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No EU Aircraft Tariffs: Latest Tech and Regulatory Changes in Private Aviation

Plus, MOSAIC officially live, airline near misses, and (maybe?) the first new airport since 1969.

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Jessica Naor & Preston Holland
July 29, 2025

✈️ The VIP Seat Weekly

Your business aviation hot takes, served fresh

This week: Business aviation weekly: FAA unveils MOSAIC rules for sport pilots and eVTOLs, airline chaos continues with near-misses and emergency slides, Garmin launches guided visual approaches, new Las Vegas airport planned for 2037, and European aircraft tariffs go to zero.

Season 2, Episode 9 | July 29, 2025 | Episode Companion

🛫 The Runway Report

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

1️⃣ FAA Drops MOSAIC Rules

The Scoop: The FAA finally released the long-awaited MOSAIC (Modernization of Special Airworthiness Certification) rules, expanding sport pilot privileges to include aircraft like Cessna 182s and creating pathways for eVTOL training.

Our Take: This opens up the bottom half of the aviation market to actually viable, performant aircraft instead of glorified lawn mowers. You can now fly a real GA aircraft with just a driver's license medical. But it's also rolling back some safety requirements - flying a 182 with 50 hours and one cross-country? It could open up some safety concerns.

2️⃣ Airlines Having Their Worst Week Ever (Again)

The Scoop: Near-miss between Delta and Aero Mexico aircraft, Delta crew member arrested for child abuse charges, Southwest nosedive to avoid antique fighter jet injuring two flight attendants, American Airlines landing gear fire with passengers evacuating with full luggage loads. Oh, and 50 kids kicked off a plane in Spain.

Our Take: We're still seeing COVID hangover effects - training gaps, staffing shortages, and situational awareness issues. The video of people sliding down emergency chutes with carry-ons while others wait behind in smoke is infuriating. Your life > your laptop, people.

3️⃣ Garmin Saves Lives with Guided Visual Approaches

The Scoop: Garmin partnered with Hughes to create guided visual approaches for 31 high-risk airports including Teterboro, Aspen, and Van Nuys. For $500-$2,000, you get precision visual approach guidance.

Our Take: This is GA safety innovation at its finest - private sector solving problems the government won't. But ATC won't know what you're talking about when you reference these approaches, so don't argue with them. Amazing technology that could prevent a lot of accidents at tricky airports.

4️⃣ Las Vegas Gets New Airport (Only 12 Years Late)

The Scoop: Southern Nevada's new airport moves forward with public hearings starting next week. It'll be 23 miles from the Strip, cost $6-14 billion, and feature the longest runway in the US. This would be the first new commercial airport since Dallas-Fort Worth in 1969.

Our Take: That 1969 stat is mind-blowing - we haven't built a new commercial airport in over 50 years while air traffic has exploded. Vegas desperately needs the capacity, but this could mean NBAA-BACE is stuck there for the next century. Some people are thrilled about permanent Vegas shows, others... not so much.

5️⃣ Europe Dodges Tariff Bullet (Phew)

The Scoop: The EU secured zero-for-zero tariffs on aircraft and aircraft parts while other goods face 15% tariffs. This is huge relief for Dassault, Daher, Rolls-Royce, and anyone in the European supply chain who was sweating bullets over potential trade wars.

Our Take: Common sense prevails - aviation should be in the "critical supply chain" bucket exempt from trade disputes. Dassault had a rough Q2 and cited tariff concerns as a major headwind. Now they can focus on actual manufacturing instead of geopolitical drama.

🤳 Mile High Madness

This week's wildest aviation content from social media

Jessie's Pick - Anti-Blue Angels Billboard: Aviation Partners president Gary Dunn posted a photo of a Seattle billboard reading "Say No to Blue Angels - Too Loud, War, Trauma and Pollution." The comment section was pure gold with responses like "you can't hear the detractors when a Super Hornet's flying by" and "if we're going to waste taxpayer money, I want it burning Jet A."

Preston's Pick - Cirrus Influencer Disaster: A viral video of influencer "Irene" getting fired by Cirrus at Oshkosh for inappropriate attire at their booth. She mistakenly called them "Cirrus Aviation" (the Vegas charter company) instead of Cirrus Aircraft. Classic example of why you need to vet your influencers beyond follower count.

⚡ Quick Hits

Other stories on our radar

  • Oshkosh Roundup - Light business jet presence was strong with Pilatus, JetAccess, HondaJet, and an improved Epic booth. eVTOL companies trying to sell 80-year-old Bonanza pilots on electric aviation.

  • Guest Announcement - The VIP Seat is adding guests to the show! Submit your nominations (not yourself) via LinkedIn.

  • Spain Summer Camp Chaos - 50 kids removed from aircraft, counselor bloodied, and the captain was apparently a 9/11 pilot trainer. You can't make this stuff up.

🎧 This Week's Episode

Missed the podcast? Catch up on the full episode at the links

✈️ The Final Approach

What a week - from groundbreaking FAA rules to airline disasters to Billboard controversies. The industry never sleeps, even when everyone's supposed to be in the Hamptons. Preston's back from Oshkosh with minimal aircraft news but maximum influencer drama. Keep those guest suggestions coming!

Next Week: Whatever chaos the industry serves up next. In aviation, there's always something brewing, even in "slow" summer weeks.

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

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