By Roland Ohaeri
A coalition of 15 aviation stakeholders wrote a letter to U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer urging them to work together with industry stakeholders to minimize disruptions in the aviation supply chain, the General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA) has revealed.
According to GAMA, the coalition underscored the complexities and challenges associated with the supply-chain given the rigorous safety approvals required in the supply-chain system.
“The aviation supply chain involves tens of thousands of suppliers from all over the globe which provide parts, platforms, and systems that require safety approval for use and installation, all of which may not be easily replaced or substituted,” the groups wrote. “Given this reality, it is essential that both government and industry work together to minimize cost and availability disruptions in the aviation supply chain, which in many cases cannot be easily or quickly addressed. We believe such dialogue and analysis will benefit the competitiveness of the U.S. aviation manufacturing and maintenance sectors and will be critical as the industry continues to innovate and contribute positively to the U.S. balance of trade.”
The coalition encouraged Secretaries Duffy, Lutnick, and Ambassador Greer to work with industry and Congress to support policies and actions focused on strengthening aviation safety agreements, policies and investments to bolster innovation, as well as measures to address specific aviation supply chain challenges.
More specifically, the coalition requested to meet with the Trump Administration to discuss the state of the aviation industry and recommendations to move it forward. Additionally, while the administration considers all relevant policies to bolster industry competitiveness, the coalition requested an aerospace exception from tariffs to ensure there are no unintended consequences to the supply chain.
The coalition includes Aeronautical Repair Station Association, Aircraft Electronics Association, Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association, Airlines for America, and Air Traffic Control Association as well as Cargo Airline Association, Experimental Aircraft Association, and General Aviation Manufacturers Association. Others include Light Aircraft Manufacturers Association, National Agricultural Aviation Association, National Air Carrier Association, National Air Transport Association, and National Business Aviation Association, in addition to Professional Aviation Safety Specialists, and Vertical Aviation International.
