对于州和联邦议员及其挑战者而言，这是一个奔波于竞选活动的繁忙之年——他们穿梭全国各地，为2026年中期选举举办集会和筹款活动。但将候选人及其工作人员、捐赠者、随行记者，在某些情况下还包括武装安保人员，从一站送往下一站，远非预订商业航班那么简单。政治出行已成为航空领域内一个独特的细分市场。
It's been a busy year for campaign travel as state and federal lawmakers — and their challengers — crisscross the country for rallies and fundraisers for the 2026 midterm elections. But moving candidates and their staff, donors, press, and, in some cases, armed security, from one stop to the next isn't as simple as booking a commercial flight. Political travel has become a niche of its own within aviation.
该领域的一位资深人士是Advanced Aviation Team的创始人兼首席执行官Gregg Brunson-Pitts。该公司成立于2015年，总部位于华盛顿特区，为超高净值家庭、名人和企业高管安排VIP出行，并特别擅长竞选出行服务。Brunson-Pitts的公司负责政治出行的每一个环节——从安排航班、寻找机组人员，到给飞机贴牌、协调安保，以及应对快速变化的行程。
One pro in that realm is Gregg Brunson-Pitts, the founder and CEO of Advanced Aviation Team. Founded in 2015, the Washington, DC-based firm arranges VIP travel for ultrawealthy families, celebrities, and corporate C-suites, with a particular specialty in campaign travel. Brunson-Pitts' company manages every step of political travel — from scheduling flights and sourcing crews to branding planes, coordinating security, and adapting to rapidly changing itineraries.
Advanced Aviation在单个选举周期内处理数十万美元的合同，并自称不偏不倚。根据联邦选举委员会（FEC）今年的备案文件显示，除其他客户外，该公司从参议员Susan Collins的领导层政治行动委员会获得约5.8万美元，从众议员Hakeem Jeffries的竞选委员会获得约6.6万美元，用于2026年的出行安排。所有435个众议院席位、35个参议院席位（含两个特别选举席位）、36个州长职位、三个领地总督职位、众多州级职位以及全国数千个州议会席位，都将在周二的选票上出现。
Advanced Aviation handles hundreds of thousands of dollars in contracts over a single election cycle and describes itself as nonpartisan. This year, Federal Election Commission (FEC) filings show it received roughly $58,000 from Sen. Susan Collins' leadership PAC and $66,000 from Rep. Hakeem Jeffries' campaign committee for 2026 travel, among others. All 435 House seats, 35 Senate seats (including two special elections), 36 governorships, three territorial governorships, numerous state offices, and thousands of state legislative seats nationwide will be on Tuesday's ballot.
“我们高度专注于客户满意度，这意味着要未雨绸缪、善于解决问题、以解决方案为导向，”Brunson-Pitts在2026年初接受《商业内幕》采访时表示。“我们看到各组织开始更早规划、更早锁定出行支持，因为一旦日程排满，运力就会迅速消失。”Brunson-Pitts此前曾在前总统George W. Bush任内掌管白宫旅行办公室长达八年。
"We are hyper-focused on client satisfaction, which means seeing around corners, being problem solvers, and being solutions-oriented," Brunson-Pitts told Business Insider in early 2026. "We're seeing organizations plan earlier and lock in travel support sooner, because once the calendar tightens, capacity disappears quickly." Brunson-Pitts previously ran the White House Travel Office for eight years under former President George W. Bush.
他说，载有白宫随行记者团、特勤局人员和其他工作人员的包机几乎总是与“空军一号”编队飞行。这种融合了包机、武装安保和政府规程的经历，帮助他建立了专注于现代竞选后勤需求的专长：“我们的模式使我们能够为任何党派的客户提供支持，”他说。与包机运营商或份额所有制公司（如 NetJets 或 Flexjet）不同，后者运营并维护自己的飞机，Advanced Aviation Team 作为一家经纪公司运作，拥有合同飞机的使用权。
He said a charter jet carrying the White House press corps, Secret Service personnel, and other staff would almost always fly in tandem with Air Force One. That experience — blending chartered aircraft, armed security, and government protocols — helped him build a specialty focused on the logistical demands of modern campaigns: "Our approach allows us to support clients affiliated with any party," he said. Unlike charter operators or fractional owners such as NetJets or Flexjet, which operate and maintain their own planes, Advanced Aviation Team functions as a broker with access to contracted aircraft.
“我们可以调配较小的私人喷气机，也可以为 100 人或更多人安排团体出行，并定制一架客机，”他说。“并非许多经纪公司都能做到这一点；这正是我们的与众不同之处。”Brunson-Pitts 表示，他组建了一个团队，成员来自航空业内外，汇聚了政治、竞选出行、后勤以及私人航空包机、经纪和销售方面的经验。例如，曾在贝拉克·奥巴马总统任内担任白宫旅行办公室主任的 Peter Newell 于 3 月加入担任公司总裁。
"We can source smaller private jets, but we can also do group travel for 100 or more people and customize an airliner," he said. "Not a lot of brokers can do that; that's what sets us apart." Brunson-Pitts said he built a team drawing from inside and outside the aviation industry, bringing together experience in politics, campaign travel, logistics, and private aviation chartering, brokerage, and sales. For example, Peter Newell, the former director of the White House travel office under President Barack Obama, joined as company president in March.
与此同时，在加入 Advanced Aviation 之前，公司副总裁 Jonathan Tasler 曾为米特·罗姆尼 2012 年总统竞选活动包下的麦道 MD-83 飞机安排后勤。这种后勤专长对竞选成功至关重要，因为胜负往往取决于候选人能多快、多省钱、多高调地在摇摆州间穿梭。“竞选飞机是帮助候选人安全会见选民、传递竞选信息的重要工具。在冲刺阶段，它变成了一个流动的办公室和家外之家，”Brunson-Pitts 在中期选举前接受《商业内幕》采访时表示。
Meanwhile, before joining Advanced Aviation, company vice president Jonathan Tasler organized the McDonnell Douglas MD-83 chartered by Mitt Romney's 2012 presidential campaign. This logistical expertise is imperative to a successful campaign, as winning can come down to how fast, cheaply, and visibly candidates can move across battleground states. "The campaign plane is an important tool to help candidates safely meet with voters and get out their message. Down the homestretch, it becomes a working office and a home away from home," Brunson-Pitts told Business Insider ahead of the midterms.
“我们的团队在幕后协调机组人员、机场、地面交通、安保以及临时变更，以便候选人能够持续行进。”布伦森-皮茨的客户名单跨越二十年的选举周期，涵盖两党官员。除了柯林斯参议员和杰弗里斯众议员，2026年联邦选举委员会（FEC）备案显示，阿肯色州参议员汤姆·科顿和西弗吉尼亚州参议员吉姆·贾斯蒂斯的竞选团队也曾支付AAT航空旅行费用。
"Our team works behind the scenes coordinating crews, airports, ground transportation, security and last-minute changes so the candidate can keep moving." Brunson-Pitts' client list spans two decades of election cycles and includes officials from both parties. Beyond Sen. Collins and Rep. Jeffries, 2026 FEC filings show the campaigns of Arkansas Sen. Tom Cotton and West Virginia Sen. Jim Justice also paid AAT for air travel.
2024年，该公司曾与前副总统卡玛拉·哈里斯的丈夫道格·埃姆霍夫，以及哈里斯2024年竞选搭档、明尼苏达州州长蒂姆·沃尔兹合作。他还曾为前总统乔·拜登、希拉里·克林顿、约翰·克里、参议员伯尼·桑德斯、佛罗里达州州长罗恩·德桑蒂斯等政客处理合同，“以及更多”。布伦森-皮茨表示，AAT安排的航班机型从支线喷气式飞机到全尺寸客机不等：埃姆霍夫曾乘坐庞巴迪CRJ-200，沃尔兹2024年使用波音757。
In 2024, the firm worked with Doug Emhoff, the husband of former Vice President Kamala Harris, and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, Harris' 2024 running mate. He has also handled contracts for politicians such as former President Joe Biden, Hillary Clinton, John Kerry, Sen. Bernie Sanders, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, and "many more." Brunson-Pitts said AAT arranges flights on aircraft ranging from regional jets to full-size airliners: Emhoff traveled on a Bombardier CRJ-200, and Walz used a Boeing 757 in 2024.
拜登2020年竞选期间使用波音737。团队可对飞机内外进行改装——从调整座椅布局到添加竞选标识——并与设计团队及第三方供应商协调。品牌标识范围从简单的贴花到全机身重新喷涂。“从劳动节到选举日，行程会变得非常紧凑，”他说。“所以我们努力让它成为‘家外之家’，配备WiFi、电源和餐饮；也许是他们最爱的食物，或是来自他们最爱当地餐馆的一餐。”
Biden used a Boeing 737 during his 2020 campaign. The team may modify aircraft inside and out — from changing seat layouts to adding campaign logos — in coordination with design teams and third-party vendors. Branding can range from simple decals to fully repainted liveries. "From Labor Day to Election Day, the travel gets really intense," he said. "So we try to make it a home away from home with WiFi, power, and catering; maybe their favorite food or a meal from their favorite local restaurant."
然而，舒适度只是挑战的一部分。安保往往是最复杂的变数。布伦森-皮茨表示，现任国会议员有时会获得国会警察保护，而州长可能依赖州级安保小组。然而，大多数首次参选众议院或参议院的候选人会雇佣私人安保。一小部分高知名度候选人因全国知名度或可信威胁而获得特勤局保护。这可能决定从机场选择到飞机能多靠近航站楼停放的一切细节。
Comfort, however, is only part of the challenge. Security is often the most complex variable. Brunson-Pitts said sitting members of Congress sometimes receive Capitol Police protection, while governors may rely on state details. Most first-time House or Senate candidates, however, hire private security. A smaller group of high-profile candidates receives Secret Service protection due to national prominence or credible threats. That can dictate everything from airport choice to how close an aircraft can park to a terminal.
虽然昂贵的包机可能会让部分选民感到不满，但候选人认为，包机提供了商业航班无法比拟的速度、安全性和灵活性。来自佛蒙特州的独立参议员伯尼·桑德斯今年早些时候因在其横跨东西海岸、覆盖美国25个城市的“反寡头”巡回集会中使用私人飞机而受到批评。竞选财务记录显示，这些航班的费用超过22.1万美元。桑德斯5月在福克斯新闻节目中为这一决定辩护，称密集的集会日程使得乘坐商业航班不切实际，包机是触达数万名选民的必要手段。
While expensive charter flights may frustrate some voters, candidates argue the aircraft offer speed, security, and flexibility that commercial travel can't match. Sen. Bernie Sanders, an independent from Vermont, faced criticism earlier this year for using private planes during his coast-to-coast "Fighting Oligarchy" tour, which covered 25 US cities. Campaign finance records show the flights cost more than $221,000. Sanders defended the decision on Fox News in May, saying the packed rally schedule made flying commercially impractical and that charters were necessary to reach the tens of thousands of voters.
拜登在2008年竞选总统时也表达过类似观点。据美国广播公司新闻报道，他说：“如果我有飞机，我将在爱荷华州、新罕布什尔州、内华达州增加30%的公开露面。这就是金钱能产生影响的地方。”竞选资源往往决定了出行选择。资金充裕的竞选团队能够负担包机费用，从而实现多点停靠和临时调整日程。一旦计入机组人员、飞机租赁、燃油、调机飞行、着陆费、品牌宣传及其他开支，包机在一个竞选季的费用可能高达数百万美元。
Biden expressed a similar sentiment during his 2008 presidential run. "If I had a plane, I would make 30% more appearances in the state of Iowa, in New Hampshire, in Nevada," he said, according to ABC News. "That's where money does make a difference." Campaign resources often determine travel options. Well-funded operations can afford charters that allow multiple stops and last-minute schedule changes. These charters can cost millions of dollars over a campaign season once crews, aircraft rental, fuel, repositioning flights, landing fees, branding, and other expenses are factored in.
财务文件显示，2020年拜登竞选团队在私人包机上花费约220万美元。《福布斯》估计，副总统万斯2024年竞选使用的波音737飞机——并非由Advanced Aviation公司包租——每小时成本可能约为3万美元。布伦森-皮茨表示，价格因季节、乘客数量和机上体验而异。他补充说，新闻媒体和特勤局通常自行支付机票费用。包机通常避开拥挤的航站楼，改用私人飞机服务站，安检极少、人流稀疏，从而实现更快登机和更短周转时间。
Financial documents show the 2020 Biden campaign spent about $2.2 million on private charters. Forbes estimated Vice President JD Vance's 2024 campaign Boeing 737 — not chartered by Advanced Aviation — likely cost around $30,000 an hour. Brunson-Pitts said pricing varies by season, passenger count, and onboard experience. He added that the press and the Secret Service typically pay for their own seats. Charters often bypass crowded terminals for private aircraft service stations with minimal security screening and low crowds, allowing for faster boarding and quicker turnarounds.
规模较小的竞选团队有时依赖成本较低的商业航班，即使效率不高。部分候选人这样做是为了公众形象考虑。
Smaller campaigns sometimes rely on less expensive commercial flights, even if they are less efficient. Some candidates do so for the sake of public perception.
无论如何，布伦森-皮茨表示，这些商业包机的后勤安排可能很复杂。候选人通常有武装护卫随行，有时会直接驾车驶入停机坪，从车队登机。“我们通常从熟悉武装护卫流程的运营商名单中挑选，”他说。“幕后有大量的协调工作和文书工作，飞行员也需要知情，但我们清楚流程该如何推进，以确保当天不会出现意外情况。” 编者注：
Either way, Brunson-Pitts said the logistics for these commercial flyers can be complicated. Candidates often have an entourage of armed guards and sometimes drive directly onto the tarmac to board the plane from their motorcade. "We usually pick the operator from a pool that is familiar with the process for an armed detail," he said. "There's a lot of behind-the-scenes coordination and paperwork, and the pilots need to be aware, but we know how it should flow so there are no day-of surprises." Editor's note: