In today’s business world, more companies than ever are using business aviation. Defined as the use for a business purpose of any general aviation aircraft, business aviation encompasses flights not conducted by scheduled commercial airlines or the military. However, many misunderstandings persist about exactly who typically flies aboard business aircraft.
A survey conducted in 2009 for the National Business Aviation Association and the General Aviation Manufacturers Association has helped to correct the following misconceptions:
1. Business aviation is only for large companies
On the contrary, small companies are the majority operators of business aircraft: 70 percent of companies that use business aircraft have fewer than 1,000 employees, while 59 percent have fewer than 500 employees.
2. Only the elite employees of a company fly with business aircraft
Not so. Of the typical passengers on business aircraft, only 22 percent are top-level management. Most passengers are other managers (50 percent) or sales, service, or technical staff (20 percent).
3. Business aircraft are primarily used for special or rare trips.
In fact, business aircraft use is becoming increasingly common and is quite widespread among company employees. In the six months prior to the survey date, each company flew an average of 327 passengers on business aircraft. Even when adjustments are made for multi-trip passengers, the figure is an impressive 85 individuals per company. In terms of trip frequency, each individual averages between two and three business trips each month.