NATA Responds to Obama's Disparaging Comments About General Aviation

Alexandria, VA, June 29, 2011 - National Air Transportation Association (NATA) President and Chief Executive Officer James K. Coyne, on behalf of NATA's 2,000 member companies, is appalled by President Barack Obama's attacks on general aviation during a press conference today. The president stated that the White House is going to push to eliminate or scale back a series of tax deductions, including tax depreciation schedules for general aviation airplanes, in hopes of raising as much as $400 billion in new revenue over ten years.

"President Obama has repeatedly degraded the value of general aviation to our nation's economy. This time, he does so a day after appearing at an American aircraft manufacturing facility to promote job growth," Coyne stated.

Coyne added "it is perplexing why the President continues to bash an industry that is responsible for thousands of manufacturing, maintenance and service jobs."

"The President's comments before a national audience could weaken consumer confidence in general aviation utilization at a time when economic indicators are demonstrating that the community is finally starting to recover from the recession. The President should instead promote the many vital contributions of the general aviation industry to the U.S. economy," Coyne concluded.

NATA, the voice of aviation business, is the public policy group representing the interests of aviation businesses before Congress and the federal agencies.