Squawk Ident
Much of the US aerospace industry sources components and services from Canada, Mexico, and the EU. Do you feel that the tariffs being imposed by the Trump administration will hinder business aviation in the short term, and hurt the industry by creating a long-term increase in costs?
In my opinion, tariffs will make the spare parts shortage even worse. This will not help our economy and will damage it for years to come.
Brad Albright
A&P. Leonardo AW139/AW119/AW109
Technical Maintenance Instructor
Leonardo Helicopters
Yardley PA
We are not forecasting any measurable differences with the new tariffs. We operate US-made aircraft, with many components sourced locally.
Steve Kosiarski
ATP. Gulfstream G450/G280
Av Dept Mgr
Dominion Energy
Richmond VA
Tariffs will cause pain in the industry, and lead to poorly-made and higher-priced products in the US.
Rocky Sykes
ATP. Gulfstream G550
Captain
Solairus
Bozeman MT
I believe that this is a short-term problem and that both Canada and Mexico will cooperate with the current administration. I also believe that President Trump will exempt aircraft and spare parts.
Ronald Butts
ATP. Airbus A340-300 & Pilatus PC-12
Managing Director
Tiger Air International
Palm Bay FL
Yes, I think it’ll cause havoc on every front and accomplish worse than nothing. Why are we having a trade war with our allies? These may be the worst decisions of my lifetime.
D Goodman
Comm-Multi-Inst. Citation CJ3
Executive
Kestrel
Naples FL
We operate Textron Citations. While some business aircraft companies do as much outsourcing as possible, Textron does much more in-house than most other manufacturers. I see this having a minimal impact on our ability to get parts and components. I feel this will be a short-term issue as companies do more sourcing within the US.
Dean Eechaute
A&P. Citation Latitude
Dir of Aircraft Maintenance
Conagra Brands
Omaha NE
Short-term cost increases always lead to long-term cost increases, because prices never return to their original levels. These decisions are doing nothing but harming the world’s economy.
Dan Miller
ATP/CFI. Pilatus PC-12
Staff Instructor
Sunny Brook Air Service
Wellington CO
Absolutely. This will increase operating costs and reinforce negative attitudes toward us, as individuals and as companies.
Kevin Molloy
ATP/Helo. Gulfstream G550 & Leonardo AW109
Captain
Fiserv
Lagrangeville NY
Of course, tariffs will be better for our country, and thus the world, in the long run. We didn’t get here overnight, and things are not going to get fixed overnight. However, if we fail to take measures to secure our own future, there will certainly not be one. What is the goal of these tariffs? To bring the manufacturing and sourcing of these products back to our country.
Jerry Harrington
ATP/CFI. Gulfstream G650ER
Chief Pilot & Aviation Dept Mgr
Benson Pacific
San Diego CA
Certainly. Without a doubt it will hurt the industry in both the short and long term. It’s becoming obvious that this administration has no idea how tariffs work. The effect of tariffs will be to tax the US. Canada and Mexico will end up imposing reciprocal tariffs that will tax their countries. I think this exercise will benefit no one.
Timothy Manuge
ATP. Airbus A330, Boeing 777/767, Challenger 601, CRJ100 & King Air 350/B200
Captain
Air Canada
Bedford NS, Canada
Yes. Parts availability and low costs require free flow of trade in North America. I believe these tariffs damage trade and relations with our closest trading partners.
John Blakley
ATP. Citation XLS/Ultra/CJ1, King Air B200, Aero Commander 690B & Kodiak 100
Owner & Dir of Ops
AvCenter/McCall Aviation
Nampa ID
Aviation as a whole will be hindered, while business aviation will see additional price increases and shortages of replacement parts. However, in the long term, the imposition of tariffs should bring jobs back to the US.
Harvey Meharry
ATP. Citation XLS+
Chief Pilot
SMI
Rusk TX
Tariffs will help in the long run. What really increases the cost of business aviation is price gouging by the big 3 FBO chains with their outrageous “event” fees, along with price gouging by catering companies – and, of course, fuel prices. These are currently in place and have already created more extra costs for flight departments than tariffs will do.
Mike Janelli
ATP. Falcon 7X/2000LXS
Captain
Duchossois Capital Management
Wheeling IL
Absolutely. The aviation industry needs aluminum and titanium. You just can’t work without them. The EU and Canada are the source of many vital components and services, and we need them to be on our team.
Tom Irbinger
ATP. Global Express/XRS
Captain
Jet Aviation
Hong Kong
Historically, tariffs hurt everyone. My hope is that they are simply a negotiating tool, but it’s a slim hope.
James Carroll
ATP. Falcon 7X
Captain
TPG Global
Newington NH
Sure. Tariffs of 25% or more, even for secondary components or assemblies, will affect aircraft prices. Just think of Gulfstream and Bombardier wire bundles manufactured in Mexico, not to mention the entire Bombardier aircraft assembled in Toronto. The terrible thing is that they are part of a whimsical and simplistic notion of how the world economy works. If the US President persists in this shortsightedness, our industry, among others, will pay the price.
Juan Leon
ATP. Falcon 8X/6X
Sales Director
Dassault Aviation
St Petersburg FL
Potentially, it depends how deep and how long the tariffs last. In the short term, we could see increasing costs in various areas of aviation. The bigger question is whether the outcome will ultimately be good overall.
Jeff Perry
ATP/Helo/CFI. Global Express/Global 5500
Pilot
Garvin Promotion Group
Phoenix AZ
We have been pursuing access to Canada under the USMCA (United States, Mexico, Canada Agreement), but we’ve hit roadblocks since 2024. It is my opinion that this will continue and most likely get worse.
Ken Johnson
Comm-Multi-Inst/Helo. Bell 407/205A1 & Airbus BK117B2
Dir of Ops
Guardian Helicopters
Fillmore CA
I expect that we’ll see increased operating costs and potential delays in the supply chain. In an unstable market system, I anticipate that manufacturers and suppliers struggling to meet current needs will have to restructure to survive, potentially causing irrevocable harm to existing trade relationships. In addition, I expect that the tarnished and diminishing reputation of the United States, exacerbated by the actions of this administration, may have a negative impact on US flight crews operating internationally and probably slow the incoming tourism and business travelers in both general aviation and airline traffic.
Ian McAlister
ATP. Challenger 605/604 & Gulfstream G550/V
Captain
SpiritJets
Ballwin MO
Perhaps a little. However, the US market is a highly desired market, which will probably temper a lot of the more radical ups and downs of reactive thinking and settle down to a middle-of-the-road approach.
Ed Ban
ATP/Helo. Airbus AS365
Instructor
CSD
Naperville IL
Tariffs will hurt the entire economy, which will drag business aviation into recession. The stock market is already tanking, and inflation will surge back. Meanwhile, uncertainty about policy is causing a planning nightmare for businesses, and the widespread layoffs of government workers will contribute to a growing unemployment rate. Economic experts warned long before the presidential election about the damage that the new administration would do to the economy, and we are now only beginning to see the downturn heading our way. Business aviation is sure to be affected in a serious way.
John Hayes
ATP/Helo/CFII. Citation Mustang & Extra 300L
Owner & Pilot
Jet Air
Bend OR
My view is that tariffs will hurt the business aviation industry in both the short and long term. They will hit aircraft owners in the pockets on imported items. I will not be shocked if, in the long term, these tariffs cause disruptions in the supply chain as companies try to find loopholes and new supply chains to avoid them. I’m not hopeful that tariffs will be helpful, as I feel that they will only hurt all of us.
Daniel Hook
ATP. Gulfstream G450
Dir of Aviation
Deeside Trading
Sparks NV
Hopefully it will only mean a short-term slump for business aviation. However, if tariffs stay the same, they will absolutely have an impact on our industry. And tariffs won’t only have a direct effect on aviation – they’ll cause changes in business that will affect the decisions made by the bosses riding in the back of the plane. The business that gives them the funds that allow them to fly private may take a hit from these tariffs. Combining that with higher aviation prices, things could get ugly. Optimistically, there will be some offsets to counteract surging prices. I heard that 100% depreciation may be making a return, and that will definitely help our industry.
Ryan Johnson
ATP. Challenger 604
Captain
KMR Aviation
Modesto CA
From my perspective, tariffs will not only hurt aviation in both the long and short term – it will also cause long-lasting ill effects in all areas of the economy.
James Carpenter
ATP/CFII. Beech 60 Duke
Pilot
High Country Construction
Lander WY
Yes. However, it is worth the cost in the long run.
Lloyd Marcum
ATP. Pilatus PC-12 & Piper M700
Dir of Ops
Marcare Aviation dba Marc Air
Gardnerville NV
Allan Englehardt
ATP. Falcon 50
Captain
MMB Aircraft Leasing
Harriman NY
This is not a normal trade attitude in the free world. Europe has a lot of very good products to offer, and if Americans buy them it’s because they don’t find the same quality in the US. Also, we buy a lot of American products because we need them. Boeing, Cessna, Lockheed Martin, Piper, Lycoming, Continental spare parts, Garmin computer software, Apple, Microsoft, and other companies on both sides of the Atlantic will lose because prices will increase, and business will be affected. In my opinion, it’s a very bad decision.
Jean-Luc Pilotto
ATP. Robin DR400 & Sonaca S200
Former Captain
Safire CNRS ENAC IGN
Béthisy-Saint-Martin, France
Not at all. In fact, tariffs will cause gas prices and other more hidden costs to moderate.
James Orahood
Comm-Multi-Inst/Helo/CFI. Boeing Vertol CH-47 Chinook,
Sikorsky UH-60 Blackhawk & Bell 47
Colonel
US Army
Noblesville IN
Business aviation may be hindered in the short term. However, in the long term tariffs should bring back work to the US.
Kevin Wayt
ATP. Gulfstream IV
Chief Pilot
Hummingbird Project
Ladera Ranch CA
Charles Love
ATP/Helo. Gulfstream G550/V & Airbus AS355N
Pilot
Marine Aviator
Fort Pierce FL