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Business aviation is a vital link in the nation's transportation system and a primary engine of our economy. Business experts, civic leaders from small and mid-sized towns and others have long known that business aviation is fundamental to the economic development of communities that lack robust airline service. It is also a key part of the nation's manufacturing base. To learn more about the many ways business aviation benefits the nation's economy and companies of all sizes, all across the U.S., visit: www.NoPlaneNoGain.org.

This week, as the business aviation community gathered in Northern New Jersey for an NBAA industry forum at Teterboro Airport, the No Plane No Gain message was front and center before the more than 1,900 people in attendance. Referring to the work done through the campaign to educate Washington policymakers about the value of business aviation, NBAA's Ed Bolen reported the progress made in encouraging the formation of General Aviation Caucuses in Congress. "Some 25 percent of House and Senate elected officials have joined the GA Caucus to say, 'I support this industry, which generates $150 billion and 1.2 million jobs," Bolen said.

• As part of the No Plane No Gain program, staff from NBAA and GAMA have routinely attended industry events to provide updates on the progress of the program. That approach continues this summer, first at an event hosted by the South Florida Business Aviation Association (SFBAA), where NBAA's Ed Bolen will provide a brief on No Plane No Gain efforts and review the importance of community involvement. Similarly, GAMA's Pete Bunce will speak at an annual Corporate Aircraft Transactions Conference in New York City on June 14, and will also address the importance of business aviation around the world at a Transatlantic Aviation Issues Conference in Brussels in late June. Regular updates on these and other events will be provided in this weekly e-mail report.

The National Aviation Hall of Fame has selected NBAA as the 2010 recipient of the Milton Canniff Spirit of Flight Award, and at the ceremony to recognize the Association's work on behalf of industry, an all-star panel of aviation leaders will discuss the industry and NBAA. Moderated by television news legend and aviator David Hartman, the panel will include: Clay Jones, chairman, president and CEO, Rockwell Collins; Clay Lacy, president, Clay Lacy Aviation; Jeff Lee, director, flight operations, IBM; Joe Lombardo, president, Gulfstream Aerospace; Jack Pelton, CEO, Cessna Aircraft Company; and David Sokol, chairman, president and CEO, NetJets. Learn more and register to attend.

When GAMA and NBAA launched No Plane No Gain, the two Associations committed to provide resources for people in the industry to promote the value of business aviation to their companies and communities. Resources have been continually developed, including:

• Surveys and Studies: GAMA and NBAA commissioned a survey by The Harris Group and a study by NEXA Partners, which show the true face of business aviation, and illustrate how companies using a business airplane outperform those that do not. Use the links above, or click here to access those products.
• An Online E-Valuation Toolkit: NBAA and GAMA have developed an Online E-Valuation Toolkit, which helps people in flight operations measure and communicate about the value of an airplane to a company's overall business objectives. Five video tutorials and a variety of downloadable resources detail ways to present your information to your company peers, top management, and external audiences including the media. Access the Toolkit.
• Grassroots Resources: Individuals and organizations have requested resources to support local grassroots advocacy efforts, and a variety of tools are available to the industry. Want to highlight the value of your local community airport? There's a resource for that. Want to take action on a local legislative proposal that could impact your company's ability to fly? There's a resource for that. Want to educate local elected officials on the safety record for business aviation? There's a resource for that. View the resources

As NBAA and GAMA continually point out, business aviation is at work in many ways in the U.S., as demonstrated in the role of business airplanes in providing air transport for organizations focused on lending a hand to deserving citizens. Impact A Hero Weekend, sponsored by the non-profit Impact Player Partners, is an annual celebration for the nation's military veterans in Houston, TX. For the third straight year, business airplanes provided flights for wounded and disabled U.S. veterans to the event. NBAA Member Company Universal Weather & Aviation donated both flight time and pilots to fly Marine Corporal Ronny Porta and Army Sergeant Joel Tavera in its Gulfstream G150 to the Houston-area event. Read a web article on the event, and the role of business aviation in supporting humanitarian missions.