And They Can Get Paid, Too!

The National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) today applauded the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for revising a regulation to clarify that private aircraft operators can transport candidates on campaign travel for state and local elective offices and accept payment for the flight in accordance with state and local election laws. NBAA has been instrumental in drafting the language for the regulatory revision, and in working to secure its adoption.

"Until now, candidates for state and local elective offices have had complex restrictions on their ability to work with private aircraft operators for travel to meetings with voters and other campaign-related events," noted NBAA President and CEO Ed Bolen. "Especially in states with large rural populations, this circumstance causes candidates not to fly with private operators, leaving them with fewer options for managing their most precious commodity -- their time. NBAA thanks the FAA for understanding this need, and implementing this common-sense regulatory fix." 

The FAA announced Monday that Federal Aviation Regulation (FAR) Part 91.321 has been changed to allow companies to carry candidates for state and local elective offices and receive payment for the flight. The new rule takes effect on March 2, 2005.

Previously, regulations allowed private aircraft operators to carry only candidates campaigning for office in Federal elections. In 1996, Congress directed the FAA to amend its regulations regarding air travel for state and local political candidates. NBAA advocated for the rule change as part of the ongoing work of the FAA's Part 125/135 Aviation Rulemaking Committee, which is co-chaired by Bolen and charged with updating specific Agency regulations.

FMI: http://web.nbaa.org