At this year’s YoPro Washington, DC Fly-In, hosted by the NBAA Young Professionals in Business Aviation (YoPro) Council, emerging industry leaders had a unique opportunity to engage directly with members of Congress about aviation issues that matter to them most. Through their advocacy, they helped lawmakers better understand business aviation’s societal benefits and its vital economic role. Yet, for many professionals, especially those new to the industry, the pathway to this level of advocacy isn’t always clear.
Case in point: Flight Crew International Business Development Manager Casey Coker, who, before 2022, worked in the powersports industry with little knowledge of business aviation. “To me, aviation meant airlines like American or Delta.” At Flight Crew International, Coker’s rapid transition into the industry was deeply rooted in community involvement and advocacy. “The first thing I did was find local networking groups,” Coker said. “I wanted to observe, learn and meet people in the space.”
“Advocacy starts with relationships. And relationships start with curiosity.”
Casey Coker Business Development Manager, Flight Crew International
Coker joined the North Texas Chapter of Women in Aviation International, where she now serves as chapter president. She also got involved with NBAA’s YoPro program.
At NBAA’s Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition (NBAA-BACE), Coker met a YoPro who invited her to last year’s DC Fly-In. “Advocacy starts with relationships,” she noted. “And relationships start with curiosity.
“Network, network, network,” Coker said. “Find your local groups – even if you’re unsure who to talk to or what to ask,” she said. “Just show up and say, ‘Hi, I’m new. I want to learn and help.’”
With initiative, openness and persistence, any aviation professional can become a powerful voice for business aviation’s future.
“You can also become an advocate within a flight operation when you know something needs to change,” said NBAA Flight Operations Specialist Laila Stein. “You can develop the skills to speak up and help solve the problem.”
It’s also important to be aware of people’s ability to help. “Many elected leaders at the local and state levels are overworked and may lack the time, skills or abilities to directly solve your problem,” Stein said. “Or they might not be the right person at all.”
Keep your advocacy efforts simple initially, Stein said, with “just one or two people discussing a problem and potential solutions at first. Then you can see where it goes from there.”
International Business Aviation Council Ltd.