Calls On Industry To Mobilize To Tell BizAv Story
At a No Plane No Gain Media Kickoff Breakfast held to brief
reporters at the start of NBAA’s 64th Annual Meeting &
Convention, NBAA and GAMA leaders described how they have redoubled
their efforts during the past year to burnish the industry’s
image and fight a series of harmful policy proposals emanating from
Washington, DC.
Pat Cunningham, NBAA Board chairman, said, “Although the
economic climate continues to challenge the industry, it’s
also clear that people and companies are still reaching for
opportunities and looking for ways to grow their businesses. I
think that’s been in evidence here at this Convention, which
continues to demonstrate its value to Exhibitors and Attendees
alike.”
Cunningham noted that as of Monday morning, more than 23,000
people had registered to attend NBAA2011, 1,100 Exhibitors were
on-site at the Las Vegas Convention Center and 100 aircraft were on
display.
GAMA Board Chairman John Rosanvallon made two key points:
“The first is, our industry does indeed face continued
turbulence in the economic arena. The second is that the
long-standing partnership between NBAA and GAMA is key to
addressing the industry’s challenges in the policy
arena.” Rosanvallon said he was “very cautiously
optimistic” about the future, noting that current growth in
corporate profits and in global GDP figures are traditionally
harbingers of business aviation growth.
Pete Bunce
GAMA President and CEO Pete Bunce said that recent events
showcasing support for business aviation by featuring state and
local officials have helped thwart onerous policy proposals for
industry. Pointing to White House proposals for imposing general
aviation user fees as an example, Bunce said: “The
president’s proposals are not having traction.
“We’re mobilizing people in the industry to help
tell our story,” continued Bunce. “We’re doing
this not only in national interviews, but in rallies all across the
country.” NBAA President and CEO Ed Bolen noted that in
recent months, President Obama had been using his “bully
pulpit to bully the industry.” Nevertheless, there is some
good news: One in four [U.S. House representatives] have joined the
House GA Caucus; one in three U.S. senators have joined the Senate
GA Caucus; two thirds of states have issued proclamations
supporting GA; and 44 mayors have raised their hands in support for
the industry.
“We are making progress – not with the
Administration – but with all the government officials around
them,” said Bolen. “We are going to win the user fee
fight,” he predicted.
Nevertheless, Bolen acknowledged, “Our work to educate
policymakers about the value of business aviation will be an
ongoing priority for us.” To that end, the No Plane, No Gain
campaign has just rolled out a series of five new ads in
which internationally recognized investor Warren Buffet
asserts that the face-to-face contact that business aviation
facilitates is paramount. The first ad appeared in today’s
edition of The Wall Street Journal.