Contributed by Lori Johnson, Marketing Communications Manager with Duncan Aviation, Inc., a founding member of the National Aircraft Resale Association (NARA)
Last week at the NBAA Leadership Conference in Austin, Texas, Ed Bolen, President and CEO of the National Business Aviation Association (NBAA), spoke to roughly 350 aviation professionals about the importance of leaving a legacy of political activism and keeping in contact with their elected officials on Capitol Hill.
As 2013 gets underway and a newly elected Congress confronts an unpredictable legislative landscape, it’s important that the voice of all general aviation, including business aviation, is heard on Capitol Hill, Bolen says.
Those of us in the business aviation industry understand that aviation equates to jobs in every state, supports economic development across the nation, keeps businesses competitive and assists in a big way during times of humanitarian crises. This message hasn’t always made it to our elected officials. One way to do this, Bolen says, is to encourage officials to join their respective General Aviation Caucuses.
Congressional caucuses are informal groups of lawmakers who support different segments of the economy. The House and Senate GA Caucuses were originally formed in 2009 and enjoy strong, bipartisan membership. They are among the largest and most active in Congress.
In the coming years, the GA Caucuses will continue to be vital for business aviation, Bolen says. The uncertain budget situation means that aviation user fees and other significant proposals with direct effects on business aviation will be brought forward. It is vital that lawmakers understand the industry and the repercussions of the various policy proposals.
Fortunately, according to Bolen, aviation has a group of allies in the GA Caucuses who have continually worked to inform legislative debates by highlighting the value of general aviation in creating jobs, helping companies succeed, connecting communities and supporting humanitarian endeavors. In the course of the 2012 elections, however, the ranks of the caucuses were thinned as some members retired or lost their re-election bids.
That is why Bolen and the NBAA are encouraging all in business aviation to reach out and urge their elected representatives to join their GA Caucuses in recognition of the industry’s value. NBAA has a resource that makes that easier. The organization’s “Contact Congress” resource has a short form that you can fill out to let representatives know how important general aviation is to you and your community, and to urge them to consider joining the House or Senate GA Caucuses. You can find the tool here: http://www.nbaa.org/advocacy/contact/?ISSUE=nbaa0052
With the help and support of the industry, Bolen says, we can ensure that an important group of Congressional representatives is continually at work to support all of general aviation, an essential American industry.