Mass.BAA to Advocate on Behalf Of Business and GA

A number of Massachusetts-based businesses with aviation interests and resident aircraft owners who fly both for business and personal reasons have formed a new organization called the Massachusetts Business Aviation Association (MBAA).

Since the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, various forces, government agencies, and circumstances have combined to put business and general aviation in jeopardy. The purpose of this non-profit association is to protect, promote and advocate the interests and needs of business and general aviation within the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The association will address and respond to issues impacting the Massachusetts business and general aviation community including safety, security, operational effectiveness, community and government relations, and environmental concerns.

The MBAA will solicit new members from corporate flight departments of Massachusetts-based companies, air charter companies based in Massachusetts, from owners and employees of businesses located at any of Massachusetts' 44 public-use airports, as well as from owners of the fleet of approximately 2,700 private aircraft based within the Commonwealth. The MBAA will develop and support public-interest programs for its members and advocate on their behalf on issues affecting the safe and productive use of aircraft and airport facilities in and out of Massachusetts.

The president of the MBAA is John I. Williams, Jr (right). Mr. Williams is vice chairman of Sentient Jet, a private jet membership company based in Norwell (MA). Mr. Williams earned his pilot's license at Hanscom Field in Bedford 20 years ago. Now, he is a commercial pilot and owner of a private aircraft based at Hanscom.

"Business and general aviation have long been a key contributor to the economic well-being of the people of Massachusetts," Williams said. "The airports in our state, from the smallest to the largest, are just as critical as our highways and railways in meeting our transportation and economic development needs. The commercial airlines have cut back their flight schedules, inconveniencing millions of business travelers and leaving communities such as Worcester with no commercial flights at all. Now more than ever, regional, national and global businesses based in Massachusetts need a vibrant private aviation sector to compete in the 21st century, as nimbleness can make the difference between success and failure; between more jobs and more layoffs. Leaders within our state's business and general aviation sector need an organization through which we can come together in support of our common needs, educate others about the contributions of private aviation to our state's general welfare, and advocate for improved safety, security, efficiency of operation as well as environmental awareness."

Other MBAA board members and officers include John T. Cooney, Director of Aviation for Liberty Mutual Group, headquartered in Boston; Fred Gevalt, president of the Air-Charter Guide based in Cambridge; Larry Jorash, area general manager for Signature Flight Support's locations at Boston Logan Airport, Hanscom Field, and Bradley International Airport (in Windsor Lockes, CT); Edward H. Kammerer, an attorney with the law firm of Edwards & Angell; and Bradford ("Ford") vonWeise, a vice president of business aviation finance with GMAC Commercial Finance in Bedford.

The MBAA will work closely with the National Business Aviation Association (NBAA), based in DC, as well as the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA), based in Frederick (MD). Both of these organizations advocate on behalf of private aviation nationally. Mr. vonWeise is the AOPA's Airport Support Network representative for Hanscom Field.

"We at NBAA are fully supportive of the MBAA," said Dean Saucier, the northeast representative of NBAA. "We look forward to collaborating with this new organization in furtherance of our mutual goals."

FMI: www.massav.org