The General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA) has now publicly voiced its opposition to the European Joint Aviation Authority's (JAA) proposal to require all European corporate aviation operators to register with their National Aviation Authority.

GAMA, formally commenting on a JAA Advance Notice of Proposed Amendment (A-NPA), stated that given the fact that corporate operators have a long history of safety excellence and do not offer air transportation to the public, formal registration of flight departments is unnecessary and places an unjustified economic burden on operators.

The A-NPA, designated JAR OPS-2, would require corporations with a European operating base to register with their National Aviation Authority (NAA) as a non-commercial operator. The proposed regulation defines an 'operating base' as "any location where operational control of flights is exercised, including scheduling and flight planning."

"While GAMA is encouraged that the JAA is introducing standard operating rules for non-commercial European operators, we are concerned that the definition of a European operator in JAR OPS-2 is vague, and could apply to almost any corporate flight operation," said GAMA President and CEO Ed Bolen.

"The broadest interpretation of the proposed rules could force a U.S.-based company with European sales offices, flying U.S. registered aircraft, to register its flight department with the JAA and be subject to unwarranted regulation and inspection," said Bolen. Under the JAA rulemaking process, the final rule could be published in as little as 90 days.

[The rule, as proposed, is intrusive, expensive to administer from the standpoint of both the operator and the taxpayer; and it would have little or no effect on curbing possible terror activity or promoting safety. Unintentional violations could also bring stiff penalties under recent legislation --ed.]

FMI: www.GAMA.aero