New Study Highlights Business Aviation Value to Local, State, Federal Governments
/The National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) welcomed a new study showing that local, state and federal government use of business aircraft increases agency or departmental efficiency and provides significant taxpayer value.
The study, entitled, Government Use of Aircraft: A Taxpayer Value Perspective, is the third in the Business Aviation Users study series completed by NEXA Advisors, LLC. The study concludes that business aircraft provide strong returns on an organization’s investment in the asset.
The two previous studies, which analyzed Standard & Poor’s (S&P) 500 companies and S&P 600 small-cap companies, concluded that business aviation contributes to companies’ ability to deliver greater shareholder and enterprise value.
All three studies make clear that the use of a business airplane is the sign of a well-managed enterprise.
“These complementary studies highlight the importance of business aviation, and demonstrate that the value of business aircraft in boosting efficiency, productivity and flexibility is realized by businesses and government organizations alike,” said NBAA President and CEO Ed Bolen.
The latest NEXA study finds that “government use of aircraft provides taxpayer value by providing public safety and security, supporting more efficient, effective government, protecting public health and welfare, facilitating economic growth, improving tax dollar efficiency, promoting good government relations, and improving compliance.”
The study provides evidence that use of aircraft in the conduct of government business has grown in recent years, and that the more than 2,000 aircraft in public use contribute to the ability of civil servants to deliver many critical public services, including:
- Providing state and federal government officials with secure and efficient transportation
- Supporting constituent services in communities with limited or no airline service
- Supporting emergency preparedness and disaster response
- Supporting law enforcement and highway patrol
- Transporting cargo, parts, and mail
- Fighting forest fires
- Supporting border patrol
- Supporting counterterrorism and other security initiatives
The findings in the study are based on a “utilization, benefits, and taxpayer value” framework that its authors developed. The authors worked with the National Association of State Aviation Officials (NASAO) to conduct an in-depth survey of state government agencies, to gain an understanding of how state governments use GA aircraft. The study includes excerpts from numerous government officials who utilize general aviation in the execution of their mission.
“It was a pleasure to assist with this study because states play an important role in serving the public interest while working with FAA to ensure safe and secure airports,” said NASAO President and CEO Henry Ogrodzinski. “They recognize that government aviation is fast, cost effective and highly efficient.
The study was commissioned by NBAA in conjunction with the No Plane No Gain advocacy campaign, which educates policymakers and opinion leaders about the value of business aviation to citizens, companies, and communities across the United States. The campaign is jointly sponsored by NBAA and the General Aviation Manufacturers Association. To learn more, visit www.noplanenogain.org.
Review a full copy of Government Use of Aircraft: A Taxpayer Value Perspective. (PDF, 2.16 MB)