It's Time for General Aviation to Tout its Wares

James K. Coyne, President, National Air Transportation Association Recently, I sent a letter to President Obama highl ight ing the importance of general aviation. I firmly believe the black eye cast upon our industry in recent months in the wake of the auto executives heading to Washington in their corporate jets requesting bailout money is unjust, and it is crippling an invaluable contributor to our national economy.

The facts are quite clear just how invaluable general aviation (GA) is to this country, according to data released by the General Aviation Manufacturers Association:

• The GA industry contributes $150 billion annually to the U.S. economy.
• The GA industry accounts for 1.2 million jobs.
• General aviation aircraft fly to approximately 4,000 airports in the U.S.

  with paved runways, compared to the number of commercial airports, which is a little more than 550.

• General aviation aircraft fly 27 million flight hours each year, with 67% of those flights being used for business purposes.

Since late last year, the National Air Transportation Association (NATA) has worked hard with its industry partners to improve this public perception crisis, highlighting the jobs lost to our industry, the impact GA has on small and rural communities, and the contribution the general aviation industry has on the American and global economy.

NATA recently expanded these efforts by becoming a proud partner and major contributor to the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association's (AOPA) "General Aviation Serves America" campaign. AOPA launched the campaign recently to combat the economic, regulatory, and legislative difficulties besetting general aviation. The campaign's premise is that widespread misconceptions about general aviation are at the root of all of these challenges.

Through targeted broadcast, print, and online advertising, General Aviation Serves America is telling general aviation's story in a way that many in the non-flying public have never heard before. The campaign is funded by AOPA, its members, and those, like NATA and its members, who are interested in seeing this vital sector of the American economy survive and thrive.

I am especially honored to chair the GA Serves America Advisory Council, which will help ensure that opinion leaders, policy- and lawmakers, and the public at large understand the full breadth and scope of general aviation. Through General Aviation Serves America, we will dispel the myths about our community and promote the significant, meaningful contributions we make to our nation's economy, supply chain, and, in some regions of the country, even the standard of living. As chairman, I pledge to help generate the momentum we need to tell the real story of general aviation to the public, policy makers and opinion leaders.

AOPA President Craig L. Fuller may have said it best when he stated, "I truly don't believe that regulators and legislators are out to 'get' a $150 billion industry. They and their constituents just don't understand what general aviation is and all that it contributes to the economic and social fabric of the nation. All of us in GA must stand together and define ourselves, showing the importance of the vital link we provide in the transportation system. Because if we do not, others whose priorities do not include general aviation will." I hope that all those reading this will take a moment to review this important new initiative by visiting www.gaservesamerica.

com. Together, we can unite and demonstrate just how important the general aviation industry is to the U.S.

and global economy.