Tariffs, Safety, Fees Top CJI Regulatory Discussion

NBAA president and CEO Ed Bolen and IBAC director general Kurt Edwards detailed the policy and regulatory issues shaping business aviation yesterday at Corporate Jet Investor Miami 2025. They spoke about topics ranging from effects of the U.S. government shutdown to ICAO deliberations and tariff considerations.

Bolen called 2025 “one of the most important and consequential years” for aviation policy. He said the ongoing federal shutdown is already the longest on record and indicated the situation could frustrate efforts to rebuild air traffic control staffing and infrastructure. 2025 saw the focus shift from implementing the FAA reauthorization bill to a series of early-year aviation disasters uniting the community around safety. 

“We demanded a brand-new air traffic control system,” he said, noting that hiring and training of controllers are hampered by the government closure. Bolen emphasized that aviation “plays an outsized role in government services. Getting the government reopened to make sure that we can follow up on our promise to have the largest, safest, most efficient air transportation system in the world is a really important deal.”

Edwards, recently back from ICAO’s triennial general assembly, reported that “our largest delegation attending ever” attended, with 24 participants from business aviation associations. He cited three top issues: radio frequency interference and GNSS spoofing; ADS-B flight-tracking security; and proposed international levies on aviation for climate programs.

Bolen praised IBAC’s coordination at ICAO and noted a new international branding campaign, Climbing Fast, promoting aviation’s economic and environmental value.

He also addressed concerns over rising FBO and airport fees. “We want to foster an environment that allows business aviation to thrive. That means making it safe, secure, affordable. And I think all of those things come together, and this is a specific challenge. We want healthy airports. We want healthy FBOs. Nobody wants to be gouged,” Bolen said.

Both leaders reaffirmed their opposition to illegal charter. “We’ve got to operate according to the law and make sure that it is followed,” Bolen said. Edwards added that ICAO discussions must ensure “states…enforce their rules with regard to charter operators.”