Airwork: Something for Everyone

Thursday, December 24, 2009 at 10:40 PM ET

Verified

Despite stories in the press, 74 percent of business jet flights are actually time-critical trips by sales, technical and middle management employees. Tom Benenson

Key Takeaways:

The public often misunderstands general aviation (GA), viewing it narrowly as a luxury for the wealthy, rather than recognizing its diverse roles and value.
General aviation encompasses a broad spectrum of activities, from essential business travel via corporate jets for efficiency and access, to community-focused recreational flying and the practical, affordable use of pre-owned aircraft.
GA serves as a legitimate business tool by offering flexible transportation and access to numerous airports, while also providing accessible recreational opportunities and fostering communities around aircraft ownership.
Beyond personal and business use, general aviation delivers critical societal benefits through services such as medevac, package delivery, agriculture, firefighting, and emergency relief.

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It seems, from recent media reports, that the general public has a myopic view of general aviation. Voices have been raised castigating executives for flying in business jets and decrying the expenditure of funds that go to rural and “underused” general aviation airports.

There’s an unfortunate disconnect between who and what we are and the general public’s perception of us. If some of those who are skeptical about the value of general aviation could have tagged along with me during a couple of recent weeks, their misconceptions might have been rectified.