LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) -- Aviation executives and Arkansas political leaders say the general aviation industry can help the economy pull out of its recession.
Dassault Falcon Vice President Jeff Habib said Tuesday that the criticism heaped onto auto executives for their private jet use contributed to a drop in orders at Dassault.
Habib was at the company's Little Rock facility, joined by Gov. Mike Beebe and Sens. Mark Pryor and Blanche Lincoln.
They all agreed that corporate executives need to fly to do business and doing so would help airplane makers pull out of their own slump.
Aviation is Arkansas' top export. The $1 billion industry is responsible for more than 3,500 manufacturing jobs.
