✈️ The VIP Seat Weekly

Your business aviation hot takes, served fresh

July 1, 2025 | Episode Companion

🛫 The Runway Report

The top 5 stories from this week's podcast that are moving the needle in bizav

1️⃣ The Big Beautiful Bill is Finally Here (Again)

The Scoop: After causing political fireworks and even a Trump-Elon spat, the bonus depreciation bill passed the Senate and is heading back to the House. The current version brings back 100% bonus depreciation retroactively, plus favorable business interest deductibility provisions.

Our Take: This is massive for anyone who doesn't like paying Uncle Sam. With 100% bonus depreciation going permanent and no 1031 exchanges for aircraft, stepping up to your next plane just got a whole lot more tax-friendly. It could mean a boom time in business aviation, especially as people are looking to step up and out of their current aircraft.

Links: Preston’s newsletter about bonus depreciation

2️⃣ Dassault Goes Bollywood: Manufacturing Moves to India

The Scoop: Dassault Falcon Jet is opening expanded manufacturing in India to build the Falcon 2000 LXS - part of their $8 billion Rafael fighter jet deal with the Indian government. It's India's first major Western business jet manufacturing play under their "Make in India for the World" initiative.

Our Take: Smart geopolitical move getting Europe and India working together instead of Europe-China partnerships. But let's be real - Dassault's already slow at manufacturing, and they've got 220 Rafales vs. 79 Falcons on backlog. Guess which gets priority? The labor pool question is huge too.

Links: Corporate Jet Investor

3️⃣ ADS-B Reform: Aka “The Jack Sweeney Law”

The Scoop: New House legislation aims to stop the abuse of ADS-B data for landing fees and nuisance lawsuits. What started as a safety program has turned into Big Brother tracking your every move, with FBOs using the data to chase down ramp fees and the FAA issuing citations.

Our Take: Using ADS-B for landing fees is like those coffee shop tip screens that start at 30% - pure extortion. If you use the facility, pay your fees. But hitting up GA pilots who just happened to land nearby? That's getting ridiculous. The internet is forever, and this data isn't going away even with new privacy rules.

Links: AIN Online, AOPA

4️⃣ Charter Flight Group: The Lawsuit Saga Continues

The Scoop: Another lawsuit hits Charter Flight Group - this time over a $630,000 repatriation flight to Israel after October 7th that never happened. The CEO is being ordered to return the funds, marking the fourth lawsuit mentioned in recent coverage.

Our Take: Pro tip: Don't send angry texts to reporters who cover your industry. Every business gets sued, but making enemies in the media isn't helping your case. Being stuck in the middle as a broker is tough when big money's flying around, but run a tight ship and keep your head down.

Links: Private Jet Card Comparisons

5️⃣ Freedom Doritos Fly 36 Hours for Turkey Sandwiches

The Scoop: B-2 bomber crews just completed a 36-hour mission flying from Missouri to the Middle East and back - subsisting on bland turkey sandwiches (no cheese) to minimize digestive issues during the marathon flight. Each flight costs $65,000 per hour to operate.

Our Take: Mad respect for our military pilots who can handle 36 hours in a tiny area. Turkey might be the blandest food ever, but when you're flying the world's most expensive aircraft, function over flavor wins. America's birthday is coming up - thank a service member.

Links: Reuters

🤳 Mile High Madness

This week's wildest aviation content from social media

King Air Roof Landing Champion: FBO Memes delivered gold this week with a King Air that somehow managed to land on top of a building. The meme? "Unfortunately, you're still going to have to pay your landing fees" even if you're parked on a rooftop. Honestly impressed with the pilotage - no injuries and minimal human impact despite what's probably a totaled aircraft.

⚡ Quick Hits

Other stories on our radar

• Netflix's "Plane" Movie - Absolute worst aviation film ever made. Lightning doesn't work that way, engines don't work that way, nothing works that way. Save yourself the pain.

• Taylor Sheridan's Plane Obsession - The Landman creator keeps featuring private jets in his shows, but the continuity is questionable. G550 taxi shot, Citation X interior? Come on.

• India's Aviation Growth Challenge - Despite new manufacturing, India's registry isn't friendly to outside capital, plus hangar space is scarce. Hot weather + outdoor parking = not ideal.

🎧 This Week's Episode

Missed the podcast? Catch up on our July 1st episode where we dive deeper into bonus depreciation math, India's manufacturing ambitions, and why turkey sandwiches are apparently military-grade fuel.

Listen: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube |

✈️ The Final Approach

Happy 4th of July weekend, folks! Nothing says America like tax breaks for aircraft buyers and Freedom Doritos flying 36-hour missions. If you're in a fireworks-legal state, light 'em up. If not, drive somewhere that lets you buy some (but back it up, Terry).

Next Week: We'll be back after the holiday with whatever spicy takes develop over the long weekend. Hopefully nothing too crazy happens, but this is aviation - when does it ever stay quiet?

The VIP Seat Weekly is the companion newsletter to The VIP Seat podcast. We give you the business aviation hot takes for your commute.

Jessie’s Links:
Private Aviation Safety Alliance
FlyVizor
LinkedIn

Preston’s Links:
Prestige Aircraft Finance
Private Jet Insider (Newsletter)
LinkedIn
X (Formerly Known as Twitter)