Achange in attitude by elected officials toward the general aviation industry isreflective of that of the general public, evidence that industry’s imageprogram is working, the head of the National Business Aviation Association saidon the opening day of the advocacy group’s annual convention.
TheNo Plane No Gain program was launched in early 2009 by the NBAA and the GeneralAviation Manufacturers Association in response to what both groups believedwere distortions and inaccuracies being told by politicians and the media aboutbusiness aviation.
Inthat time, there has been a noticeable change in attitude as the campaign hasgotten out the message of the jobs general aviation creates and the value ofcorporate jets bring to companies using them, NBAA President and CEO Ed Bolensaid.
Thatelected officials are now actively identifying themselves with the industry isa reflection of their constituency, Bolen said.
“Theelected officials believe the general public has a much different opinion ofgeneral aviation than they did 18 months ago,” Bolen said. “They believe thisis a popular place to be.”
TheNBAA and GAMA are now taking steps to keep the No Plane No Gain campaignrelevant by focusing on what has been successful so far, namely providing dataand information on the industry.
Atlast year’s NBAA convention, golfing great Arnold Palmer was announced as aspokesman for the campaign. Over the summer Apollo 11 astronaut Neil Armstrongand investor Warren Buffet also lent their name to No Plane No Gain.
http://www.sfvbj.com/news/2010/oct/19/opinion-shifting-general-aviation/
Source: SAN FERNANDO VALLEY BUSINESS JOURNAL
Date: 2010-10-19