NBAA dedicates 2016 convention to Arnold Palmer

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NBAA 2016

Ed Bolen, president and CEO of NBAA reflected with sadness on the passing of golf legend Arnold Palmer. Palmer was a long-standing advocate of business aviation.

“Arnold Palmer is a national hero who transcended golf and until his passing, it seemed he even transcended time itself, as multiple generations of people from all over the world recognized and loved this American treasure.”

“Arnold Palmer is a national hero who transcended golf and until his passing, it seemed he even transcended time itself, as multiple generations of people from all over the world recognized and loved this American treasure.” said Bolen.

“While Arnold’s appeal is universal, he holds a truly special place in the hearts of everyone in aviation,” Bolen added. “His passion for flying, his professionalism with over 19,000 hours in the left seat, and his tireless advocacy for our industry, combined to make him our great champion.”

“To honour his legacy, we will dedicate our upcoming convention to his memory. It is especially appropriate to do so as we gather in Orlando, FL, home of the Arnold Palmer Invitational,” Bolen said, referring to the golf tournament held annually at the Bay Hill Club and Lodge, which Palmer has owned since 1974.

A frequent attendee and speaker at NBAA’s conventions, Palmer lent his stature and credibility to a host of NBAA advocacy initiatives. For example, in 2009, he was featured in a so-called “truth” advertisement produced by NBAA, which became one of the cornerstones of the No Plane No Gain campaign, the advocacy program jointly sponsored by NBAA and the General Aviation Manufacturers Association.

“Using business aircraft is the single most productive thing I have done,” Palmer says in the television ad. “It’s given me the opportunity to compete more effectively in golf and in business, and it’s enabled me to do both from a place not served by the airlines.”

That same year, Palmer served as keynote speaker at NBAA’s convention; during his remarks, he declared: “I know the value of business airplanes. I know what they have done for me and my companies. I know how important they are to my hometown. And I know how important they are to this country.”

Palmer was a business leader and also one of the first CEOs to lend his name to NBAA’s “Business Leaders on Business Aviation” initiative, also produced for the No Plane No Gain program. The initiative features testimonials from dozens of CEOs, explaining how the use of an airplane helps their companies achieve their business objectives.”

“Business aviation has given me an important edge,” Palmer states in a compendium of the CEOs produced by NBAA. “It has allowed me to be in more places, in less time, than the competition. As a result, it has given me more opportunities to succeed.”

The November/December 2016 edition of NBAA’s Business Aviation Insider magazine will include a feature story paying tribute to Palmer’s life and legacy.

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