Contact: Cassandra Bosco
Washington, DC, August 9, 2001 – Late yesterday, a U.S. District Court Judge in Ft. Myers, Florida dismissed a lawsuit brought by the National Business Aviation Association and the General Aviation Manufacturers Association against the City of Naples Airport Authority. The lawsuit, otherwise scheduled to start trial on August 20, sought to enjoin enforcement of a ban on the operation of smaller Stage 2 jet aircraft at the Naples Municipal Airport. The judge ruled that the ban was constitutional.
With all respect to the court,” stated John W. Olcott, President of NBAA, “we disagree with his opinion and are examining our further legal options. The court’s ruling also does not foreclose the Federal Aviation Administration from pursuing its administrative remedies against the airport.” The FAA earlier had expressed its tentative view to the airport that the Stage 2 ban would violate federal grant assurances and other federal requirements. Mr. Olcott also said that “the impact of the ban on aircraft noise in and around Naples will barely be perceptible, but the economic impact on the community will be real and adverse.
NBAA represents the aviation interests of over 6,500 companies which own or operate general aviation aircraft as an aid to the conduct of their business, or are involved with business aviation. NBAA Member Companies earn annual revenues approaching $5 trillion — a number that is about half the gross domestic product — and employ more than 19 million people worldwide. The NBAA Annual Meeting & Convention is the world’s largest display of civil aviation products and services.
International Business Aviation Council Ltd.