James R. Cannon - Practical Applications in Business Aviation Management

Copyright 2012 by Government Institutes

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By Ed Bolen, President and CEO,
National Business Aviation Association

Business aviation is one of America's most important yet least understood industries.

Contrary to popular misconception, the vast majority (85%) of the companies that operate business aircraft are small and medium-size enterprises. Fortune 500 companies fly only about 3% of U.S. business aircraft. In fact, operators include a broad cross-section of organizations, such as state governments, universities, and charitable organizations, as well as all types of businesses.

Many of the smaller U.S. businesses that rely on business aviation are located in the dozens of markets across the country where the airlines have reduced or eliminated service. Thus, business aviation provides an essential transportation linka lifelinebetween these smaller companies and communities and the rest of the world. While the organizations that rely on business aviation are varied, they all have one thing in common: the need for fast, flexible, safe, and secure access to destinations worldwide.

Most business aviation missions involve time-critical trips by sales, technical, and middle-management employees, not flights by top executives, who account for less than one quarter of all business aircraft trips. It's also worth noting that a jet is not the typical business airplane. While the business aviation fleet includes a variety of aircraftfrom light, single-engine airplanes to helicopters and long-range jetsthere are far more piston-powered aircraft registered in the United States than there are jets. And three quarters of all business aircraft operators fly only one aircraft, not a fleet of airplanes.

Why do companies use business aircraft? Business aviation helps them compete in an intensely competitive global marketplace by fostering efficiency and productivity. The business airplane is the closest thing to a flying office or conference room, so it can truly turn travel time into productive work time. Employees can prepare presentations or openly discuss proprietary information without fear of eavesdropping.

People who fly on business aircraft can be in more places in less time, often visiting three sites in one day, rather than one site in three days. And because many business aircraft are equipped with the latest communications technologies, passengers can stay connected to their associates on the ground.