GAMA Pushes for Industry Recognition in EC Strategy

The General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA) has called on the European Commission (EC) to take account of the industry’s contribution to the continent’s economic competitiveness as it formulates the new European Union Aviation Strategy. On Thursday, the group’s office in Brussels published a white paper, “General Aviation and Europe’s Aviation Strategy,” which emphasizes business aviation’s role in driving innovation in pursuit of sustainability objectives.

The policy white paper has been submitted to the EC as GAMA’s response to the call for evidence that is part of the consultation for the new Aviation Strategy, which is expected to be firmed up by year-end. The GAMA submission echoes similar input made by the European Business Aviation Association (EBAA) in May.

According to GAMA, the European Aviation Single Market—guaranteeing access for aircraft operators and service providers—risks being undermined by environmental and tax measures introduced by individual member states. While not mentioned explicitly in the white paper, France’s so-called “solidarity tax” on flights is an example of such measures, and GAMA also expressed concern over bans on private aircraft at some airports and a possible new fuel tax as part of the EU Energy Taxation Directive.

GAMA called on the EC to support ICAO’s CORSIA emissions reduction program instead of pursuing what it said amounts to a “unilateral expansion” of the EU’s Emissions Trading Scheme. The group endorsed industry demands for European decarbonization policies to be technology-neutral by supporting measures such as increased use of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF).

Call for SAF Recognition

Recognition of business aviation adoption of SAF was one of several points deployed by the legal team representing Dassault Aviation, Daher, and EBAA in a case against the EC’s exclusion of the industry from the EU taxonomy for sustainability criteria. Last Wednesday, the EU’s General Court ruled in favor of the litigants in a move that GAMA welcomed.

“As the European Commission works to advance a renewed Aviation Strategy, it will be vital to the general and business aviation manufacturing industry that the framework reinforces industrial strength, ensures regulatory efficiency, preserves the integrity of the market, and supports a sustainable transition grounded in technological neutrality,” commented Kyle Martin, GAMA’s vice president of European affairs. “Our industry is a core asset which provides significant economic and societal contributions, enables innovation and reinforces competitiveness.”

GAMA’s policy white paper also called for action to address workforce shortages through education, reskilling, and other initiatives it said need support at an EU level. The group argued that this approach is necessary to sustain European leadership in aerospace.

According to GAMA, each year business and general aviation contribute around €110 billion (about $125 billion) to the EU’s gross domestic product, supporting approximately 440,000 jobs. It added that the sector’s aircraft operators also connect thousands of communities and support public services such as emergency medical support and firefighting.

“Europe has the opportunity to build an aviation strategy that strengthens industry, accelerates innovation and supports sustainability without undermining global competitiveness,” Martin concluded. “Recognizing general and business aviation as a strategic asset will be key to achieving these goals.”

In April, GAMA issued a white paper spelling out a strategy for clean aviation manufacturing developed with several member companies. The policy document includes proposals for funding initiatives for decarbonization, supply-chain resilience, and technology advances.