Most people automatically assume that the term “business aviation” refers to sleek corporate jets and the Fortune 500 companies that use them. That’s a misperception, according to NBAA. The majority of business aviation users are the employees and owners of small and mid-size businesses.
So what purpose does business aviation serve (besides transporting business executives)?
Aviation and Agriculture
Farmers rely on "crop dusting" and agriculture (AG) pilots because the aerial application of seeds, pesticides and fertilizer is “the safest, fastest, most efficient and most economical way to get the job done,” according to the National Agricultural Aviation Association (NAAA).
An airplane or helicopter can accomplish more work in less time than ground equipment can, while using less fuel, emitting less air pollution and reducing the amount of soil erosion and soil compaction, the organization said.
Emergency Medical Transport
There are more than 800 emergency medical helicopters operating in the U.S., according to the FAA. The Association of Air Medical Services (AAMS) estimates that these aircraft, in addition to the hundreds of airplanes that are also used, fly more than 500,000 EMS missions each year.
Missions include the transport of critically injured patients to trauma or burn centers, as well as the transport of organs and medical equipment. Air transport is also the fastest means of travel for people who live in rural or extremely congested areas.
Security and Law Enforcement
Police departments, fire departments and government agencies use airplanes and helicopters for a variety of reasons, including search and rescue missions, patrol and pursuit, and emergency evacuations.
The U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) Office of Aviation Operations, for example, has 106 aircraft and uses them for a range of activities, including air-to-ground surveillance, photographic reconnaissance, diplomatic missions, rapid deployment of personnel and equipment, expeditious removal of fugitives from foreign countries, over-water surveillance and search for suspect vessel activity, and medical evacuations.
Science and Research
Business aircraft are also used to conduct research. Meteorologists, for example, use aircraft to monitor and report the weather. Researchers at the NASA Glenn Research Center routinely fly into icing conditions to learn more about the atmospheric physics that lead to the formation of supercooled liquid droplets, just as other scientists fly through thunderstorms and hurricanes. Airplane manufacturers and safety organizations also use aircraft for airborne research and development, while other companies use aircraft for mapping and surveying, as well as aerial photography.
Essentially, the list of business aircraft uses is endless. As NBAA explained, "While companies that rely on business aviation represent many different professions and locations, they all have one thing in common: the need for fast, flexible, safe, secure and cost-effective access to destinations across the country and around the world."
Jennifer Harrington - Jennifer is a freelance aviation journalist. In 2008 she won the Aviation Journalist of the Year award for Best Business or Financial ...
