A Year That Underscored the Vital Role of Advocacy

This year has been a busy one in Washington, with implications for business aviation’s highest priorities, including safety, security and access to airports and airspace, to name just a few.

Throughout this pivotal year, the most important factor in our ability to shape positive outcomes in the policy arena has been our continued readiness to mobilize with a unified voice in support of proposals that foster our sector’s growth in the U.S. and around the world.

For example, among the significant developments of 2024 was the congressional passage of a long-term FAA reauthorization bill providing direction for the agency over the next five years. Perhaps more than any FAA reauthorization preceding it, this one reflects business aviation’s priorities, specifically with the inclusion of a first-ever title dedicated to general aviation, in recognition of the industry’s importance to citizens, companies and communities.

NBAA members ensured that our concerns were reflected in the bill by sending countless messages to lawmakers calling for passage of the legislation, and applauding its focus on enhancing safety, streamlining regulations, improving the GA certification process, protecting flight privacy, investing in airport infrastructure and supporting the development of advanced air mobility aircraft.

Your voice also proved critical beyond the halls of Congress, when the FAA considered a new rule expanding certain requirements to safety management systems (SMS) for some Part 135 operators. NBAA sounded a call to action for business aviation to make its voice heard directly with the agency; specifically, we wanted to ensure that any new SMS requirement would be appropriately tailored to the size and complexity of all business aviation operations. You responded: the FAA received more than 200 comments on its proposal, and the final rule issued earlier this year appears to reflect the industry’s guidance.

As 2024 draws to a close, the business aviation community continues to grapple with another concern from Washington: the FAA’s intention to overhaul regulations for Part 135 public charter operations under DOT Part 380 rules. We are concerned that this plan has been put forward without any apparent data to offer a rationale for changing the regulatory framework for public charter flights, which often serve as economic lifelines to small communities.

Many of you have already made your voice heard on this issue, with feedback submitted to the FAA as part of the 60,000 comments already sent to the agency about the matter. While that mobilization was essential, it appears this issue will be with us in the year to come, requiring continued vigilance, and perhaps renewed activism.

Clearly, a number of policy changes for business aviation were proposed or implemented this year; however, one important constant was our ability to ensure that one unified industry voice was heard by elected officials and regulators. In 2025 and beyond, unity and mobilization will remain vital to our ability to shape our destiny.