WASHINGTON, D.C., February 5, 2007 – National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) President and CEO Ed Bolen today issued the following statement concerning the fiscal year 2008 budget, released by the White House today.
"The general aviation community has long stood at the forefront of efforts to transform the nation’s aviation system to meet the needs of the future. We will continue to work with the FAA to make the next generation aviation system a reality.
"But it appears that, after more than a year of intense lobbying by the nation's big airlines, the White House has decided to introduce a budget that shifts airline costs to other segments of the industry and gives airlines more control over the air traffic system.
"NBAA and the rest of the general aviation community will oppose this toxic mix of higher taxes, new fees and airline control. The fact is, the current approach to funding and oversight of the aviation system is effective and efficient – there is no need for radical 'fixes' like those proposed in this budget.
"We are confident that the tens of thousands of small and mid-size businesses that rely on general aviation will have support from those who oppose new government bureaucracies and care about small and rural communities without good access to airline service."
Founded in 1947 and based in Washington, D.C., the National Business Aviation Association, Inc. (NBAA) is the leading organization for companies that rely on general aviation aircraft to help make their businesses more efficient, productive and successful. The Association represents more than 8,000 companies and provides more than 100 products and services to the business aviation community, including the NBAA Annual Meeting & Convention, the world's largest civil aviation trade show. Learn more about NBAA at www.nbaa.org.
