The National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) has expressed its approval for the enactment of a series of six spending bills, which includes the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies (THUD) appropriations bill. The THUD bill contains provisions that the NBAA has been advocating for in its recent campaign.
According to a press release by the NBAA, an organization representing over 10,000 company and professional members in the business aviation community, the THUD appropriations bill will fund more than a dozen departments and government agencies for the remainder of Fiscal Year (F.Y.) 2024.
The press release further elaborates that the bill provides $68 million for research on technologies aimed at advancing sustainable aviation, reducing aircraft noise, and increasing the production and availability of sustainable aviation fuel. These priorities align with the association’s "Climbing. Fast." campaign, as stated by NBAA. Launched in October 2023, this multi-media initiative advocates for sustainable aviation with a focus on achieving a net-zero carbon emissions future.
NBAA President and CEO Ed Bolen is quoted in the press release stating that the business aviation industry had committed itself to sustainability long ago. "Our new, branded Climbing. Fast. initiative will take this message to policymakers, opinion leaders and other key audiences, informing perceptions about the industry’s sustainability record and value," said Bolen.
Bolen views the U.S. business aviation industry—which supports over 1.2 million total jobs and generates approximately $247 billion in economic output—as a technology incubator for the entire aviation industry. He noted that through investing in technologies, business aviation has managed to reduce aircraft emissions by 40% over four decades.
"Climbing. Fast. truly describes the work we have been doing to foster aviation’s sustainability and technology, advance safety, strengthen economic growth and provide valuable services to communities," Bolen said.
