He Was Nicer About It Than We Would Have Been
We knew this was coming. Ed
Bolen, president of the National Business Aviation Association,
wrote a carefully-worded rebuke to Associated Press writer
Stevenson Jacobs,
whose December 21 article questioned the wisdom of
corporate execs continuing to fly on business jets,
over more 'economical' options.
Portions of Bolen's response to Jacobs have appeared in a number
of general media outlets. Here is the full letter, courtesy of
NBAA:
Your recent article on business
aviation (Execs Still Flying Corporate Jets, December 21) presents
an inaccurate and misleading picture of business aviation in the
United States. It completely misses the reality that, every day,
tens of thousands of well-managed and cost-conscious US companies
use business aviation to help them survive and effectively compete
in an intensely unforgiving marketplace.
Although perceptions may be to the
contrary, the fact is that eighty-five percent of the companies
that utilize business aviation are small and mid-size. And the
passengers on business aircraft are usually salespersons,
engineers, technicians and other employees below the senior
executive rank.
Business aviation is often used to fly
to locations with little or no scheduled airline service. In fact,
business aviation reaches ten times the number of communities
served by commercial airlines. Business aviation is also routinely
used to visit multiple sites in a single day or respond to business
situations when time is of the essence.
The basic value of business aviation
is that it is a tool that allows companies to do more in less time,
and often at a lower cost than other alternatives. It helps
companies maximize employee productivity, reduce total travel times
and have the flexibility they need to quickly adjust to changing
business circumstances and schedules.
This is not to suggest that business
aviation is the best transportation option in every instance. Good
businesses match the right transportation mode to the mission at
hand. Most NBAA Member companies have integrated transportation
policies that help them determine the most appropriate mode of
transportation in any circumstance. Our surveys have found that
companies that use business aviation as a solution to some of their
transportation challenges also rely heavily on the commercial
airlines, purchasing $12 billion worth of airline tickets
annually.
But business aviation is the most
prudent and cost-effective transportation solution in a wide number
of situations. That is why it is a critical link in our
nation’s transportation system and an important tool for
businesses of all sizes. It’s unfortunate that your story
leaves readers with a view of business aviation that reflects none
of these realities.
Sincerely,
Ed Bolen
President and CEO
National Business Aviation
Association