The US General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA) has voiced its opposition to a JAA proposal to require all European corporate aviation operators to register with their national aviation authority.

Formally commenting on a JAA advance notice of proposed amendment (A-NPA), GAMA 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 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 US-based company with European sales offices, flying US-registered aircraft, to register its flight department with the JAA and be subject to unwarranted regulation and inspection,” said Bolen.

Under the JAA rule-making process, the final rule could be published in as little as 90 days.