A multi-engine, instrument rated pilot, James Wynbrandt has been an AIN and Business Jet Traveler contributor since 2003. His in-depth reporting and insightful features have won more than a dozen editorial honors, including two National Business Aviation Association Gold Wing Awards (2019; 2021), and his articles have also appeared in the New York Times, Barron’s, Fortune, Forbes, and Smithsonian Air &amp; Space. He has flown his Mooney M20K 252 on assignments throughout North and Central America and the Caribbean. Wynbrandt is also the author of Flying High (Wiley &amp; Sons), a biography of Jet Blue founder David Neeleman, as well as histories, references works, and books on a variety of other topics from major publishers. He lives in New York City.

Contributor - Business Aviation

James Wynbrandt

Colorado’s House Business Affairs and Labor Committee has passed a sales and use tax exemption for the state’s air charter operators, with the House Finance Committee set to vote on the exemption on March 5, according to the Colorado Aviation Business Association (CABA). With multiple sponsors in both chambers, the proposed legislation would exempt Colorado-based charter operators and aircraft owners from state sales and use tax “on the purchase, lease, storage, or consumption of an aircraft for interstate, intrastate, or foreign commerce” when used for on-demand service.

 


The intended purpose of the act is “to place additional aircraft in commercial service in Colorado, which will increase jobs related to their operation,” according to the bill. In a recent survey conducted by CABA, Colorado-based on-demand air carriers indicated that each additional aircraft placed into service will create, on average, 5.3 jobs to support its operation. These figures include pilots, maintenance technicians, charter schedulers and dispatchers, and ancillary office personnel. Additionally, rural communities will benefit “because service providers critical to rural communities, such as medical support, rely on on-demand air carriers to access communities with no commercial service,” the legislation notes.

News about bills, laws, regulations and other governmental decisions affecting aviation and aerospace. Topics include FAA re-authorizations, taxes on fuel and aviation activities, environmental legislation, ICAO decisions, governmental mediation of labor conflicts and World Trade Organization disputes and decisions.

Colorado Proposes Tax Relief for Charter Operators

The bill is intended to create jobs in the state.

2024 Corporate Aviation Leadership Summit

Kerry Lynch

News and issues relating to business, corporate and private aviation, primarily regarding turbine-engine-powered airplanes and helicopters. Subjects include aircraft, engines, maintenance, operations, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security, and training.

Thune formerly chaired the Commerce Committee and is well versed in aviation issues

Thune Move to Senate Majority Leader Draws Bizav Praise

Hanneke Weitering

News and developments about airplanes, helicopters and unmanned air vehicles used in all varieties of operations, including airlines, military, business, commercial, general aviation and private.

New developments and products in avionics, specifically about aircraft electronics in the cockpit.

Inflight refueling aircraft slated for first autonomous flight in 2025

USAF Approves Merlin's Airworthiness Plan for Autonomous KC-135

Tax issues among first anticipated on Capitol Hill's plate next year

Washington To See New Aviation Leaders in Next Congress

Tariffs, Schedule F, sustainability, audits all possible changes

New White House Sets Stage for New Aviation Policy

AmyWilder

News about simulators and training procedures, as well as workforce.

News and issues relating to the aerospace industry that are related to the science, engineering and business of flight in space involving civil, industrial and military applications, and similar topics related to flight in the atmosphere of the Earth that are not covered more directly by other AINonline subject channels. In other words, both astronautical and aeronautical subjects, except for those aeronautical topics that are specifically covered elsewhere on this website.

Report identifies vulnerabilities in labor, materials, and infrastructure

Task Force Details Aerospace Supply-chain Weaknesses

Charles Alcock

News and issues concerning the aviation charter and fractional-ownership industries and markets, including company announcements, regulations, new developments and labor issues.

Issues regarding financing of aircraft; aviation insurance; tax issues for aircraft operators; new companies and people in the aviation financing and insurance industries.

Rising development costs have meant increased net losses at the Embraer spinoff

Certification Criteria Set as Eve Conducts eVTOL Flight Trials in São Paulo

News and issues relating to international air transport and cargo carriers, national airlines and regional airlines, including aircraft, engines, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security and training.

PRD ushers in a new era of efficiency and a new bureaucracy

The Double-edged Sword of the Pilot Records Database

News and information on safety procedures and concerns.

More In Regulations and Government