Those who operate N-registered business aircraft in Europe know how well off we are in the U.S. Aside from a multitude of flight information regions under the jurisdiction of different countries, Eurocontrol charges and airport restrictions, there is simply a different attitude toward business aviation in Europe compared with the U.S. Europeans seem hesitant to embrace the use of general aviation aircraft flown noncommercially in support of a company’s business activities as an integral part of a nation’s air-transportation system. There is reluctance on the part of government, as well as business, to encourage the use of company-owned aircraft as industrial tools.
This difference manifests itself in philosophically different rules governing private operations of business aircraft in the U.S. compared with Europe. The FARs, specifically FAR Part 91 Subpart F, encourage private operations by allowing an individual or a company to purchase expertise from professionals without losing the status of being a private operator. A company is allowed to hire a management firm to provide services, such as salaried pilots and expert advise, without the transfer of fees for such services moving the private operator into a commercial classification.
