Sept. 27, 2024
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) recently announced the validity period of border overflight exemptions will be extended to three years instead of the previous two-year term. The new validity period began with first-time and requests to renew exemptions in mid-September.
Border overflight exemptions essentially allow companies using business aircraft under Part 91 and Part 135 to be vetted in advance and then avoid landing at one of 32 CBP designated airports when crossing the southern border of the U.S.
“This change is the next step in streamlining the border overflight exemption program,” said Laura Everington, NBAA’s director of international operations and regulations. “Operators holding a valid border overflight exemption do not need to take any action at this time. The new three-year validity period will begin upon their next overflight renewal and approval.”
CBP, in coordination with and in response to feedback from the industry, began the process to improve the border overflight exemption program in 2012. Changes in 2012 included new policies centralizing the approval process, essentially transferring the responsibility from individual ports to CBP’s General Aviation Program Manager’s division.
Also, then-new approval letters listed the operator name and essentially provided a blanket exemption for any aircraft, crew and passengers aboard that operator’s aircraft. Previously, approval letters specified the aircraft, crew, airports of intended arrival in the U.S. and airports of foreign origin, so operators were potentially required to submit a new exemption request for most international trips.
International Business Aviation Council Ltd.