Chad is the editor of AINalerts, AIN's daily business aviation newsletter, and is also the news editor at AIN Media Group.&nbsp;He has been writing about aviation, with an emphasis on business aviation, since 1994. Chad started his writing career at The Avion,&nbsp;the&nbsp;student newspaper at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Daytona Beach, Florida, serving as editor-in-chief before graduating with a bachelor's in aeronautical science. After a stint as managing editor at Professional Pilot&nbsp;magazine, he joined&nbsp;AIN in late 1998. Chad holds a commercial pilot certificated with instrument and multi-engine ratings, and he also is a CFI/CFII. He lives and works from his home in Venice, Florida.

Online Editor

Chad Trautvetter

A coalition of eight aviation and labor organizations—including NBAA, GAMA, NATA, and the NetJets pilot union—are jointly opposing higher fuel taxes under the Biden Administration’s proposed fiscal year 2025 budget and regulatory changes that "single out business aviation." The groups <a href="https://nbaa.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/20240314-Coalition-Letter-Opposing-Bizav-Tax-Increases.pdf">sent a letter</a> outlining their collective objection yesterday to U.S. Senate Committee on Finance Chairman Ron Wyden (D-Oregon) and Ranking Member Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), and U.S. House Committee on Ways and Means Chairman Jason Smith (R-Missouri) and Ranking Member Richard Neal (D-Massachusetts).
The proposal calls for a phased increase in jet fuel taxes for non-commercial operators from the current 21.9 cents per gallon to $1.06 per gallon in fiscal year 2029. If enacted, this jet fuel tax would increase to 38.64 cents in 2025, with a 16.84-cent-per-gallon increase in each subsequent year until 2029. The Administration also aims to change the depreciation schedule for a purchased business aircraft from five to seven years.
“According to a 2018 Harris Poll, 85 percent of companies relying on an airplane to meet their transportation challenges are small and midsize enterprises,” the groups wrote. “The passengers aboard a business airplane are typically technicians, mid-level managers, and customers, not C-suite executives…Business aviation allows companies to optimize efficiency, productivity, and flexibility and to access hard-to-reach communities.”
Negative tax proposals would also adversely impact an industry that supports 1.2 million jobs and contributes nearly $250 billion to the country’s gross domestic product, they added. The coalition further warned of their impact to the industry’s continued role as “an innovation incubator” driving the aviation industry’s advancement toward greater safety and sustainability as well as net-zero carbon emissions.
“The health and livelihood of our industry is dependent on having an effective, reliable, and conducive regulatory and business environment,” the coalition continued. “Harmful tax proposals go in the wrong direction.
“Rather than ill-considered tax proposals and regulatory changes, we urge Congress to partner with the business aviation community, which is leading the way in developing new and innovative safety and environmental technologies, connecting communities, creating jobs, and benefiting American businesses of all sizes,” the letter concluded.

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

Aviation Groups Oppose Negative Tax Proposals on Business Aircraft

Organizations say higher taxes will harm business aviation industry

A coalition of aviation groups are opposing proposals in the Biden Administration’s FY2025 budget and regulatory changes that "single out business aviation."

Aviation Groups Oppose Tax Increases on Business Aircraft

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News and issues relating to civil and military unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and remotely piloted aircraft systems (RPAS) of all kinds and sizes, including those used for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR), combat (unmanned combat air vehicles, or UCAVs), law enforcement, research and other applications. Of particular focus is the FAA's planned integration of UAS into the U.S. national airspace system.

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