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Florida Legislature fails to pass two business aviation bills

By Lapayowker Jet Counsel | May 19, 2009
The Florida legislative session concluded and, once again, legislators failed to pass at least 2 statutory revisions that would have increased business brought into Florida by business aviation. The first proposal was a proposal to cap sales tax on aircraft purchased in Florida to $25,000, paving the way for more large aircraft to base in Florida, resulting in more work for repair facilities, fixed base operators, and others. The second, and perhaps most significant, was the proposal to permit non-resident aircraft to stay in Florida for up to 21 days in a 6 month period without being subject to Florida’s use tax. At the moment, non-resident aircraft owners think twice before bringing their aircraft to Florida for extended periods of time (and especially immediately after their purchase of their aircraft) for fear of having to respond to the Florida Department of Revenue’s aggressive use tax positions. Even with the support of trade groups such as the NBAA, AOPA, NATA, and others, these proposals failed to get out of committee. Better luck next year (we can only hope). Read More

What about battleship grey?

By Lapayowker Jet Counsel | February 23, 2009

Would it help public opinion about business aviation if business aircraft were outfitted differently? If John Q Public took a peak aboard, he’d say “ugh, you guys fly in this thing?” Perhaps one of the completion centers or manufacturers ought to develop the “regular guy” interior, like in the Rodney Dangerfield movie. The entire interior would be shades of grey: grey cloth seatcovers (you know, that really thick material that gets pilly), grey carpet, grey headliner, grey countertops in the galley (of course Corian and not granite) and grey seatbelts. And there would be no shiny surfaces – no brass, polished chrome. Even the seatbelt buckle would be metal like the airlines. Food would be served on grey plastic plates with grey plastic silverware. The flight phone would have a credit card slot in it. Passengers would need to put quarters in the slot to use the toilet. And the finale? Paint business aircraft battleship grey. No more sleek shiny white jets with nice striping. And by the way, change those swept wings — it may be fuel efficient and aerodynamic, but it just looks too cool. Too much like a fighter jet. Too much like you’re having fun and not working. If Rodney Dangerfield were alive he would appreciate this, although he may have preferred plaid.

Just a thought. SHL.

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Sale of Corporate Aircraft Not a Good Use of Automaker Shareholder Money

By Lapayowker Jet Counsel | November 28, 2008

With Senators blasting the automakers about using corporate aircraft to transport their executives to Senate hearings, it will be interesting to see whether the automakers include the liquidation of their fleets in the economic plans due to Congress on December 4, 2008. The ironic thing about it is that if disposing of their fleets is part of their plans, the aircraft will be sold at tremendous losses in light of the current aircraft sales market resulting in multi-million dollar losses to shareholders. The loss of value to shareholders would likely finance the use of the aircraft for the next several years. The reasons for having corporate aircraft have not changed – executive security, immediate access to senior executives, increased productivity and an ability to reach areas of the country (or the world) not easily reached by commercial carriers. To be pressured into selling into a downward spiraling market in order to obtain government funding seems absurd at best.

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