Just as North American business jet manufacturers are cutting production and laying off staff, the European Parliament has published a study recommending that the European Union should take its entire general aviation industry seriously for the first time. By contrast, in the USA, corporate and business aviation is having to keep its head down. It will probably have to do that until the storm of public outrage over the behavior and excessive remuneration of financial industry senior executives finally dies. At a time like this, it is particularly heartening to see clear-headedness at EU government level about how important general aviation as a whole is to Europe’s businesses and it’s society. This industry develops high-level skills, supports business and society, and creates skilled manufacturing jobs. Now the European Commission and EU member states have to deliver.
