NBAA Welcomes Government Report Highlighting Value of Business Aviation

National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) President and CEO Ed Bolen welcomed a new report, issued by the U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC), confirming the critical importance of business aircraft manufacture to America’s industrial base and the value of business aviation in making companies of all sizes more efficient, productive and competitive.

The report, entitled, Business Jet Aircraft Industry: Structure and Factors Affecting Competitiveness (Investigation No. 332-526, USITC Publication 4314, April 2012), was requested last year by U.S. House Representatives Mike Pompeo (R-4-KS) and Lynn Jenkins (R-2-KS), in order to provide a comprehensive government examination of the challenges and opportunities confronting the industry. The two were joined in their request for the study by Rep. Dave Camp (R-4-MI), who Chairs the House Ways and Means Committee.

The release of the study comes eight months after Bolen testified at a USITC hearing to explore the issues examined in the report. Read Bolen's September 28, 2011, testimony before the USITC.

Following the release of the study today, Bolen said: "This new report underscores the fact that business aviation is an essential industry, strengthening America’s manufacturing base, fostering economic development and serving as an indispensible tool for thousands of companies trying to operate in a fiercely competitive global marketplace."

Pointing specifically to a passage in the study noting that the industry's future competitiveness may be influenced by factors that create uncertainty for manufacturers, including "fees/taxes," Bolen said: "We hope the study serves as a reminder to Congress and the Administration that government actions can directly impact the future of this great industry, and that policymakers will advance proposals that promote business aviation instead of impeding it.

"We thank Chairman Camp, and Representatives Pompeo and Jenkins, for requesting the study, and we appreciate the work done by the USITC to provide this authoritative review of business aviation, and its value to citizens, companies and communities in America and around the world."