NBAA, Other Aviation Groups Rally Congress for Restoration of FAA Funding

National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) President and CEO Ed Bolen today joined other industry leaders in a non-partisan rally on Capitol Hill to encourage Washington policymakers to quickly find a path forward for reopening the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), so that vital aviation services can resume.

The event, hosted by the National Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA), featured remarks from NATCA President Paul Rinaldi, NBAA’s Bolen, and senior executives from the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA), the American Association of Airport Executives (AAAE), the General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA), the National Air Transportation Association (NATA), the Professional Aviation Safety Specialists (PASS), and the U.S. Travel Association (USTA).

“Imagine if no citizen of the United States could buy or sell a car, purchase or re-finance a home, or if the sale of any other critical goods came to a complete and grinding halt – that’s what has basically happened in business aviation,” Bolen said at the rally. “Because business aviation is more regulated than other industries, the shutdown has had a far more dire impact on business aviation than for other industries.

As just one example of this reality, Bolen noted that the government shutdown has led to the closure of the FAA’s U.S. Aircraft Registry, and as a result, aircraft cannot be purchased, sold, imported, exported, and in some cases, flown.

“The many small and mid-sized companies that rely on the Registry to be open and accessible are hurting, and the shutdown is harming the industry in a host of other ways as well,” Bolen continued. “Simply put, until government leaders can get the FAA reopened, an essential American industry remains on an indefinite layover. The general aviation community wants the opportunity to, once again, be an engine that propels this economy. Give us this chance.”

Since the start of the shutdown, NBAA has continually called upon decision-makers in Washington to swiftly find a path for reopening the FAA.

Last week, Bolen sent an open letter to congressional leaders and President Barack Obama outlining the grave repercussions of the government shutdown on the general aviation (GA) industry. Read Bolen’s letter to President Obama and congressional leaders in its entirety.

On Oct. 8, Bolen joined with leaders of five other GA groups in sending a forceful letter imploring Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx to reopen the FAA Registry on the grounds that it provides “essential services” to ensure aviation safety, protect security and to fulfill U.S. international obligations. Read the GA leaders’ letter to Sec. Foxx in its entirety.

On Oct. 3, Bolen testified about the crisis at a roundtable held by the U.S. House Small Business Committee. “Large parts of the industry simply cannot function as a result of the shutdown’s effects,” he said, adding: “Ours is an industry that provides over a million jobs, and many of those jobs are at risk every day this shutdown continues. It is absolutely imperative that policymakers find a prompt solution to address this situation. We must find a way forward.” Read more about Bolen’s comments at the Small Business Committee roundtable.