EBAA campaigns against EU anti-tankering rules
EBAA has launched an open letter campaign calling on the European Commission to suspend enforcement of Articles 5 and 8 of the ReFuelEU Aviation Regulation for small aircraft operations.
The association is collecting letters of support from across the business aviation industry until the end of August.
The current regulation mandates that operators uplift at least 90% of their annual fuel at EU airports. Intended to reduce emissions, EBAA says the measure creates safety risks, operational disruptions and administrative burdens for small aircraft operators. It also claims environmental benefits are marginal at best, and in some cases, counterproductive.
“We are calling for a proportionate, data-driven approach that reflects the reality of small business aircraft operations and supports genuine sustainability efforts, such as the uptake of sustainable aviation fuel [SAF],” EBAA said in a statement.
EBAA has outlined four key concerns: Unworkable operational demands at congested EU airports, inadequate exemptions that ignore the flexibility required for business aviation, negligible emissions impact for small aircraft and compromised flight safety due to reduced fuel reserves and increased risk of contamination.
Lindsey Oliver, managing director, British Business & General Aviation Association, a member association of EBAA, told CJI: “BBGA agrees with EBAA that ReFuel EU has been designed solely for scheduled aviation in mind, which brings unintended consequences to Business aviation. The ad-hoc nature of business aviation, which is an essential tool for business growth, connects destinations with irregular frequencies.”
Oliver said the uplift obligation of ReFuel EU undermines the provision of ad-hoc aviation. “Yet business aviation is a significant driver towards JetZero. Innovation is in its DNA. Technologies like wing tips for fuel efficiency, composites, etc, all started in business aviation. The industry has also been an early adopter of SAF; our general aviation aircraft are helping to certificate new eVTOL designs, electric and hydrogen powered aircraft. These are all exciting developments that should be focused on and invested in.”
The association plans to deliver the collective industry message to the European Commissioner Apostolos Tzitzikostas in September.
In response to a request for comment, the European Commission told us: “We are committed to creating a level playing field for all airlines operating in the EU and to apply our shared rules to everyone regardless of where they come from, where they fly to or with which kind of aircraft.”
