Mayor Roger Van Horn on the Importance of General Aviation in Texas

In a recent Op-Ed in the Waco Tribune, Alliance member Mayor Roger Van Horn of Nacogdoches,TX details the critical impact general aviation has on his state. In the Op-Ed, Mayor Van Horn states:

"Small aircraft, also referred to as general aviation, are a vital driver of Texas’ economy, providing jobs to nearly 62,000 Texans in sectors ranging from manufacturing to equipment maintenance and construction. General aviation accounts for $8.7 billion in economic output in our state alone and sustains an astonishing 29,700 jobs, according to the Texas Department of Transportation. Statewide, more than 250 airports that utilize general aviation and 4.5 million general aviation flights originate in Texas each year."

But the impact of general aviation does not stop at Texas. The general aviation industry supports 1.2 million jobs and $150 billion in economic impact. As Mayor Van Horn states, "These aircraft and businesses serve as the lifeblood to small towns and local economies around the state, and we need to be doing everything possible to support this vital form of transportation."

Read Mayor Van Horn's column here.

Alliance for Aviation Across America Commends Passage of H.Res 508 Honoring the Economic Impact of General Aviation

Washington D.C. – Yesterday, the House of Representatives passed H.Res.508, which recognizes general aviation’s contribution to the economy and encourages a strong aviation industry in the United States. The resolution was introduced on June 4, 2009 by U.S. Representative Jeff Fortenberry (NE-1), and includes co-sponsors Representative Allen Boyd (FL-2), Representative Vernon Ehlers (MI-3), Representative Peter Hoekstra (MI-2), Representative Brad Sherman (CA-27), and Representative Victor Snyder (AR-2). In response to the passage of this resolution, the Alliance for Aviation Across America released the following statement:

“We applaud these members for their strong support of general aviation. This important form of transportation sustains 1.2 million jobs and over $150 billion in economic impact to communities across the country, and also provides a vital lifeline for towns and communities that do not have commercial airline service. These airports and aircraft are particularly essential to rural communities, providing economic growth and opportunity, as well as access to critical resources, disaster relief, and medical care. We look forward to working with Congress to protect this crucial lifeline to rural America.”

The Alliance for Aviation Across America (AAAA) is a diverse coalition of over 4,300 aviation enthusiasts and professionals, local airports, civic organizations representing rural and agriculture voices, city, county and state officials, economic development entities, non-profit organizations, small and mid-size businesses and others dedicated to protecting small and rural communities.

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Alliance for Aviation Across America Applauds House of Representatives for Passing Mica Amendment to TSA Authorization Bill

For Immediate Release

Washington D.C. – The Alliance for Aviation Across America today released the following statement in response to the passage of the Mica Amendment to the Transportation Security Administration Authorization bill, H.R. 2200. The amendment was offered by Reps. John Mica (R-7-FL), Sam Graves (R-6-MO), Vernon Ehlers (R-3-MI) and Tom Petri (R-6-WI) during House floor debate today:

“We applaud the House of Representatives for adopting this important measure. Our members have worked closely with the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and other agencies to help develop security measures to protect our country and ensure the safety of our transportation system. This amendment will allow the TSA to respond to imminent threats while providing the flexibility to develop effective policies and a public review process. We look forward to continuing to work with the TSA and Congress to ensure that we are protecting our nation against security threats.

The Alliance for Aviation Across America (AAAA) is a diverse coalition of over 4,300 aviation enthusiasts and professionals, local airports, civic organizations representing rural and agriculture voices, city, county and state officials, economic development entities, non-profit organizations, small and mid-size businesses and others dedicated to protecting small and rural communities.

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Alliance for Aviation Across America Applauds House of Representatives for Passing a Comprehensive FAA Reauthorization Bill

For Immediate Release

Washington, DC – Today, the Alliance for Aviation Across America released the following statement in response to passage of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Reauthorization legislation by the U.S. House of Representatives:

“The Alliance for Aviation Across America applauds the House of Representatives for passing an FAA Reauthorization bill. This legislation would provide crucially needed funding for the modernization of our air traffic control system while building on the current, efficient fuel tax system. We look forward to working with the Senate to pass an FAA Reauthorization bill that provides the necessary funding for modernization and helps to protect general aviation which is a lifeline to thousands of small towns and rural communities across the country that do not have commercial airline service. Particularly during these tough economic times, we need to protect this important industry, which supports over 1.2 million jobs.”

The Alliance for Aviation Across America (AAAA) is a diverse coalition of over 4,300 aviation enthusiasts and professionals, local airports, civic organizations representing rural and agriculture voices, city, county and state officials, economic development entities, non-profit organizations, small and mid-size businesses and others dedicated to protecting small and rural communities.

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Alliance Members Support Newly Formed Congressional General Aviation Caucus

For Immediate Release
May 20, 2009

In a letter to Representatives Allen Boyd (D-FL) and Vernon Ehlers (R-MI) today, Alliance members commended House Members for founding the Congressional General Aviation Caucus.

The letter, co-signed by leadership from National Agricultural Aviation Association, National Grange of the Order of Patrons of Husbandry, U.S. Cattlemen’s Association, National Farmers Union, and Intertribal Agriculture Council, lauded the Members of Congress for joining forces with their colleagues to promote the critical role general aviation plays in serving citizens and communities in every state.

The Alliance for Aviation Across America is proud to join the chorus of those across America who have shown their support for the new caucus, and is eager to work to spread the word about the important role general aviation plays in our local economies and our national transportation system.

A PDF of the letter is available on our website: www.aviationacrossamerica.org

The Alliance for Aviation Across America (AAAA) is a diverse coalition of aviation enthusiasts and professionals, local airports, civic organizations representing rural and agriculture voices, city, county and state officials, economic development entities, non-profit organizations, small and mid-size businesses and others dedicated to protecting small and rural communities.

The Alliance for Aviation Across America is dedicated to properly modernizing America's air traffic control system to enhance safety, promote efficiency and expand capacity in order to ensure ALL Americans have access to air transportation.

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Mayors From Across the Country Stand Up For GA

Earlier today, four mayors from across the country held a press teleconference discussing the critical importance of general aviation to their communities and to the entire nation. Mayor Carl Brewer (Wichita, KS), Mayor Steve Van Oort (Ankeny, IA), Mayor Fred Bott (Devils Lake, ND), and Mayor Rick Fernau (Show Low, AZ) are among the 70 mayors who signed a letter addressed to President Obama who stated “ready access to these airplanes provides a crucial lifeline to rural America, connecting farmers, charitable groups, and individuals with resources, tools and business to national and world markets.”

The mayors called on President Obama to “Use [his] bully pulpit to help change the toxic perceptions about general aviation and its contribution to the American economy.”

Read the letter and the Alliance press release on our website: www.aviationacrossamerica.org

8th Annual Aviation Summit and Showcase: Carrying Business Toward the Future

The 8th Annual Aviation Summit and Showcase: Carrying Business Toward the Future will take place on on April 29th at the U.S. Chamber of commerce. If you are an Alliance member in the Washington, DC area, you are encouraged to attend!

The annual Summit features the newest ideas and challenges in the industry, discussed and debated by key experts and top speakers. The newly launched Aviation Showcase features the latest innovations and technologies from the commercial, cargo, business, military, and space aviation industries.

For updated information about the event, click here.

Confirmed speakers include The Honorable Ray LaHood, Secretary, U.S. Department of Transportation; Wolfgang Mayrhuber Chief Executive Officer, Deutsche Lufthansa AG; and Fred Smith Founder, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer, FedEx.

All Alliance members in the Washington, DC area are encouraged to attend this exciting event! It will be informative, fun and interesting.

AAAA on Twitter!

The Alliance for Aviation Across America is now on Twitter!

Become a follower and keep up to date on the Alliance’s activities and important issues affecting General Aviation.

Want to join the AAAA? Click here to sign up.

In the News: Alliance Gaining Coverage for Response to jetBlue

The Alliance for Aviation Across America's ongoing efforts to expose the glaring omissions in jetBlue's most recent ad gimmick is catching on in aviation media all across the country.

See what aviation news outlets and blogs have been saying about the AAAA's new ad responding to jetBlue's ad campaign claiming that it is a viable alternative to General Aviation:

The Wichita Eagle's "Air Capital Insider:" Trade groups respond to JetBlue's "Welcome Bigwigs" ad campaign

Av8rdan's World of Flying: AAAA Gets it Right on JetBlue's Latest 'Gimmick'

GeneralAviationNews.com: Alliance for Aviation Across America Hits JetBlue ads

Aero-News.net: NBAA, Alliance for Aviation Across America Denounce JetBlue Ad

Check back frequently here AviationAcrossAmericaBlog.BlogSpot.com, and AviationAcrossAmerica.org for more updates on this and other important issues.

Want to join the AAAA? Click here to sign up.

The Alliance for Aviation Across America Reaches 4,000 Members

As 2009 draws near, we would like to alert our members to our newest milestone; we have eclipsed the 4,000 member mark with the addition of The National Farmers Organization (NFO). In joining the Alliance, NFO has become part of a diverse and dedicated coalition that understands the importance of general aviation and is dedicated to protecting small and rural communities. As we continue to grow, we provide more and more examples of the true benefits of general aviation.

The Alliance for Aviation Across America welcomes the new year, and looks forward to working with you all over the next year to increase awareness about general aviation and protect the small towns and communities that rely on small aircraft.

President-Elect Obama Names Transportation Secretary

President Barack Obama named Representative Ray LaHood to the post of Transportation Secretary in his upcoming Administration, according to CQ Today. Read the article here.

As the news broke, Aero-News received comment from AOPA and NBAA about the appointment. Their comments can be read here.

You can learn more about Rep. LaHood here.

Continuing to Set the Record Straight

As the media continue to report on the CEO’s use of their private plane, Alliance members continue to make their voices heard to their local newspapers. Below is a response submitted to the Southtown Star by another Illinois-based Alliance member.

Dear Editor:

Your article “For many CEO’s private jets the only way to fly,” unfortunately revealed how little most people understand the economic impact of the GA sector in our economy, or the contributions small aircraft make to business efficiency and the business bottom line.

First, the vast majority of businesses which use small planes are not big corporations. Over 85% are small to medium sized companies, some of which are non-profits. Most of these have one airplane, which seats only two to six people and is used to fly to smaller cities and rural communities which lack airline service, and use small community airports. They visit both customers and vendors for enhanced face to face meetings.

Second, small planes are an economic lifeline to small towns. Companies using airplanes for business are often located in small towns and rural areas that have no airline service. Their planes open the door to national and global commerce.

Finally, the General Aviation sector of our economy represents 5.4 percent of our Gross Domestic Product and contributes over $600 billion to the annual economy. Aviation also provides some nine million jobs in the United States today. What we call GA is a national network of businesses, farmers, agricultural groups, local cities and towns, charitable organizations and over 5,000 small and mid-sized airports.

In today’s distressed economy, we should be supporting and encouraging General Aviation as a vital engine of economic growth for a broad spectrum of businesses, all across America.

Sincerely,

W. G. Frick

Libertyville, IL

More Member Voices

In response to this article in the Arizona Republic, Alliance member Dave Hansen of Kingman, AZ submitted the following response…

Dear Editor:

In spite of ongoing news coverage on the foolish actions of a few auto executives (“For many CEOs, private jets the only way to fly,” 11/20), we shouldn’t lose perspective of the fact that small aircraft are a key driver of businesses and economies across the country.

The fact is that only 3% of all of small aircraft are used by Fortune 500 companies. Instead, the vast majority of these planes – also called general aviation – are used by charitable groups, small to mid-sized businesses, flight schools, farmers and rural organizations, and doctors to reach smaller towns and communities that the commercial airlines don’t serve. These small aircraft, and the airports and communities that depend on them, are an important and often neglected part of our local and national economy, connecting medical care, tools and resources to cities across Arizona such as Cottonwood, Holbrook, and Coolidge.

In fact, for many businesses, a small plane is a tool as necessary as a car or computers – and between the recent economic downturn and wildly fluctuating fuel prices, a small plane is many businesses’ last hope for retaining their business model and staying connected to communities and resources that would be otherwise inaccessible. Whether its transporting patients to life-saving care, bringing recycled materials to plants, or using these planes for law enforcement, general aviation is a necessary tool for these communities.

We shouldn’t let the actions of a few color our view of what is a vital economic engine for much of America.

Sincerely,

David Hansen

Kingman, AZ

Voices of AAAA Members

In the wake of the media coverage of the CEO's of general motors using their private aircraft to fly to Washington and testify to the Senate. What is lost on the conversation are the true benefits private planes provide to our national economy, mainly small towns and communities.

Some our members have submitted letters to their local papers setting the record straight about the use of general aviation. In the next few days, we will be posting a few of these letters on our blog. Below is a letter from Steve Whitney, an Alliance member in Illinois.

Article: http://archives.chicagotribune.com/2008/nov/20/business/chi-ap-executives-privatejet


Dear Editor:

Your November 21 article, “For many CEO’s private jets the only way to fly,” offered much to think about. While we may decry the excess and abuse of a few big corporate executives, we mustn’t lose sight of the tremendous contribution General Aviation as a whole makes to our national economy.

In addition to corporate aircraft, GA includes small businesses, farmers, agricultural groups, local cities and towns, charitable organizations like “Angel-Flight” and over 5,000 small and mid-sized airports. These grounds provide millions in economic in economic benefits to our economy as well as thousands of jobs to hard-working Americans across the country.

So it’s not just about corporate CEOs. Millions of hard-working families depend on General Aviation to put bread of their tables.

General Aviation is a lifeline to small business, small towns and rural communities all across America. Fully 85% of companies which use airplanes are small to mid-sized businesses. Most companies have one small aircraft, seating four to six people, flying relatively short trips to places which lack airline service, using local community airports.

General Aviation drives economic growth. Just ask municipal economic development officials in most cities, and they’ll tell you how aviation leads business growth. In these days of recession and unemployment, we need every tool we have to grow our local economies and provide high-wage jobs. General Aviation has always done just that.

So, while you may scoff at the “Big Three,” remember what GA really is, and the very real benefits the GA sector produces.

Sincerely,

Steve Whitney

Glenview, IL

Remote Area Medical

A recent episode by "60 Minutes" highlighted the charity "Remote Area Medical" (RAM) which brings medical personnel to areas that have limited access. Some patients drove 200 miles to reach this clinic which provides both doctor and dentist service. All in all, "[RAM] treated 17,000 patients" last year.

In their recent event in Knoxville, TN, "RAM saw 920 patients, made 500 pairs of glasses, did 94 mammograms, extracted 1,066 teeth and did 567 fillings."

Watch and read the "60 Minutes" story HERE.

Visit RAM's website and read about their history HERE.

10 Things the Airlines' are Keeping From You

Smart Money magazine put together this report on the top 10 things the airlines' don't want their customers to know. Not only have passengers endured one of the worst years of flying in 2007, but the airlines' are attempting to collect more fees from passengers while cutting back on their services. The airlines' are trying every which way to get into passengers pockets by charging fees for thing like exit row seating, luggage and booking your flight.

In addition, the airlines' are not disclosing how many flights they are actually scheduling during peak hours at high traffic airports. "For example, there's room for 32 to 52 flights to leave New York's JFK airport between 8 and 9 a.m., but 57 are normally scheduled, automatically leading to delays, according to congressional testimony by the National Air Traffic Controllers Association."

CLICK HERE TO READ ARTICLE

Airlines' to Raise Fees on Children flying Solo

As if the Airlines' haven't already done enough to make traveling more difficult and harsher on passengers, the Seattle Times reports that some Airlines' are now planning to add fees on tickets for children who are flying alone.

The $50 service fee that flyers like Delta have charged for children flying alone, are now being doubled each direction a child flies! "The airline boosted its unaccompanied-minor fee — the charge to transport a child between the ages of 5-14 flying alone — from $50 to $100 each way on a nonstop flight..."

All of this, plus the Airlines' recent attempt to charge extra fees on passengers, such as a $25 fee for a second luggage and fees for making flight reservations over the phone; increases both the stress and burden on passengers.

CLICK HERE TO VIEW FULL ARTICLE

Airline Related Issues Tops Consumer Complaints

The U.S. Tour Operators Association released an "informal" member survey this week that cited airline related issues as the main source of travelers complaints.

"The association -- whose members send 11 million people on vacation yearly -- reported that over 70% of responding tour operators cited airline problems as the most common complaint, followed by money-related issues, reported by 20% of members."

Issues with delays and cancelations topped the list this year, and poor customer service was also cited as issues of customer complaints.

In a distant second were money related issues-such air fare, and added fees for services, which shows that passengers are more concerned with their safety and arriving to their destinations on time, instead of being stranded on the tarmac.

Click Here for Full Story

The Alliance for Aviation Across America will attend the U.S. Chamber of Commerce 7th Annual Aviation Summit

The Alliance for Aviation Across America is pleased to announce that it will attend the 7th Annual Aviation Summit hosted by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the National Chamber Foundation, and CIT Aerospace. This event will take place on April 3, 2008 at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce in Washington D.C.

Aviation's New Flight Plan: Innovation, Adaptation, and Consolidation. To view more information, visit the event website at: www.uschamber.com/aviationsummit

Confirmed speakers include:
Dave Barger, Chief Executive Officer, JetBlue
Bob Bergman, Vice President of Corporate Public Affairs, UPS
Monte Belger, Vice President, Transportation Systems Solutions, Lockheed Martin Corporation
Jens Bischof, Vice President for the Americas, Deutsche Lufthansa AG
Alan Epstein, Vice President, Technology and Environment, Pratt & Whitney
Ed Bolen, Chief Executive Officer, National Business Aviation Association, Inc
Michael Lewis, Director, Air Traffic Management, Boeing Commercial Airplanes
Charles Leader, Director, NexGen Joint Planning and Development Office
Greg Principato, President, Airports Council International, North America
Nancy Young, Vice President, Environmental Affairs, Air Transport Association

This year's summit will explore key issues facing the aviation industry including global trends, the economic impacts of consolidation, energy efficiency, environmental concerns, and technological innovations.

Airlines Set Traffic Record Last Year

2007 was the year of the airline delay...and the full plane. Airlines carried 769.4 million domestic and international passengers in 2007, a 3.3% increase from the year prior. This coincided with the 2nd worst year for airline delays.

Planes were nearly 80% full on average over the year.

BusinessWeek breaks down the numbers and discusses the problems with Southwest Airlines in their article HERE.