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Community support for businesses throughout northwestern Iowa helped drive the creation of Sioux County Regional Airport (SXK). Harold Schiebout, chairman of the Sioux County Regional Airport Agency, said the new facility will ultimately replace two smaller airports in the neighboring communities. “Those airports have served us well over the past 50 years,” he said. “They helped existing businesses grow and bring new industries to our area. However, we identified a need for a greater level of service, safety and convenience.”

GAMA recently launched its new video series about careers in the general aviation manufacturing and maintenance industry. “We hope that giving the public a behind-the-scenes look at our member companies and watching talented and enthusiastic industry professionals share their stories will shift people’s perception and inspire them to consider a career in our dynamic industry,” said GAMA President and CEO Pete Bunce.

The Oklahoma Aeronautics Commission, in partnership with the Oklahoma Airport Operators Association, will host the second annual Oklahoma Women in Aviation & Aerospace Day event on Dec. 6 at the Tulsa International Airport. “The scholarships and community involvement surrounding the event will help spark aviation and aerospace interest in young women. We have a pilot shortage and a need for a competent workforce to keep the state’s second largest economic engine operating,” said Victor Bird, director of the Oklahoma Aeronautics Commission.

General aviation, including business aviation, is a vital contributor to the economy in every state, and in November, the governor of Texas officially recognized the industry for the important role it plays. Every state, in addition to hundreds of communities throughout the United States, have highlighted general aviation over the years for its contributions to the success of companies and citizens around the country.

Destin, FL-based Dr. Jordan Harper, DMD, used his Cirrus SR22TN to “give back to people who got hammered [by Hurricane Michael],” adding, “It could easily have been us that got leveled.” Harper was an early volunteer with Operation Airdrop, which organizes aircraft owners to deliver needed supplies as soon as temporary flight restrictions allow private flights to enter disaster areas. Now a 501(c)(3) organization with about 3,000 members, it grew out of a Facebook group of concerned pilots who wanted to help those impacted by Hurricane Harvey in 2017.

Seven dedicated runners represented Patient AirLift Services (PALS) in the TCS New York City Marathon Nov. 4, raising funds to help PALS continue their mission of providing free air transportation for individuals with immediate medical needs such as medical diagnosis, treatment or follow-up appointments. The PALS in Motion team runners have raised more than $60,000 since their first NYC Marathon in 2016.

In the hours following a natural disaster, business aircraft often provide a vital lifeline for delivering critical supplies to devastated areas cut off from ground transportation by floodwaters and storm damage. Recently, a father-and-son pilot team helped Florida panhandle residents in the immediate aftermath of Hurricane Michael. “No matter the size of our aircraft, most of us in aviation will quickly jump in and help when help is needed,” said Robert Lucas.

Lafayette College, in Easton, PA, recently featured an article about alumni who “rule the skies of business aviation,” calling it an industry that continues to grow as more companies choose to either purchase or charter their own aircrafts rather than rely on commercial flights for business travel. “It’s about becoming more efficient and productive from a business perspective,” noted Gil Wolin, publisher of Business Aviation Advisor, who was one of those featured in the article. “Time is really the only nonrenewable resource.”

General aviation, including business aviation, is a vital contributor to the economy in every state, and in October, the governors of Louisiana and West Virginia officially recognized the industry for the important role it plays. Every state, in addition to hundreds of communities throughout the United States, have highlighted general aviation over the years for its contributions to the success of companies and citizens around the country.

The latest survey conducted by The Harris Poll demonstrates the clear value of business aviation’s ability to provide an efficient form of air transportation to companies of all sizes, particularly those located in small communities that have little to no access to commercial airline service. The consensus from the survey – “The Real World of Business Aviation: 2018 Survey of Companies Using General Aviation Aircraft” – is that business aviation works to make companies run more efficiently and keep communities connected when commercial airline service is not an option.