General aviation, election: Second look

Letters to the editor:

Aviation safety

USA TODAY's piece on small-aircraft safety paints a very unfair and misleading portrait of our industry ("Investigation: Post-crash fires in small planes cost 600 lives").

First, it is particularly unsettling that the report failed to refer to the most recent data from the National Transportation Safety Board published in September that showed that general aviation safety is, in fact, the strongest it has ever been.

The industry has invested significantly in a host of new safety technologies over the past 20 years. Furthermore, these technologies — and the aircraft — must adhere to rigorous government certification standards.

Improving post-impact fire safety is a top priority for our industry. However, USA TODAY's article gives an incomplete and negative image about general aviation.

Ed Bolen, President and CEO
National Business Aviation Association
Washington, D.C.

Power shifts

After the midterm elections, it took fewer than two days for our politicians to return to typical partisan politics. President Obama pushed immigration reform, and Republicans pushed their agenda, including tax reform.

Meanwhile, Veterans Affairs hospitals remain a mess. Veterans' suicide rates have climbed, and the nation or its politicians don't seem to care. I simply ask: Can we please get our priorities in order before we lose any more of these veterans to something that is preventable?

Scott Wisniewski; Lexington, Ky.