Expert Opinion
AIN Blog: From an Industry Struggling To Recover, “Gee Thanks, Mr. President”
As part of an industry still struggling to recover from a recession and continuing attacks by the media and politicians alike, I was appalled by President

As part of an industry still struggling to recover from a recession and continuing attacks by the media and politicians alike, I was appalled by President Obama’s press conference Wednesday in which he used his bully pulpit to vilify corporate-jet owners. Not surprised. But appalled.

It isn’t the first time this Administration has criticized corporate aviation. In 2009, ABC News reported that officials of the Obama Administration had made it clear to Citigroup that $45 billion in government bailout funds were not appropriate in light of Citigroup’s order for a $50 million Falcon 7X. Citigroup folded and cancelled the order. Dassault Falcon and its workers suffered. Nor were they the only ones, as customers across the industry began cancelling orders and business-jet users in unprecedented numbers started cutting flight hours.