Two New NBAA Publications Highlight Value, Importance of Airports

Oct. 18, 2013
Developed with significant input from airport experts serving on NBAA's Access Committee, the two new publications – titled the Airports Handbook and Airport Advocate Guide – complement each other and together give airport advocates a complete, attractive and educational tool as they rally support for their local airport.

Washington, DC, Oct. 17, 2013 – Airports provide communities with jobs, economic and social benefits, tax revenue and a gateway to the national air transportation system. The value of general aviation airports – to their local regions, and to companies and citizens across the United States – is the topic of two new publications recently released by the National Business Aviation Association (NBAA).

Developed with significant input from airport experts serving on NBAA's Access Committee, the two new publications – titled the Airports Handbook and Airport Advocate Guide – complement each other and together give airport advocates a complete, attractive and educational tool as they rally support for their local airport.

“Aviation is an essential part of everyday life, even for those who have never flown,” said Jeff Gilley, NBAA’s director, airports & ground infrastructure. “And without airports, all the quality-of-life benefits of aviation would not be possible.” Gilley said that distribution of the new airports publications furthers NBAA’s overall leadership as a principal advocate for support of and access to the more than 5,000 public-use general aviation airports around the country.

NBAA's Airports Handbook, subtitled “What You Need to Know About General Aviation Airports,” provides a significant upgrade to a long-time NBAA reference first published nearly two decades ago. The 16-page booklet is a fact-filled airports guide containing the latest information and data on such topics as the economic and social value of airports, safety and security issues, and noise and environmental concerns, as well as a robust resources section for those who want even more information.

Produced for distribution to general audiences – including members of civic organizations, legislators, the news media, regional elected officials and the general public – the Airports Handbook provides a wealth of data on the nation’s general aviation airports, including compelling facts, case studies, examples, charts and graphs, and photos. The handbook makes a convincing case for the importance and value of these airports, and is suitable for distribution at legislative events, community meetings, press briefings or regionally hosted Airport Days and open houses.

The second publication, NBAA’s Airport Advocate Guide, is a 20-page advocacy supplement to the Airports Handbook. The booklet – a totally new and unique offering from NBAA – provides step-by-step guidance, checklists and detailed information for individuals and groups who are involved in promoting and advocating for their airport.

“There is perhaps no more in-depth, airport-specific advocacy publication than our new airport guide,” said Gilley. “NBAA is pleased to offer this easy-to-use and comprehensive advocacy tool to airport supporters nationwide. Considering the many airports across the U.S. that are under duress, we anticipate that the Airport Advocate Guide will be used widely by aviation supporters in their quest to demonstrate why their airport is an essential community asset.”

NBAA’s six regional representatives are already using and distributing both the Airports Handbook and the Airport Advocate Guide at numerous events and meetings throughout the states in their regions. “Both publications will provide NBAA Members, as well as the many regional business aviation groups across the country, with an effective and highly useful tool to further assist them in their airport advocacy efforts,” said Steve Hadley, NBAA’s director of regional programs.

These airports publications are a project of NBAA’s Access Committee, whose efforts are focused on advocating for business aviation’s access to airports and airspace; educating NBAA Members on the equipage and training necessary to optimize the use of business aircraft in the National Airspace System (NAS); and engaging local communities’ business and political leadership on the local and regional benefits of business aviation, as well as the economic value of business aviation and their regional airports.