There is an air of uncertainty within the broad aviation industry over the ongoing transition to a new Presidential Administration. While the transfer of power is always a confusing time, the Trump team has made sweeping changes that will have an unknown effect on aviation – and general aviation in particular.
The most visible potential effects related to GA of the new Administration are a freeze on any new regulations, a hiring pause for federal employees, and vacancies at key leadership positions in the government, including the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and, to a lesser degree for GA, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA). As of now, the Administrator and Associate Administrator positions at the FAA are vacant. On the positive side, the pro-business stance of the Trump team could mean more favorable tax policies for aircraft owners. But there is also concern that a movement to privatize air traffic control might resurface after several attempts have failed in the past.
Aviation trade groups remain cautious in their outlook. For example, asked about the regulatory freeze announced Monday, the National Business Aviation Association told AVweb, “NBAA is working to understand the full implications of the announcement, specifically with regard to any pending or existing rules related to the aviation industry.” Contacted this afternoon, the General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA) and the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) had not formulated a response to AVweb’s request for comment at press time. AVweb will update this story when their responses come in.
Hoping that the recent passage of the Aviation Reauthorization Act would provide some stability to the industry and its government leadership, GA stakeholders are now concerned that slowing down progress could jeopardize sorely needed programs, such as infrastructure investment and the commitment to replenishing the thinning ranks of air traffic controllers.
It’s unclear whether the slowdown in government activity will affect the rulemaking process for the Modernization of Special Airworthiness Certification (MOSAIC) proposal. MOSAIC would increase the scope of Light Sport Aircraft, replacing weight limits with stall performance specs, and enabling four seats, retractable landing gear, variable-pitch propellers, greater top speeds, and more. The public comment period on the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) ends today. The Experimental Aircraft Association said of MOSAIC, “EAA will continue our advocacy efforts as the FAA evaluates the comments from the public, continues the rulemaking process, and contemplates changes to the proposal as it develops its final rule.”
