Private jet makers show the giving side of business aviation

The membership of the General Aviation Manufacturer’s Association recently outlined some of the way members give back

Business aviation supports over 1.1 million jobs and $219 billion dollars in economic activity in the U.S. The industry also supports businesses in over 5,000 communities, over 4,500 that don’t have commercial airline service. It is also on the front lines after natural disasters, bringing aide to the stricken and supporting first responders.

Recent the General Aviation Manufacturer’s Association (GAMA) highlighted some activities of members to support their local communities.

• For more than 15 years, the Embraer Institute has invested in community development and in two exceptional high schools for students in Brazil. In 2018, more than 2,800 hours were devoted to volunteering and community engagement activities, and over 400 students were reached through the entrepreneurship program.

• GE Honda Aero Engines spent a day sorting and packing donated supplies for Crayons to Computers in Cincinnati, an organization that collects needed supplies for teachers in the greater Cincinnati area so they can provide these to their children to facilitate success in school and life.

• In 2018 Gulfstream and its employees donated $2 million to the United Way of the Coastal Empire’s annual giving campaign. Through the Coastal Empire Habitat for Humanity, they invested more than 1,000 volunteer hours this year to construct a new home for a military veteran in Savannah.

• Jet Support Services, Inc. was a sponsor of the 2018 Season of Hope event held at Prudential Plaza, home to the JSSI Corporate Office.

• Terrafugia gave back to several organizations, including Wounded Warrior Project and St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital. Terrafugia also purchased one Stella Artois chalice for every employee. Each chalice provides five years of clean water to someone in the developing world.

• In honor of National Manufacturing Day, Textron Aviation partnered with Exploration Place to honor its 12,000 global employees. Textron Aviation’s $250,000 contribution helped create the all-new aviation exhibit, Design Build Fly, which demonstrates to future generations how exciting a career in aviation can be.

• Continental Motors Group Ltd. supported the Mobile Aeroplex at Brookley STEM Initiative for the second year. This educational program sponsored 36 students to attend the National Flight Academy’s six-day Deployment program.

• FlightAware employees volunteered with many organizations, including Project C.U.R.E., which helps to bridge health resource gaps in the developing world by empowering doctors and nurses with the tools they need to treat those in need.

• In Texas, Boeing and its employees support organizations numerous organizations. Adaptive Training Foundation, Alamo Colleges, Frontiers of Flight Museum, Girls Inc. of San Antonio, Grace After Fire, Greater Houston Partnership, Prevent Blindness Texas, Returning Heroes Home, San Antonio Aviation & Aerospace Hall of Fame, Texas Alliance for Minorities in Engineering and more all receive support.