Media Advisory: NBAA’s Bolen, Other General Aviation Leaders to Discuss Unified Opposition to User Fee Proposals at Annual Convention

Contact: Dan Hubbard at (202) 783-9360 or dhubbard@nbaa.org

WASHINGTON, DC, October 3, 2006 – General aviation is under threat from a proposal by the commercial airlines to shift $2 billion in costs to general aviation, and pave the way for the airlines to seize control over the nation’s aviation system.

The airlines are looking to the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA’s) “reauthorization” process (scheduled for 2007) as an opportunity to overhaul the way the FAA is funded and governed. Simply put, their plan is to pay less and control more – all at the expense of general aviation.

NBAA President and CEO Ed Bolen will host a panel forum to discuss the airlines’ proposal with four general aviation industry leaders: Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) President and CEO Tom Poberezny; General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA) President and CEO Peter Bunce; National Air Transportation Association (NATA) President James Coyne; and Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association Executive Vice President, Government Affairs Andy Cebula.

The leaders will discuss the issues at stake for the entire GA community, the future of the U.S. aviation system and the FAA, and why everyone associated with general aviation must be involved in efforts to defeat user fee proposals for general aviation.

Who:

• NBAA President and CEO Ed Bolen
• EAA President and CEO Tom Poberezny
• GAMA President and CEO Peter Bunce
• NATA President James K. Coyne
• AOPA EVP, Government Affairs Andy Cebula

What: Panel forum to discuss user fee proposal from the commercial airlines and the upcoming congressional debate over FAA reauthorization

When: Wednesday, October 18, 2006, 11:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. ET

Where: NBAA 59th Annual Meeting & Convention, Orange County Convention Center, Orlando, FL, Room S32OC

Questions? Contact: Dan Hubbard, NBAA, (202) 783-9360, dhubbard@nbaa.org

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Founded in 1947 and based in Washington, DC, the National Business Aviation Association, Inc. (NBAA) is the leading organization for companies that rely on general aviation aircraft to help make their businesses more efficient, productive and successful. The Association represents more than 7,000 companies and provides more than 100 products and services to the business aviation community, including the NBAA Annual Meeting & Convention, the world’s largest civil aviation trade show. Learn more about NBAA at www.nbaa.org.