Story ID: 
Aviation Groups Urge Federal Covid-19 Aid
By: Curt Epstein
Caption: Facing severe economic impact as a result of the Covid-19 crisis, the aviation alphabet groups have issued a plea for relieve to Congress.
Word Count: 349
With the general aviation industry one of many feeling the pinch as a result of the burgeoning Covid-19 crisis in the U.S., a coalition of industry organizations including NBAA, NATA, GAMA, HAI, EAA, and AOPA issued a written plea to Congress asking for relief assistance.

The letter sent to the leadership of the House and Senate noted the volatility of the current situation and long-term possible impacts on the general and business aviation sector, which generates $77 billion a year in labor income and supports communities throughout the U.S.

“Due to the nature of the Covid-19 pandemic, there is currently no certainty as to when economic conditions will improve, which threatens the survival and prospects of thousands of general aviation businesses,” the letter stated. “Further, the threat of potential domestic travel restrictions and locally-imposed travel restrictions have the potential to cause even more significant harm to these companies as this crisis continues.”

The coalition is asking for assistance to all air carriers, including charter and fractional fleet operators, in a financial package similar to what was offered to commercial airlines in the aftermath of the September 11, 2001 terror attacks.

“Without both near- and medium- to long-term relief, many of these air carriers will not survive, resulting in job losses and significant disruptions to the critical services that they provide every day,” the letter concluded.

In a separate letter to  U.S. Secretary of Transportation Elaine Chao, the groups pledged their support and assistance wherever possible during this crisis. "The general and business aviation industry is comprised of a diverse fleet, capable of rapidly responding to needs in every part of the country and transporting time-sensitive supplies, medical and testing equipment, organ transplants, and key personnel and patients to over 5,000 general aviation airports," said the letter signed by all the groups except EAA. "In times of crisis, the businesses our associations represent have assisted with disaster relief by providing evacuation flights, delivering supplies, and surveying damage."