Amy Wilder is a private pilot with more than two decades of experience as a writer and editor in a career spanning journalism, marketing, and communications. 
She has worked in aviation journalism since 2023, combining a lifelong passion for flight and a love of the aviation community with a penchant for storytelling. As a licensed pilot, she brings firsthand insight to the stories she covers, lending an authentic, on-the-ground perspective to industry coverage.
She holds a Master of Arts in Eastern Classics and a Master of Arts in Liberal Arts, both from St. John&#039;s College in Santa Fe, New Mexico, along with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Visual Culture.

Writer

Amy Wilder

The Bahamas Air Navigation Services Authority (BANSA) has begun retroactively invoicing aircraft operators for flights to, from, within, or over the Bahamas dating back to May 1, 2021,&nbsp;<a href="https://nbaa.org/aircraft-operations/international/caribbean-mexico/operators-nbaa-warns-bahamas-charging-onerous-retroactive-fees/">NBAA said</a>.&nbsp;
NBAA is organizing an advocacy effort with other industry groups and the U.S. government “to highlight the negative economic impact such onerous fees will have on FBOs, airports, the travel industry, and surrounding businesses,” said Laura Everington, NBAA director of international operations and regulations. “We encourage operators who receive retroactive invoices to share their experiences with NBAA to bolster these advocacy efforts with realistic data.”
NBAA has questioned the fees’ legitimacy, noting that the FAA provides most air traffic services for the Bahamas for a de minimis annual fee.
BANSA’s&nbsp;<a href="https://bansabahamas.com/data/files/bansa-charging-scheme-notice-of-intent-2024.pdf">April 2024 Notice of Intent</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://bansabahamas.com/air-navigation-service-fees.html">current fee schedule detail</a>&nbsp;the per-flight and distance-based overflight rates by aircraft weight category and describe the revision as aligned with ICAO’s cost-relatedness principle. Neither the intent notice nor the current fee schedule mentions retroactive application to flights predating the scheme. The charges are separate from customs, airport authority, and FBO fees.
The fees apply to piston twins, turboprops, and jets on both private and commercial flights. “Private and commercial flights in multi-engine piston, turboprop, and jet aircraft are subject to these fees. There are no distinctions between [general aviation] and commercial flights,” said Rick Gardner, owner of <a href="https://cstflightservices.com/news/bahamas-retroactively-increases-fees">CST Flight Services.</a>
Exempt operations include private single-engine piston flights, search-and-rescue and medical evacuation flights, aircraft diverting to an unintended airport during an emergency, and aircraft owned by the Bahamian government or by armed forces or governments of other ICAO member states.
Operators who already paid earlier BANSA charges will receive credit toward the revised rates but remain responsible for the balance. CST said the new rates represent increases of 294% to 679%, depending on an aircraft’s maximum takeoff weight. Meanwhile, operators who previously overflew Bahamian airspace are being credited 37% to 69% toward future overflight charges rather than refunds, CST said.
BANSA told CST that “any aircraft with a debt can be seized/detained by the government in the case the operator refuses to pay its outstanding debt. This also applies to new owners.”

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.

Operators Face Retroactive Bahamas Air Navigation Fees Dating to 2021

NBAA seeks operator invoices to bolster advocacy efforts

The Bahamas is retroactively charging aircraft operators air navigation fees dating to 2021, prompting an NBAA-led industry advocacy effort.

Bahamas Fee Hikes Hit Operators Retroactively

2024 Corporate Aviation Leadership Summit

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

News and issues concerning general aviation, specifically airplanes and helicopters powered by piston and alternative engines (i.e., non-turbine powered aircraft). Subjects include aircraft, engines, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security and training.

Rule would not apply to insulin-treated diabetes

FAA Proposes Easing Medical Approvals for Diabetic Pilots

Kerry Lynch

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.

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.

Move averts potential shutdown

Congress OKs Stopgap Government Funding Measure

Jessica Reed

His career spanned more than five and a half decades

Longtime Bizav Attorney Gary Garofalo Flies West

Curt Epstein

The revision relaxes some provisions of the Corporate Transparency Act

New Treasury Rule Limits LLC Information Reporting

Kassebaum pushed through the General Aviation Revitalization Act

Nancy Kassebaum, Architect of GA Product Liability Reform, Dies

Gordon Gilbert

Increased fees are to recover pandemic shortfall

Nav Canada Increases ATC Service Charges 

Larger new bizav aircraft face 2027 deadline, while small new turbine bizav aircraft have 2029 deadline

FAA InFO Outlines CVR Upgrade Deadlines

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

More In Regulations and Government