The architect Frank Lloyd Wright once observed, "The truth is more important than the facts." He clearly would have appreciated business aviation because truth is business aircraft are extremely valuable tools, but the economic facts behind them and their alternatives are often misunderstood, misstated or unknown.

With that in mind, let me offer some truths that relate to business aviation economics:

Decision-makers, be they buyers, sellers, partners, presidents or entrepreneurs, nearly always make their biggest deals and commitments face-to-face. Those decisions are often measured in the millions or even billions of dollars.

Nearly all the major software, hardware and communications companies routinely use business aircraft because their leaders know there's no technological substitute for face-to-face encounters.

The success of most businesses, regardless of their size, relies upon the impact of a handful of people who are the creators of ideas, markets, relationships, commitment and change.

The impact of that small team of leaders is most restricted by time - there's never enough - and nothing leverages their impact more than being "in place."

The cost of business aircraft is a tiny fraction of most companies' annual budgets. (Proportionately, it is a much smaller share than your cars are of your personal budget.)

Dozens upon dozens of high net worth entrepreneurs have bought business aircraft with their own money and without the benefit of tax breaks to avoid concerns over mixing business and personal aircraft use.

The vast majority of executives are extremely careful about their use of business aircraft. In practice, they are often too conservative about flying via private air.

Fat Cats are an endangered species. Like other people with aberrant behaviors, they do deserve "special" attention.