In a recent episode of the association’s “Coffee Talk with the CEO” webinar, CJP Director and Advocacy Committee Chair Jonathan Bailey offered members a look at the committee’s work to bolster their voice and influence throughout the industry.
“Most of you have a sense that we exist and an idea of what we do,” Bailey said of the CJP Advocacy Committee. “We address a pretty broad portfolio of topics, anything from AOG issues to long-term, multi-year projects that we’re trying to advance for the benefit of members.”
Watch June’s episode of CJP’s “Coffee Talk with the CEO”
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That includes initiatives to expand flight training opportunities for members, including greater slot availability. The committee, along with CJP CEO Rob Balzano and others, also maintains clear and open dialogs with Textron Aviation, avionics manufacturers and parts and maintenance providers on a variety of topics, with member concerns about parts availability and service time frames front-and-center.
“We depend on this ecosystem,” Bailey added. “Our airplanes move really fast, and aviation companies move really slowly. Getting a change to a part approved through FAA testing happens very, very slowly. In some cases, there aren’t a lot of choices.”
But while engineering changes and approvals take time, Bailey noted CJP’s leadership partners in these organizations always provide quick responses to member questions and concerns, especially AOG events. This open communication underlines the true value of advocacy, he added.
Committee members also work to assist operators with specific aircraft and equipment, such as “Mr. CJ4” Eric Sobel; charter pilot, aircraft manager and aviation writer Rich Pickett; and Len Rand, who leads CJP’s Collins avionics subcommittee.
“These are the kind of people I like having around,” Bailey said. “Our resources are very, very deep.”
In the months ahead, the CJP Advocacy Committee will continue working on wait times for parts, with Bailey adding that suppliers are taking proactive steps to understand and meet demand by shifting production as needed.
Bailey also emphasized the collaborative nature of the advocacy committee and invited members to contribute and engage with potential partners on behalf of the CJP community.
“These relationships are important,” he said. “We don’t always hear what we want to hear, and we don’t always get to fix every problem. But the door is open with all these entities, we have access to leadership and we can ask questions.”