FractionalFocus - Blog

The Air Transport Association has recently launched a national campaign called Smart Skies to inform commercial air travelers of not only the need to update the current antiquated air traffic control system, but the gross inequity (from their POV) in how this endeavor is to be funded.

Here’s a sampling from their web site:

…some aviation users pay more than the costs they impose on the system, while others pay far less. For example, two thirds of all turbine aircraft are corporate, yet they only pay 8 percent of the taxes that fund the system.

To be clear, these numbers are debatable and reflect only a portion of the taxes paid by general aviation pilots (at least from the point of view of the AOPA (Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association)). But if they did truly represent an accurate representation of the current situation, the facts alone should speak loudly enough to convince airline customers of the alleged unjust taxes that are being passed on to them.

Yet, the ATA just couldn’t resist resorting to stereotypes to attack private jet owners. One video on their web site features a lady named Edna with a ridiculous wig who says things such as “I like wearing big wigs, not subsidizing them.” And while that may seem fairly tame (and as an advertising guy, I must add that it is exceedingly lame), the condescending tone cannot be missed.

And it gets worse. An “educational” video on their site, that I have also seen on Delta flights, portrays private jet owners as stodgy middle-aged men in ties drinking champagne and asking about their tee times. It’s hysterical. And the bad, over-the-top acting only makes it more comical.

Maybe it’s time for private jet owners to band together and create a campaign of their own. One that shows commercial passengers sporting mullets, drinking 40’s and talking about NASCAR.