News

The Colorado Aviation Business Association (CABA) held its 9th annual Holiday Charity Drive and VFW Airlift on Dec. 15, 2019, to benefit the Colorado Department of the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW).

General aviation airports, such as Michigan’s Jackson County Airport – Reynolds Field (JXN), provide a clear advantage for business aircraft operators who base there, and to local businesses that welcome transient traffic in to close the next deal.

The state of Indiana proclaimed December as General Aviation Appreciation Month in support of the value the industry brings to Hoosier State residents. Additionally, mayors in several states recently highlighted the importance of general aviation.

Flying live human organs between two operating rooms – when lives hang in the balance – is a time-sensitive mission, and when timing is critical, organ transport pilot Ben Zwebner said business aviation is saving lives.

In a recent blog post, global aircraft service provider XO offered the top five benefits of business aviation, based on a recent NBAA survey. The top reason, the company stated, was flexibility. “Travel for business could be needed at a moment’s notice, or during hours that the commercial hours cannot accommodate.”

To better serve businesses and the community, Alabama’s Thomasville Airport will transition to a regional airport known as the Southwest Alabama Regional Airport. “It’s long been understood that companies looking to invest in an area want to be close to an airport to transport employees, potential customers and move goods in and out of the region,” said NBAA Southeast Regional Representative Greg Voos. “I congratulate the hard work of the Alabama Department of Transportation and their partners to enhance the economic viability of the region.”

Following a four-month closure for a complete runway reconstruction at Oregon’s Hillsboro Airport (HIO), local and regional officials and business leaders recently gathered to officially reopen the airport’s largest runway – 31L/13R – to business aircraft operators. “The result of this project’s investment in vital infrastructure for the local economy, shows that Hillsboro Airport appreciates and values the benefits of business aviation,” said Phil Derner, NBAA’s Western regional representative.

General aviation, including business aviation, is a vital contributor to the economy in every state, and recently, the governors of West Virginia and Wyoming, along with mayors of cities in several states, officially recognized the industry for its positive impact.

Since its founding in 1981, LifeLine Pilots has flown more than 8,000 humanitarian missions, with over 450 volunteer pilots logging over 5 million nautical miles. The group is seeking business aviation’s help in expanding its reach.

North Dakota’s Williston Basin International Airport (XWA) opened Oct. 10, 2019, and officials expect the $273 million airport will provide needed capacity for business and commercial aviation now, with room for future expansion.