NBAA Opposes WA Bill’s Punitive Tax Hike for GA Aircraft
Source: https://nbaa.org/, News Editor, First published April 09th, 2025
NBAA recently expressed its opposition to a proposed measure in the Washington state legislature that would not only harm general aviation (GA) users, including small business owners and other entrepreneurs, but also detrimentally impact the state’s “strong legacy” of leadership in aviation and business.
Currently under consideration by the state’s House Transportation Committee, Senate Bill 5801’s supporters claim the proposal will bolster the Evergreen State’s transportation infrastructure through multiple new funding mechanisms. That includes an additional 10% tax on so-called “recreational vessels” valued above $500,000, which the bill questionably defines as “luxury” high-end motor homes, recreational vessels and non-commercial aircraft.
In an April 9 letter to the committee, NBAA Western Regional Director Phil Derner noted many GA aircraft are “critical tools, not luxury items,” including those used by small businesses, air ambulance operators and flight schools.
“Imposing this tax would [also] affect those who use aircraft for business-supporting activities, such as employee travel, training and logistics, reducing their ability to compete and grow on both national and global scales,” Derner added.
Read the full letter to the Washington House Transportation Committee.
Derner further noted the measure, “would unintentionally penalize a wide range of vital aviation activities that contribute significantly to Washington’s economy, workforce development and transportation infrastructure.”
Citing a 2020 Washington Aviation Economic Impact Study, the letter noted the state’s aviation industry supports more than 407,000 jobs and a payroll exceeding $26.8 billion, generating more than $107 billion in annual business revenue.
“These numbers highlight how deeply integrated aviation is in Washington’s economic and workforce fabric, and how much the state stands to lose as a result of the proposed aircraft tax,” Derner said, adding that such a measure could also harm critical efforts to grow and strengthen the state’s aviation workforce.
“By making it more costly to own and operate business-use aircraft, the state risks weakening its safety standards and limiting future opportunities for aviation professionals,” Derner continued. “We urge the committee to reconsider the inclusion of this harmful provision, and to recognize the critical role that general and business aviation plays in keeping Washington economically strong and safely connected.”
