Business Aviation Can Be a Force for Good
From Aviation Week/BCA, Fourth Quarter 2024
Business Aviation Can Be a Force for Good
Bizav is in the crosshairs of misinformed factions who do not understand how valuable the sector and the technology behind it are to our nation and our society.
By: Robert Stangarone and Anthony Velocci
Periodically, business aviation is in the crosshairs of misinformed factions who do not understand how valuable this industry sector and the technology behind business are to our nation and our society.
It happens when a hyperbolic anecdote emerges onto the national stage through a major news outlet, usually as part of the heated narrative of partisan federal budget negotiations. The topic quickly becomes obfuscated as it permeates in the largely uninformed and politically charged atmosphere of government narratives.
The fact is the U.S. is the world leader of the business aircraft industry, not only in terms of sheer numbers but in innovation. For example, new avionics technologies often are developed for use in business aircraft before they become standard equipment in commercial airplanes.
Moreover, the distorted image of business jets is that they are the exclusive domain of the rich and famous. More accurately, 85% of the companies relying on one or more of these purpose-built aircraft to meet their transportation needs are small and midsize companies. Passengers most often are technicians, mid-level managers and customers, not C-suite executives.
The vast majority of business aircraft are designed specifically as business tools because they are used to help companies operate more efficiently by allowing cost-effective access to destinations across the country and around the world. In fact, many business aircraft are flown primarily to towns with little or no airline service, making them essential to thousands of companies of all types and sizes.
These facts are frequently ignored or dismissed in tax discussions. In President Joe Biden’s State of the Union speech, he proposed a five-fold fuel-tax increase on business aviation and changes to the depreciation schedule for a purchased business aircraft from five to seven years.
Such punitive measures will likely stunt the growth of an industry that contributes nearly $250 billion to the nation’s GDP and more than $26 billion in U.S. exports. In addition, the industry employs more than a million people, including manufacturing and pilot jobs.
Similarly, while a very small percentage of self-indulgent individuals take advantage of the system for their own benefit, most companies and their senior executives use these tools principally for the purpose for which they were intended, as well as in other very positive ways.
Consider the following: Business aviation plays a crucial role in supporting charitable organizations like the Corporate Angel Network (CAN), which facilitates free flights for cancer patients traveling to specialized treatment centers using empty seats on business aircraft. Such access to vital medical care might otherwise be inaccessible due to financial constraints or logistical challenges.
While business aircraft have been providing relief for disasters like the earthquakes in Haiti, the business aviation infrastructure also plays a part in disaster relief. Last year, for instance, in the wake of wildfires on Maui—the deadliest in modern U.S. history—fixed-base operators Atlantic Aviation and Signature Aviation coordinated evacuation, shelter and supply flights to the island. They provided food, water, ice, medicine and other essentials for the local communities. In addition, aviation fuel supplier AvFuel donated some 3,000 gal. of sustainable aviation fuel for the effort. Many other business aviation organizations supported the relief efforts, as well.
By supporting charitable causes, business aviation users demonstrate their commitment to social responsibility and ethical business practices. Then there is business aviation’s involvement in sustainability initiatives. The sector is on the cutting edge, pushing original equipment manufacturers to develop fuel-efficient aircraft, adopting eco-friendly technologies and participating in carbon-offset programs.
Earlier this year, a diverse coalition of aviation and labor organizations joined in opposing proposals in the Biden administration’s fiscal 2025 budget and regulatory changes that singled out business aviation.
The group has since sent a letter to U.S. Senate Committee on Finance Chairman Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and Ranking Member Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), as well as House Committee on Ways and Means Chairman Jason Smith (R-Mo.) and Ranking Member Richard Neal (D-Mass.).
Signing the letter were the leaders of the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA), Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA), General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA), International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM), National Air Transportation Association (NATA), National Business Aviation Association (NBAA), NetJets Association of Shared Aircraft Pilots (NJASAP) and Vertical Aviation International (VAI).
The letter noted that companies use business aviation to optimize efficiency, productivity and flexibility. Further levies, the letter continued, would harm communities that depend on business aviation for essential lift and to support law enforcement, medevac and humanitarian operations.
Moreover, negative tax proposals would adversely impact an industry that supports more than a million jobs. The coalition also warned of their impact on the industry’s continued role as “an innovation incubator,” driving the aviation industry’s advancement toward greater safety and net-zero carbon emissions.
Political figures—and the media—who take cheap shots at business aviation should take the time to understand what the industry is really all about, including its overall value to society as well as the economy. Those who take this responsible step will find that the sector may be one of the country’s most misunderstood and under-appreciated industries.
Robert Stangarone, a former aerospace executive, journalist and pilot, is president and CEO of Corporate Angel Network.
Anthony Velocci is a former editor-in-chief of Aviation Week & Space Technology magazine.
Click here to view the original online article in BCA Magazine.
About Corporate Angel Network
Corporate Angel Network (CAN) is a 501 (c)(3) organization whose mission is to help cancer patients access the best treatment centers in the country by arranging free travel on corporate aircraft. Private jet travel makes it possible for patients, especially those in locations with minimal airline access, to travel to specialized medical
centers. CAN works closely with hundreds of America’s top corporations to match empty seats with patient flight requests. Thanks to the generous support of these companies, CAN has coordinated more than 68,000 flights since its founding in 1981.
How to donate to CAN
Whether it's $5 or $500, all donations truly matter. We use donations for a variety of purposes, including ground transportation, hotel accommodations and other patient services requests. We aim to eliminate all travel barriers for patients to ensure they can access the treatment they need. Help us make more smiles possible by visiting our website to make a donation today!