Justifying jets: Travel discouraged

Business jet deliveries were down 35.7 percent in the first quarter of 2009, a period when Citigroup was blasted for plans to buy a $50 million business jet while receiving federal bailout money, and leaders of Chrysler, Ford and GM were attacked for flying business jets to Washington to plead for federal help.

The high-profile criticism has gotten the attention of the aerospace industry.

Last month, 70 mayors signed a letter to President Barack Obama urging him to voice support for general aviation, a category that includes not only business jets but smaller airports that lack commercial service. The letter-writing was organized by the Alliance for Aviation Across America.

"As we look at what happens in the economic downturn, we're very sensitive about anything said about aviation that could have an impact on our city," said Wichita, Kan., Mayor Carl Brewer in a conference call with reporters. Wichita has lost thousands of aerospace jobs in the recession.

About 3,000 jobs at Rockwell Collins in Cedar Rapids are in some way associated with the business jet market. Almost all of the layoffs Rockwell has made this year have been because of the business jet downturn, said Greg Irmen, vice president of business and regional systems. He said the message that business jets are extravagant luxuries, especially coming from political leaders, could make the situation worse.

"They're not luxury items," Irmen said.

"They're business tools.

People who fly often for business on commercial jets understand this." Irmen offered his example of flying business jet versus commercial. On the Monday after Easter, he had a business meeting scheduled at Rockwell Collins' facility in Melbourne, Fla. He ordinarily would have boarded a Rockwell business jet the next morning for a 3 1/2hour flight to Melbourne, attended the meeting and returned that night while working and snacking in flight.

Because the jet wasn't available, Irmen had to leave Sunday afternoon and return Tuesday afternoon on commercial flights. The trip expanded into two overnight stays with meals, a rental car checkout and check-in

and two three-hour layovers in Atlanta.

Rockwell has cut back on travel because of the economy. Its employees are encouraged to skip non-essential travel, using videoconferences or telephone conferences when necessary. They are also asked to fly coach instead of business class.

One of Rockwell's two business jets isn't available because it's been redeployed to flight test the company's new Pro Line Fusion avionics suite, which is being developed for the business and regional jet market.

Irmen said Rockwell's decision to go ahead with the new advanced avionics suite despite the decline in market demand has helped keep employment in Cedar Rapids.

aEUR" Contact the writer: (319) 398-8317 or david. dewitte@gazcomm.com

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