country.
The No Plane No Gain campaign was on national television over the Feb. 28-March 1 weekend, reminding Washington policymakers and opinion leaders about the importance of business aviation to citizens, companies and communities across the United States. A 30-second television spot was broadcast during a number of network public affairs shows, including ABC’s “This Week With George Stephanopoulos,” NBC’s “Meet the Press” and FOX’s “FOX News Sunday.”
A new No Plane No Gain newsletter outlines the activities being undertaken to remind key audiences of the essential role business aviation plays for citizens, communities and companies across America. Its inaugural issue looks at the campaign’s new TV advertisement, web site and resources, along with recent news reports with comments from NBAA President and CEO Ed Bolen and General Aviation Manufacturers Association President and CEO Pete Bunce.
To see the first edition of the No Plane No Gain Report: http://www.noplanenogain.org/Newsletter_Archive.htm?m=51&s=415
IF that is how the new president feels, then he better get used to commercial. Can’t have him flying on those high faluting govmint toys called Air Force Ones.