Bolen: General Aviation Industry Healthier, Though Challenges Remain

Dec. 10, 2018
The general aviation industry is on the upswing, shedding the doldrums from the Great Recession in 2008, NBAA President and CEO Ed Bolen said Dec. 6 at the Wichita (KS) Aero Club’s Annual On-Air Summit.

The general aviation industry is on the upswing, shedding the doldrums from the Great Recession in 2008, NBAA President and CEO Ed Bolen said Dec. 6 at the Wichita (KS) Aero Club’s Annual On-Air Summit.

Sales of new and pre-owned business turbine aircraft are up, he added. “We’re seeing improvements in the industry.”

Appearing with fellow panelists Pete Bunce, president and CEO of the General Aviation Manufacturers Association; Jack Pelton, president and chairman of the Experimental Aircraft Association; Paula Derks, president of the Aircraft Electronics Association and Tom Haines, senior vice president, media and outreach for the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association, Bolen and his fellow panelists noted the improved industry climate, while reminding attendees that challenges remain.

Among the challenges noted were the importance of safely integrating unmanned aircraft systems and remotely piloted vehicles into the national airspace, pushing Congress to enact legislative language to reinforce the role of Organizational Designation Authorizations and the ongoing need to attract, train and retain people to assure general aviation’s workforce of the future.

Bolen said there are new opportunities to work with Congress after the November mid-term elections produced a record number new faces in the House of Representatives and, to a lesser extent, the Senate.

Bolen also discussed passage of the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018 on Oct. 3, the first five-year bill in several years – and a bill minus language to implement “so-called” privatization of the air traffic control system.

“I want to thank all of the people who pushed back on ATC privatization,” he said. “All of you should feel very good that your voices were heard.

“In this case, democracy worked as the way the Founding Fathers intended.”

Learn more about the On-Air Summit.