Aug. 8, 2015
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Commissioner R. Gil Kerlikowske recently said that his agency would organize a working group to focus on issues specific to general aviation, including business aviation, and that part of the group’s work would center on expedited general aviation arrivals into the U.S.
NBAA President and CEO Ed Bolen recently met with Kerlikowske to discuss past successes the Association and agency have enjoyed by working together. “We also identified further opportunities for collaboration, with a goal of simplifying business aviation procedures while maintaining an equivalent level of safety and security,” he said.
NBAA’s meeting with CBP officials focused on improving the facilitation of N-registered general and business aviation operators returning to the U.S. The working group will begin meeting later this year, and NBAA hopes it will work to streamline regular processing requirements for international general aviation arrivals.
For example, NBAA suggested that broader use of CBP assets at foreign locations, including pre-clearance facilities, could be used to process a greater number of U.S. operators before they return home.
“Our Members have benefited greatly from past collaborative efforts with CBP,” said Bolen. “We appreciate the commissioner’s willingness to meet with us, discuss our concerns and explore creative solutions that would benefit both business aviation and the agency itself.”
NBAA will provide Members with regular updates on CBP initiatives.
International Business Aviation Council Ltd.