The Impacts of VLJs on Tennessee Airports: A Case Study

Abstract

In an effort to determine the level of preparedness among Tennessee general aviation (GA) airports for accommodating and servicing Very Light Jets (VLJs), a survey was conducted to determine if managers of Tennessee’s GA airports feel their operations are adequately prepared to support the anticipated increase in aircraft movements and on-demand services related to the introduction of this new class of aircraft. The study investigated the perceptions of airport executives concerning the emerging VLJ market, and efforts undertaken to both prepare and promote general aviation airports in Tennessee as viable destinations for the VLJ operator. The paper highlights the VLJ movement (including the background of VLJ development), discusses the projected benefits of VLJs to local Tennessee
communities not serviced by commercial air carrier service, and presents results of the survey. The study concludes by presenting several practical recommendations that governmental leaders and airport managers may use to justify improvements and expansion projects aimed at marketing general aviation airports across the state of Tennessee as important destinations for VLJs.