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NBAA Thanks Sens. Roberts, Brownback for White House Letter

March 19, 2009, Washington, D.C. – National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) President and CEO Ed Bolen today thanked Senators Pat Roberts (R-KS) and Sam Brownback (R-KS) for writing to President Barack Obama to outline the essential role of business aviation for citizens, companies and the country as a whole.

“In recent weeks, a number of mischaracterizations and misstatements have been made about business aviation,” Bolen said. “We commend the senators for cutting through the over-heated rhetoric and sound bites and highlighting the true importance of business aviation to the national interest.”

In their letter, the senators expressed concern over “a vital American industry that has suffered not only from global economic challenges but also from misinformed public statements…. The reality is that many businesses of all sizes rely on these aircraft to provide the most cost effective and efficient means of transportation for their business model.”

The senators’ letter also notes that business aircraft provide employees with the flexibility to travel directly to smaller airports not serviced by commercial airlines, as well as the ability to conduct business while traveling. They further note that 86 percent of passengers on business aircraft are in fact not CEOs, but mid-level managers, sales representatives and technical employees.

To view the senators’ letter, visit: http://roberts.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=PressRoom.PressReleases

NBAA and the General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA) recently launched No Plane No Gain, an initiative to educate the public about the many benefits of business aviation. More information detailing how business aviation works for America can be found at www.NoPlaneNoGain.org.