Association Calls on Members to Make Their Concerns Heard With
Congress
NBAA President and CEO Ed Bolen sent a strongly worded letter to
President Barak Obama today expressing dismay at the disparaging
remarks about business aviation made by the president in a June 29
press conference, and vowing to oppose any White House policy that
harms the industry.
Bolen's direct letter to the White House comes as NBAA has
reached out to dozens of national news outlets to rebut Obama's
denigrating comments about business aviation. In the aftermath of
the president's news conference, NBAA officials have spoken to a
growing list of national, regional and trade media, including:
Associated Press, Bloomberg News, CNBC, Congressional Quarterly,
FOX News, MarketWatch Dow Jones, National Public Radio, National
Journal, New York Post, Wall Street Journal, USA Today and a host
of others.
The comments Bolen has provided for news organizations reflect
those made in the White House letter sent Thursday, which states,
in part: "The U.S. has long been the world leader in all aspects of
business aviation, but other countries are working hard to displace
us. Yet, rather than extolling this great American industry, you
have chosen to denigrate it."
Bolen also noted that on the day following the White House press
conference, NBAA has prepared a letter Members can send, using the
Association's online Contact Congress resource, to make their
voices heard with their elected representatives in response to the
President's rhetoric about business aviation.
"The president repeatedly denigrated business airplane owners
and operators, apparently to make a case that current tax
‘depreciation schedules' for general aviation airplanes are
too short, and should be lengthened," Bolen said. "NBAA has
forcefully spoken out against the president's vilification of
business aviation, and we will oppose his policy reversal, which
would harm the industry. Now, the people in the business aviation
community have an opportunity to raise their voices as well,
through our Contact Congress resource.
"We have a letter related to the president's remarks and the
issue of depreciation schedules for business airplanes, and we want
NBAA Members to send it to their elected officials in Congress, who
would ultimately consider the kind of policy the president is
considering," he said. "The entire industry needs to speak with
one, unified voice, and tell Congress to say no to the president's
proposal, which is bad policy and cynical politics."