According to a study commissioned by the General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA), general aviation (GA) contributed $339.2 billion to the U.S. economy in 2023 while supporting 1.3 million jobs across the nation. The group said the comprehensive analysis by PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) in the report, “Contribution of General Aviation to the US Economy in 2023,” demonstrates the sector’s economic reach across all 50 states.

“I am excited to report on our economic input, the 1.3 million jobs that we create as a whole industry,” said Pete Bunce, GAMA president and CEO, during the association’s State of the Industry press conference yesterday. “We’re talking about building aircraft, designing them, but also maintaining them, our service sector that’s out there, all the people that work on our FBOs, our mechanics out there, and repair stations all over the country—that is a lot of jobs…Compared to when we released this in the year 2000, that is an increase of more than 100,000 jobs and $92 billion into the U.S. economy.”

The manufacturing segment showed particular strength, with close to 4,000 U.S.-manufactured GA aircraft delivered in 2023. Experimental amateur-built aircraft led deliveries at 34% of the total, followed by piston aircraft at 28.8%. Business jets represented 12.5% of deliveries but dominated in terms of value, accounting for nearly 80% of the $12.9 billion in total aircraft sales.

The British Business and General Aviation Association (BBGA) has warned non-UK charter operators they could face significant penalties if they operate for-hire flights without obtaining the required foreign carrier permit from the UK CAA. This week, the group presented the example of an undisclosed aircraft owner that is now barred from flying into the UK because the company managing the jet flew “an international celebrity” into the country without having the required clearance for a charter operation.

According to BBGA, operators are finding that they cannot complete the process to secure a foreign carrier permit in time to meet short-notice request for charters. It said that some air operator certificate holders are trying to work around the rules by designating the flight as private, which is illegal, and are not informing either the charter client or the aircraft owner.

In the case of the recent celebrity flight, BBGA said the CAA took “swift and efficient” action. The investigation resulted in the operator being barred from selling charter flights into the UK and the owner being blocked from flying the same aircraft into the country, even for private trips, "for a lengthy time."

Since Brexit took effect on Jan. 31, 2020, European charter operators have not had automatic access to UK airports. UK operators face the same requirements to secure flight permits to fly to European airports.

As the White House looks to cut and reform government, the aviation industry has coalesced on a need to protect and update the National Airspace System (NAS) rather than gearing up for another potential battle over privatization. Nearly three dozen organizations across the aviation industry sent a letter yesterday to Capitol Hill leaders calling for safeguards and investments in the NAS. They outlined a National Airspace Safety Initiative, providing steps they collectively believe should remain a high priority for lawmakers, such as ensuring “robust emergency funding for critical air traffic control technology and infrastructure and controller staffing and training.”

Notably, the letter also stated: “We are aligned on not pursuing privatization of U.S. air traffic control services and believe it would be a distraction from these needed investments.” This marks a dramatic turn with industry associations once locked in a strong battle against each other over the issue. The organizations reiterated they want to work in a unified fashion to find common ground to ensure a safe and efficient NAS.

In addition to emergency funding, they asked lawmakers to provide direction to the FAA to divest from legacy NAS systems and use innovative procurement procedures to adopt new technologies. They also asked for funding to modernize facilities, additional financial mechanisms to better use aviation trust fund balances, and an exemption for the FAA from government shutdowns.

Changes to slot and parking rules at Athens International Airport (LGAV) are set to impact business aircraft operators starting March 30. Flight support group Universal Weather and Aviation has warned operators to prepare their schedules around the new Greek requirements to avoid disruption through the summer months.

The airport is moving to level-two slot coordination that will result in “deviations” in requested arrival and departure times for last-minute slots, especially at peak morning and mid-afternoon times. Universal has advised that delays of an hour or more should be expected if slots and prior permission approvals are not secured in advance.

Operators have also been told that free parking at LGAV will be reduced to two hours, compared with between eight and 12 hours currently. Any stay longer than two hours will be subject to confirmation by the airport operator and will be granted only 24 hours before the planned arrival.

The revised rules will apply to all aircraft with an mtow of more than 5,700 kilograms (12,566 pounds), whether they are private or charter flights, including ferry and technical stops. Exemptions are available for ambulance flights, as well as for military and parapublic operations.

If an operator needs to extend their stay in Athens, they will have to file a new prior permission request. Universal said approvals are unlikely due to ramp space limits.

AOPA has called on the FAA to limit the use of ADS-B data for purposes beyond its original intention of enhancing air traffic safety and airspace efficiency. In a February 18 letter sent to acting FAA Administrator Chris Rocheleau, AOPA president and CEO Darren Pleasance expressed the association’s growing concerns about the misuse of ADS-B data.

AOPA had previously supported the FAA’s 2020 ADS-B mandate under the assurance that the technology would solely serve safety and efficiency goals. However, Pleasance highlighted several troubling developments in which the data has been used to prevent legal water landings or to support “frivolous lawsuits” by the general public. These incidents have led to mounting frustration among AOPA members and the general aviation community.

“I write to strongly urge the [FAA] to put a halt to the increasing use of ADS-B for frivolous lawsuits, questionable enforcement actions, and the collection of airport landing fees…Pilots are now being forced to pay expensive legal fees to defend themselves against these questionable enforcement actions and frivolous lawsuits,” the letter said. “Moreover, a cottage industry of companies contracting with public-use airports are now using ADS-B data to collect airport fees from general aviation pilots. As you can understand, these actions carry potential safety and individual privacy concerns that must be addressed.”

White House Deputy Secretary of Transportation nominee Steven Bradbury faced deep concerns from U.S. Senate Democrats during a confirmation hearing this morning over several issues ranging from safety management systems (SMS) to the use of waterboarding. Nominated for the role in January, Bradbury had previously served as DOT general counsel under the first Trump administration and also was assistant principal deputy and acting assistant attorney general in the Department of Justice in the Bush (43) administration.

Senate Commerce Committee chairman Ted Cruz (R-Texas) backed the nomination, saying, “Bradbury is exceptionally well qualified for this position.” However, lawmakers on the other side of the aisle were skeptical.

“There is no issue about saving dollars if you’re not saving lives, and I think that what’s been wrong at FAA and DOT overall is that we’ve had too much of a light touch on these very important issues," said Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-Washington), the minority member on the Senate Commerce Committee. Concerns about Bradbury’s record include that during his time with the Department of Justice, he authored what became known as the “torture memo justifying the use of waterboarding and other torture techniques.”

Cantwell further questioned actions to sideline an SMS rulemaking for manufacturers right after the first Boeing 737 Max crash. Bradbury responded that the department had questions surrounding the effects on small businesses but stressed that he supports mandatory SMS.