FAA revises rules for campaign travel

The FAA has revised FAR Part 91.321 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. The new rule will take effect on March 2.

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 NBAA president and CEO Ed Bolen and charged with updating specific FAA regulations.

“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,” said 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.”