Podcast Looks to Year Ahead For Business Aviation

Dec. 29, 2014

Listen to an NBAA Flight Plan podcast on some of the challenges the industry will face in 2015

Even as the general aviation industry continues its gradual recovery from the Great Recession, the new year brings challenges both new and old for business aviation.

Here are just some of the considerations for the industry in the coming year:

1. Reconstituting the General Aviation Caucus on Capitol Hill

   When the 113th Congress concluded last week, 38 members of the House and Senate General Aviation Caucuses permanently departed from office. The caucuses, which have been among the largest and most active on Capitol Hill, are a strong force on behalf of general aviation.

   New members of Congress may not be familiar with business aviation, but NBAA Vice President of Government Affairs Dick Doubrava hopes NBAA Members will help the incoming legislators learn about the importance and value of the industry.

   “The best way to do that is with the NBAA Contact Congress Tool,” Doubrava said. “Having served on Capitol Hill, I can tell you there’s not a member of Congress who doesn’t check the email or phone logs to get a sense of what his or her constituents are thinking. The NBAA Contact Congress tool lets them know about business aviation.”

   Learn more about Contact Congress.

2. Fighting Per-Flight User Fees

   Each year President Barack Obama has been in office, his administration has proposed in its annual budget the institution of a per-flight aviation user fee. And every year, NBAA and other GA associations have worked with Congress to defeat the proposal. Doubrava expects nothing different in 2015.

   “We do have an anti-user fee message posted on NBAA’s Contact Congress web page that enables you to use it and personalize it. We hope NBAA Members will take advantage of that so [Congress] hears the voices of constituents,” said Doubrava.

3. Ensuring Airport Access for Business Aviation

   The issue of business aviation’s access to airspace and airports will continue to be a concern for NBAA Members in the coming year, Doubrava predicted. As just two examples, access battles continue at airports in California and New York.

   “There’s a lot of pressure in some communities on general aviation airports and efforts by some local activists to limit the footprint of GA airports or close them altogether,” Doubrava said. “Again, participation by aviation advocates, including NBAA and its Members, is the key to success here.”

   As it always has, NBAA will continue to work very closely with local, state and federal regulators, to maintain a constructive dialog aimed at preserving full access to all airports in the national transportation system, Doubrava added.