NBAA Welcomes Montana Governor’s Recognition for Business Aviation

Contacts: Dan Hubbard, (202) 783-9360, dhubbard@nbaa.org
Patrick Dunne, (202) 783-9263, pdunne@nbaa.org

Washington, DC, November 18, 2010 – The National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) today welcomed an official letter issued by Montana Governor Brian Schweitzer (D-MT) this month recognizing the importance of general aviation, including business aviation, in the Big Sky state.

“In his letter, the governor specifically identifies business flying as a key benefit for Montana’s citizens, companies and communities,” said NBAA President and CEO Ed Bolen. “We thank the governor for recognizing the importance of the industry to the state.”

The governor’s letter says that “search and rescue, fire detection and suppression, medical emergency response…are but some of the efforts that rely on air services and facilities.”

NBAA Northwest Regional Representative Kristi Ivey noted that there is a good reason why Montana is known as the ‘Big Sky State,’ and depends on general aviation. “As the fourth-largest state in the nation, Montana has vast stretches of land that would require hours to cross through ground transportation. General aviation allows businesses to quickly cover wide distances in and outside the state,” she said.

The benefits from general aviation cited in Schweitzer’s letter are similar to those highlighted through the No Plane No Gain advocacy campaign, which is jointly sponsored by NBAA and the General Aviation Manufacturers Association. Learn more about No Plane No Gain at www.noplanenogain.org.

The value of business aviation in Montana was highlighted in a story in the January/February 2008 edition of NBAA’s bi-monthly Member publication, Business Aviation Insider. The issue profiles Paul Stafford, a commercial real estate investment specialist based in Missoula, who relies on a 1998 Malibu Mirage to extend the reach of his real estate practice as far as Denver, San Francisco, Las Vegas, Salt Lake City and Phoenix. “We’re small, but nimble,” Stafford said. “The airplane enables me to service a greater region, and it helps increase the volume of my business.” To read the full story in Business Aviation Insider, visit www.nbaa.org/news/insider/2008/0108/member-0108.php.

Schweitzer’s recognition makes Montana the 17th state to go on record as appreciating the value of aviation. States previously recognizing the role general aviation plays in their states have been Alaska, Arkansas, Georgia, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Minnesota, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Dakota, Ohio, Tennessee, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin and West Virginia.

To view a copy of Schweitzer’s letter, visit: www.nbaa.org/advocacy/regional/proclamations/MT-Recognition-11152010.pdf” onclick=”javascript:pageTracker._trackPageview(‘/advocacy/regional/proclamations/MT-Recognition-11152010.pdf” onclick=”javascript:pageTracker._trackPageview(‘/advocacy/regional/proclamations/MT-Recognition-11152010.pdf’);”>www.nbaa.org/advocacy/regional/proclamations/MT-Recognition-11152010.pdf);”.pdf.

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Founded in 1947 and based in Washington, DC, the National Business Aviation Association (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 8,000 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.

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