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support of the industry in recent years. For example, General Aviation Caucuses have formed in the U.S. House and Senate, and a host of governors have issued proclamations supporting business aviation. The resource has links to the candidates’ stands on issues, as well as lists of the members of the House and Senate GA Caucuses, and the governors who have issued proclamations supporting general aviation.
Let the candidates know where you stand on GA issues. Whether you contact a candidate through their campaign web site, call or email a campaign office, or attend a political event, it’s important to emphasize that business aviation is important to you and other voters. The Election 2012 web resource provides guidance for communicating with candidates, including NBAA’s Contact Congress resource for sending messages highlighting the importance of business aviation to members of Congress standing for re-election.
Vote! The Election 2012 resource makes it easy for users to enter their residential addresses and determine their election-day polling location. A hotline is also provided for people who have questions or need additional information.
While this year’s election results will be determined by a number of important factors affecting the country, it’s important that business aviation advocates are well informed about where the candidates stand on issues affecting their industry. “It’s clear that our industry faces challenges in 2012, but every year also brings with it opportunities,” Bolen said. “Let’s make this election year an opportunity to ensure that the importance of business aviation is understood by candidates, and that candidates’ positions on business aviation are understood by NBAA Members when it’s time to vote.”
Visit the online Election 2012 resource at www.nbaa.org/election2012.
Aviation Groups, GPS Industry United to Stop LightSquared Threat
Ayear-long, bitter dispute between startup telecommunications provider LightSquared and the global positioning system (GPS) industry came to an end recently, when the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) pulled the plug on the company’s plans for a nationwide wireless broadband network due to substantial interference with signals used by GPS receivers. The decision followed a strong and united effort by a coalition of GPS users and aviation groups, including the National Business Aviation Association, to stop that threat.
Lawmakers, Coalition Rally to Prevent GPS Interference
LightSquared planned to build a ground-based telecommunications network to dramatically increase nationwide 4G wireless access for laptop computers and smartphones. While such technologies had been discussed for years, the issue gained significant political clout with President Barack Obama’s 2007 campaign promise to improve access to broadband communications.
The controversy began in January 2011, when the FCC gave conditional approval for
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