Industry groups fighting what they say are unprecedented attacks on business aviation by the Obama administration say they are picking up increasing political support.
NBAA and GAMA presidents Ed Bolen and Pete Bunce told journalists at this morning's media breakfast that a third of US Senators and a quarter of the House of Representatives had pledged their support for business aviation and its No Plane, No Gain campaign.
"We are making progress, not with the administration, but with everyone around it," said Bolen.
Bunce said the President's decision to praise US manufacturing one day and then the next castigate corporate jet owners had left "many people scratching their heads."
NBAA has launched a poster campaign ahead of the show featuring straight-talking billionaire businessman Warren Buffett, stressing why business aviation and meeting clients face to face is vital for delivering deals.
Earlier GAMA chairman John Rosanvallon said the mood in the industry had moved since last year from "cautiously optimistic to very cautiously optimistic." However, he said there are bright points, including the fact that US corporate profits are up and export markets, especially China, are growing fast.
Source: Flight Daily News
