Business to soar for private air firms.

With the commercial aviation industry showing no signs of recovering from its woes and the economy continuing to expand, the local business aviation industry is expecting a good 2006.

Additionally, the New Year promises an implementation of the long-awaiting Van Nuys Airport Master plan, which will inevitably alter the airport's future for years to come.

Ever since 9/11, the business aviation industry has been reaping the benefits of the commercial airlines' troubles, as harried businesspeople are typically in no mood to put up with the long waits and scrutiny required to fly commercial. And at Van Nuys, companies like The Air Group, Clay Lacy Aviation. and Petersen Aviation and many others have been in growth mode capitalizing on the increased traffic. And experts expect this unprecedented growth to continue into the foreseeable future.

"It's no secret that the business aviation firms have been doing very well of late." Brian J. Terwilliger the producer and director of One Six Right, a film about Van Nuys Airport, said. "Things have been on the rise ever since commercial aviation became so cumbersome, and I don't see a change about to happen anytime soon. I believe this is a permanent alteration in the way people fly and it's only going to continue to benefit the business aviation industry."

Another trend sure to impact the local business aviation industry is the gradual introduction of the next generation of private jets that are beginning to come onto the market. These jets are seen as lighter, faster, safer, and quieter than previous models and many expect businesspeople to switch to these new planes.

"The new business jets are becoming quieter and quieter and more and more efficient," Terwilliger said. "I think that they'll lead to more people flying business aviation, the technology and the safety is becoming more and more attractive and if people can afford to do it, they re willing to pay the cost. Business jets can get to that commercial planes can't get to and businessmen love the convenience."

Also 2006 will mark the beginning of the official implementation of the Van Nuys Airport master plan, with the plan having been approved by the Los Angeles City Council in October and awaiting the Mayor's signature. According to Stacy Geere, a spokesperson for the airport, the mayor is expected to approve the plan sometime this month.

"In 2006, we're looking forward to the opening of the new Los Angeles fire department operations facility. It was a $30 million dollar bond project to construct a brand new helicopter center at the airport," Geere said. "We're also looking forward to working on the new dedicated propeller area that will serve as a key element of the master plan. It will set aside acreage for small aircraft to have room at Van Nuys."