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Rod McDermott, CEO of McDermott & Bull Executive Search, considers business aviation to be an integral part of the company’s success. “I couldn’t accomplish as much as I do without the airplane. Also, much of our business is in remote areas, either underserved or not served by airlines, so the airplane allows me to cover more territory faster than any other mode of transportation,” said Rod McDermott, CEO of McDermott & Bull Executive Search.

In February 2009, NBAA and GAMA joined forces to highlight a series of new No Plane No Gain advocacy initiatives. The program, according to the associations, would focus on educating policymakers and opinion leaders about the important contributions from business aviation to cities, companies and communities across the United States. Both associations recently marked the campaign’s 10-year anniversary with an ongoing commitment to the campaign’s effective and multifaceted approach to showcasing the industry’s value.

To Clay Lacy Aviation, ‘No Plane No Gain’ is more than a slogan, it’s a call to action, to demonstrate the importance of business aviation to our nation’s economy and the success of small, medium and large businesses across the United States. “Helping new generations of business aviation professionals has been a foundational mission at Clay Lacy Aviation,” said Clay Lacy CEO Brian Kirkdoffer.

General aviation, including business aviation, is an important contributor to the economy in cities and towns across the country, and in February, the mayors of cities in Arizona, Arkansas, Mississippi, Nevada and West Virginia officially recognized the industry for the vital role it plays in their communities. To date, hundreds of local officials from coast to coast have issued similar proclamations.

Each year, as part of its annual State of the Industry press conference, GAMA outlines the humanitarian work of its members and highlights the efforts made to help out those in need. In 2018, general aviation manufacturers donated their time and talent to help worthy causes around the country. Learn more about the work of GAMA members on Feb. 20 in Washington, DC, at the association’s annual press conference.

For the past 12 years, the Veterans Airlift Command (VAC) has arranged free air transportation to post-9/11, combat-wounded veterans and their families for their medical needs and other compassionate purposes. “Our goal is to double the size of our fleet so that we never need to decline a mission request,” said VAC founder and CEO Walt Fricke. “Our veterans are worth it.”

General aviation, including business aviation, is a vital contributor to the economy in cities and towns across the country, and in January, the mayors of cities in Arizona officially recognized the industry for the important role it plays. To date, hundreds of local officials from coast to coast have issued similar proclamations in support of general aviation.

The North Carolina: The State of Aviation report was prepared by the Institute for Transportation Research and Education at North Carolina State University for the North Carolina Department of Transportation’s Division of Aviation. The report looked at the economic impacts associated with the 72 publicly owned airports, and the aviation and aerospace assets that rely on them in the state.

Former Idaho Gov. C.L. “Butch” Otter received a “water-cannon salute” from airport firefighters as he returned to Boise from his final official trip on the state’s King Air B-200. The event marked the end of Otter utilizing the state fleet of business aircraft, an accident and incident-free 12-year period where the governor flew 840 hours, logged 204,000 miles and saved 2,820 hours of driving time which provided 352 additional days of productivity, according to state officials.

As a combat veteran in the Navy’s En Route Care program and air transport nurse for Duke and Vanderbilt’s Life Flight networks Ron Bolen can attest firsthand to the life-saving impact of general aviation. “Across the country, small and medium-sized airports support general aviation aircraft that provide access to medical services, disaster relief programs, business development opportunities, and industry growth to communities that need it the most,” Bolen wrote in an op-ed for the Andalusia Star-News.