Sept. 6, 2013
The month of August provided a welcome opportunity for NBAA representatives and other personnel with close ties to the business aviation community to meet with congressional leaders as these lawmakers visited with their constituents during the summer recess. NBAA and others in the industry offer several tools to assist Members in maintaining that important grassroots dialogue, even as Congress returns to session next week.
“It is extremely important for business aircraft pilots and operators to spread the message of the industry’s numerous benefits to local communities and our nation,” noted NBAA President and CEO Ed Bolen. “At a time when the industry faces a number of potentially detrimental policy proposals, including the ever-present threat of user fees against business aviation operators, it is critical that everyone within the industry weigh in with their elected officials.”
NBAA offers a diverse range of online resources that enables the business aviation community to speak with a single, clear and united voice on important matters. The most recent addition is NBAA’s Twitter-based advocacy tool, which enables users to “tweet” their elected representatives with important advocacy messages on behalf of business aviation.
“As social media continues to gain prominence and visibility, the Twitter-based tool ensures that Members’ messages are seen not only by members of Congress and congressional staff, but also by the media and the individual’s own Twitter followers,” noted Jason Wolf, NBAA director of Internet communications. “The resource automatically locates Twitter accounts for the user’s congressional officials and prepares customized tweets on specific issues affecting the general aviation and business aviation communities.”
The Twitter-based advocacy tool is an expansion of NBAA’s successful Contact Congress resource, which offers user-customizable templates for delivering messages urging lawmakers to support legislation promoting general aviation and business aviation causes. Both resources are available through the Contact Congress website.
Additionally, NBAA provides a detailed “Building Relationships With Elected Officials” checklist for Member Companies to follow when presented with the opportunity to engage their local, state and federal elected officials about the benefits of business aviation.
The Alliance for Aviation Across America, of which NBAA is a founding member, also provides a significant amount of useful data about the impact of general aviation on local economies and communities, including an extensive economic-impact survey outlining the benefits of general aviation on businesses, local economies and communities around the nation.
Wolf also encouraged NBAA Members to take advantage of NBAA’s expansive selection of communications resources – including the NBAA website, the weekly NBAA Update newsletter and participation in Air Mail, NBAA’s Members-only social network – to remain fully aware of issues affecting the industry.
“These vital resources ensure that Members are completely informed on these important matters whenever they have the opportunity to communicate with elected officials,” he concluded.
International Business Aviation Council Ltd.