5. Lots of airport choices – Compared to the 500 or so airports in the US that have commercial airline service, private aviation has more than 5000 paved airport choices and millions more when you count open fields and parking lots for helicopter landings, waterways for float-plane landings and grass strips for more utilitarian turboprop or piston aircraft landings.
4. Ultra-cool products – From movies to rap songs, private aviation appears glamorous and exclusive. A flight on a private plane is on many people’s bucket list—and owning one signals a crowning success for many ambitious business owners. But private aviation is not so far-fetched. Many flight schools offer discovery flights for around $100, which, in my opinion, should be included in every high school’s science curriculum.
3. Exciting job opportunities – Even though I have a degree in journalism, not aeronautical engineering (or some other STEM-related training), I have found an amazing career in the aviation industry. There are a vast variety and number of aviation-related jobs available to people with all sorts of job skills and levels of education. Furthermore, the introduction of drones will revolutionize this industry and create jobs in the millions in the next couple of decades. It’s an exciting time to be a part of forward (and upward) progress!
2. Positive impact on our economy – Despite the fact that private jet users typically take a beating in the press, General Aviation contributes more than $150 billion to our economy each year and contributes positively to our nation’s balance of trade.
1. An extremely generous community – Private aircraft owners and others involved in the industry make significant donations. Corporate Angel Network has flown over 50,000 cancer patients for treatment via seat donations of private jet owners. After the 2010 Haiti earthquake, 4,500 relief flights were flown by donated private jets in the first 30 days bringing more than one million pounds of life saving supplies.