But There's Still Plenty Of Work Ahead

By ANN Correspondent Aleta Vinas

"In 2004, NBAA Members enjoyed passage of the American Jobs Creation Act of 2004 (HR 4520), which includes a provision extending for 12 months the placed-in-service requirement for companies purchasing business aircraft to qualify for bonus depreciation. As a result, companies have a strong incentive to purchase new aircraft and invest in corporate flight departments."

So says NBAA President and CEO Ed Bolen, who gave ANN his organization's review of 2004 and the battle plan for the year ahead.

"In another positive development this year, Rear Admiral David M. Stone (Ret.), assistant secretary of homeland security for the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), recently met with NBAA to discuss access for business aviation to security-restricted airspace and airports. Specifically, Stone referenced the Transportation Security Administration Access Certificate (TSAAC), developed by NBAA with the goal of obtaining the same level of access for business aircraft operators to airspace and airports as that currently given to scheduled airlines.  Stone said that TSAAC is likely to be modified and used to facilitate domestic security access for the business aviation community, and NBAA looks forward to working with TSA to make this happen."

"NBAA will remain focused on issues of importance to our Members in the coming year," Bolen (right) continued. "One of our top priorities will be to work with Congressional leaders to stop misguided attempts to impose an unfair cost burden on the business aviation community for federal air traffic services.  Imposing even higher costs on business aviation, as some are suggesting, will lead operators to use the system less, diminishing business aviations contribution to economic growth and investment. 

"Given that business aviation contributes an estimated $100 billion each year to the U.S economy, and accounts for more than a million jobs, a long-term, stable solution must be found to preserve cost equity for all users of federal air traffic services.  NBAA looks forward to supporting Congressional proposals that make cost fairness a reality."

FMI www.nbaa.org