Business aviation in a sound-byte world - Part 2

Nothing has been more vilified in recent months than private aviation. The sound byte we hear from media, from Congress and even the President has been: private jets are wasteful; they're a toy for the fat cat business executive.

The sad thing that's missing in all this vilification is that a business jet can be utilized to retain and to grow clients - to increase business for companies. The business jet can actually cost less to fly to a location than commercial flights (add up the cost of commercial tickets, overnight stays, and food) and the business jet can actually allow the employees of the company to spend time at night with their family instead of being on the road.

Our agency, LaBov and Beyond Marketing Communications, is utilizing our business jet 15 percent more this year than last. We are making sure we spend as much time with clients as possible, and we are also responding to the most new business inquiries that we've ever received in our 25-plus-year history. Our business jet has enabled us to respond to opportunities and grow business.

We can operate a jet and not be wasteful. We fly with at least three employees on board, usually more (our jet can seat up to six). We fly to several locations a day if needed, so we can stretch the value of the jet. We fly all employees - it's not reserved for execs (in fact, I fly only 10 percent of the time). Our pilots are frugal - they negotiate on fuel, on landing fees, etc.

But all that info won't fit into a one-sentence sound byte. We have to fight the temptation to sound-byte ourselves into a corner. It'll take a few more words, maybe even a sentence or two, but if we want what's right, what's the truth, it's worth it.


Barry LaBov
LaBov and Beyond
http://www.labov.com/

Business aviation in a sound-byte world - Part 1

I recently appeared on Fox Business Channel with Ed Bolen of the National Business Aviation Association. We were interviewed by Jeff Flock. I thought Jeff was very good and very fair. He asked us about the viability of business jets, and I think we stated our cases well.

The whole anti-private-jet fervor that we have today is because of the sound-byte world we live in. As soon as an executive walked off a huge jet to ask Congress for money, the sound byte was: private jets are wasteful; they're merely a luxury item for rich executives.

As a business jet owner, I think it's appalling to be wasteful in any way - whether it be flying a huge jet alone or buying a $50,000 Rolex or being driven around in a limo instead of driving yourself to meetings, etc. Waste is waste. At my company, our owners and employees would simply not allow that kind of waste - after all, we have a business to run.

Good thing for Rolex that Congress didn't ask the Big Three execs about how much they paid for their watches when a $15 Timex would've gotten them there on time. Good thing for Armani that Congress didn't ask how much they paid for their suits when a decent JC Penney sportcoat would've kept them warm.


Barry LaBov
LaBov and Beyond
http://www.labov.com/

Thank the Big Three for Destroying the image of Biz Jets: Part Three

With all the bad press about private jets, I believe we need to think rationally before deciding that a business jet is evil.

My company, like thousands of others, uses a business jet. Why?

• The business jet can be a money maker, a business grower, a business saver. We use it to visit prospects as well as serve clients. It builds business.
  

• The business jet can allow a business to be located in a small city and still do business nationwide. My company is located in the 85th largest metro area in the country, Fort Wayne, Indiana. How in the world are we going to be able to work for great clients like VW, Audi, Ferrari, Freightliner, Suzuki, Schwab, and U.S. Trust without being able to serve them ASAP or whenever needed? We use our jet to help.

• We use our business jet to help protect our employees' family lives. If we used commercial flights, my employees would spend hundreds of days and nights away from their families a year. Instead they hop in the jet, spend a day with the clients and are home for dinner with family. Families are happy, employees are happy, clients are happy - and all of that makes me happy.

The current bad press press won't dissuade us from flying our business jet. There is only one thing that has changed in the six months that affects our business jet: Jet fuel is cheaper. That makes me happy, too.

For those of you who may have missed these yesterday, below are a couple of ads we felt inspired to create to help people better understand how our business jet plays a crucial role in our business operations. It's not an extravagance; it's a necessity. I'd love for you to view the ads and offer any thoughts you may have on them.

Barry LaBov, CEO
LaBov and Beyond
www.labov.com