Opinion Shifting on General Aviation

A change in attitude by elected officials toward the general aviation industry is reflective of that of the general public, evidence that industry’s image program is working, the head of the National Business Aviation Association said on the opening day of the advocacy group’s annual convention. The No Plane No Gain program was launched in early 2009 by the NBAA and the General Aviation Manufacturers Association in response to what both groups believed were distortions and inaccuracies being told by politicians and the media about business aviation. In that time, there has been a noticeable change in attitude as the campaign has gotten out the message of the jobs general aviation creates and the value of corporate jets bring to companies using them, NBAA President and CEO Ed Bolen said. That elected officials are now actively identifying themselves with the industry is a reflection of their constituency, Bolen said. “The elected officials believe the general public has a much different opinion of general aviation than they did 18 months ago,” Bolen said. “They believe this is a popular place to be.” The NBAA and GAMA are now taking steps to keep the No Plane No Gain campaign relevant by focusing on what has been successful so far, namely providing data and information on the industry. At last year’s NBAA convention, golfing great Arnold Palmer was announced as a spokesman for the campaign. Over the summer Apollo 11 astronaut Neil Armstrong and investor Warren Buffet also lent their name to No Plane No Gain.