Page 39 - Volume 15 Number 1

NATIONAL BUSINESS AVIATION ASSOCIATION • focus
No Plane No Gain Campaign Continues to Build Momentum, Attract Support
When the No Plane No Gain (NPNG) NBAA and the General Aviation Manufacturers
advocacy campaign was launched
in 2009, its goal was to educate policymakers and opinion leaders about the importance of business aviation.
In 2010, the campaign built on its strong moment with new advocacy resources for people in the industry to use, advertising and media relations efforts, and local initiatives that have brought together hundreds of business leaders and elected officials to showcase the contributions business aviation to local economies.
As a result of these and other efforts, support continues to grow for business aviation among elected officials and opinion leaders. Governors in 18 states have issued proclamations echoing No Plane No Gain themes in recognizing business aviation’s contributions to their states. Equally important, a host of Congressional lawmakers belong to a General Aviation caucuses in the House and Senate, translating into greater awareness of the importance of business aviation.
In fact, earlier this year, Congress passed a joint resolution recognizing the industry’s efforts to provide humanitarian relief to Haiti’s earthquake victims; reaffirmed support for the vital role of general aviation airports in remote areas; and made it possible for President Barak Obama to sign into law tax legislation that allows for accelerated, or “bonus,” depreciation in 2010 for strategic business purchases, including aircraft.
No Plane No Gain messages also appeared in national media coverage on CNN and CNBC, the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, and The Economist magazine, among others. In addition, American legends Neil Armstrong and Warren Buffett joined iconic golfer and esteemed businessman Arnold Palmer in targeted advertising was seen in a number of industry trade publications and mainstream periodicals.
Association (GAMA) also continued to provide advocacy resources so that everyone could take part in the campaign to protect the future of business aviation.
These new resources include the recently updated Business Aviation Fact Book published by NBAA. In addition, NBAA released a new study at its 63rd Annual Meeting & Convention which demonstrates that the performance business aviation confers on Standard & Poor’s 500 index large companies also applies to S&P 600 small- cap companies.
The latest study, “Business Aviation: An Enterprise Value Perspective Part II,” by NEXA Advisors, LLC, follows the earlier NEXA study that found business aviation gives large companies a competitive edge over comparable businesses that do not use business aviation. Taken together, the two studies show that use of a business airplane is a sign of a well-managed company, regardless of the size of the enterprise.
Both studies can be downloaded from the No Plane No Gain web site, www.noplanenogain.org.
Other advocacy resources include four videos that detail the rich history of the business aviation community and its contributions.
All these resource tools help to deliver the campaign’s message that business aviation creates jobs, provides a transportation lifeline to communities nationwide, helps businesses succeed and supports people and communities in times of crisis.
In the coming year, educating policymakers, opinion leaders and the public will remain a priority for NBAA, GAMA and the No Plane No Gain campaign. Please visit the NPNG web site to learn more about how you can help support business aviation.
JANUARY 2011 ­TWIN & TURBINE • ­37