BBR-AVIATION

Most news channels and newspapers only report on the extravagant use of corporate jets. For example: The Wall Street Journal reported about how the big three car manufacturers showed up in Washington DC to apply for tax bail out money, in private jets. This was a good example of what not to do and how not to be an advocate of corporate aviation. Unfortunately and understandably, this picture remains in the memory of the general public. This is the reason why the corporate aviation industry is currently biting the dust.

What people don’t know is that recent studies performed by GAMA (General Aviation Manufacturers Association) and the NBAA (National Business Aviation Association) revealed that business aviation contributes more than $150 Billion to the U.S economic output and provide more than 1.2 million high-wage jobs. What the media also doesn’t report is that according to the Louis Hardy study of the NBAA, 74% of the flights are time critical trips taken by sales, technical and middle-management employees and not executive employees.

“We’ve got to get away from the symbolism of corporate fat cats smoking a big cigar on a golf course and instead think about the symbolism of people meeting and thinking together and creating ideas and building their culture”, says Arne Sorenson, Chief Financial Officer at Marriott, in The Washington Post. Business travel and group bookings account for 80% of Marriott’s business.

Bombardier, a Canadian based business jet manufacturer anticipates that the dark cloud hanging over the industry soon will blow over. In a recent press release they announced, that they are opening a wholly owned service center at Amsterdam Schiphol Airport in The Netherlands, in the beginning of 2010. Initially they will be employing 50 technicians. However they are expecting to grow to a total of 170 within three years. Expansion is desperately needed in this part of the world where approximately 550 Bombardier aircraft are operating.

Gulfstream Aerospace rolled out its super mid-size G250 this October in Tel-Aviv, Israel. With expected deliveries starting in 2011, Gulfstream is anticipating on a continuous growth of the business aviation industry worldwide. The wing for example will be manufactured in Wichita, Kansas and other parts will be manufactured worldwide by major suppliers. The airplane will be assembled in Tel-Aviv, Israel and flown to the United States for final completion, creating specialized and high-wage jobs worldwide.

Can’t we just use airlines to travel across the United States or across the world? The answer would be “yes”, but not in a timely manner. According to the NBAA, “Almost all US airlines currently operate out of 70 main hubs and have abandoned nearly 100 mid-sized cities in the last year.

At the same time business aviation reaches over 5,000 public-use airports in the U.S., providing communities large and small with fast, flexible, safe, secure and cost-effective access to destinations across the country and around the world.” Business aviation provides remote communities not served by the airlines with business and prosperity. 

-BBR-

Hi there!

Welcome to my blog, I hope you enjoy reading about my life as a corporate pilot.

Tailwinds!