by Todd House

The Kentucky gubernatorial election is over. Our esteemed Governor, Ernie Fletcher, was defeated by Steve Beshear by a significant margin. While we have a special affection for Governor Fletcher since he is an engineer, doctor and pilot and has been visionary and proactive for aviation in Kentucky, we heartily welcome Governor-elect Beshear and look forward to helping him continue the very positive accomplishments of the incumbent administration.

To be sure, aviation benefits all Kentuckians. As long as access to a local,well-maintained airport exists, the community it serves and its people and businesses will enjoy an air transportation link to the regional and, indeed, global economies. This key air infrastructure connectivity is necessary to keep the the local economic engine fueled up and humming along. Of course, other infrastructure is necessary like access to reliable power, water, broadband internet and telecom connections to enable entrepreneurship and economic growth. But most of these have been present a long time in most communities; yet, they remain isolated and economically depressed.

The enabling technology–regular, reliable and safe air service–has been absent. In fact, according to the US Department of Transportation, only 14% of communities with airports in the U.S. enjoy scheduled commercial air service; and, those that do face a very real threat of having it withdrawn and the cash-strapped legacy airlines contract and focus on more lucrative coast to coast and international markets. Nearly 20% of existing commercial service is being terminated per year. Hope for retaining or gaining essential air transportation connectivity is bleak for most communities. But with the advent of YourJet air taxi early next summer, more and more communities will be served and connected.

YourJet air taxi service is dedicated to partnering with other laudable efforts to reignite economic growth throughout Kentucky and surrounding states. Through collaborative effort, smaller communities that have been relatively isolated can soon hope to join the economic mainstream as services such as YourJet air taxi offer a physical link to people, places and markets.

We are working with federal, state and local officials and businesses to bring YourJet service to an airport near you at a price point that invites many more people than ever before to experience safe, accessible and easy to use air service. We invite you to read the YourJet Vision Statement on these pages. This is who we are and what we hope to accomplish. We mean it; and, we can’t wait for the chance to show you.

Let’s keep pushing….

Todd