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Private Jet Bans, California Jet A, and ATC Chaos

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Jessica Naor & Preston Holland
November 11, 2025

✈️ The VIP Seat Weekly

Your business aviation hot takes, served fresh

This week: eVTOL companies are putting their money where their mouth is with real estate plays, the Learjet's sunset has 1,800 owners wondering about parts supply, and we're diving into what it actually takes to operate an airport (spoiler: it's a headache). Plus, your weekly dose of Mile High Madness featuring aviation content creators who are absolutely crushing it.

Guest Host: We welcome Tyler Flagg, filling in for Preston Holland. Tyler is a USAF Veteran & Founder of The Flying Company (and yes, we kicked off with a proper Veterans Day thank you)

Season 2, Episode 24 | November 10th, 2025 | Episode Companion

🛫 The Runway Report

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

1️⃣ Archer Drops $126M on Hawthorne Airport — The eVTOL Land Grab Is Real

The Scoop: Archer Aviation just acquired Hawthorne Municipal Airport (aka Jack Northrop Field) in Los Angeles for $126 million in cash. The 80-acre facility sits less than three miles from LAX and will serve as their flagship operations hub for the 2028 LA Olympics. They're planning to redevelop 200,000 square feet of hangar space for aircraft testing, charging, and maintenance—positioning it as "LA's Grand Central Station for air taxis."

Our Take: This is vertical integration on steroids. While Joby bought Blade to get operations expertise, Archer's buying actual infrastructure. It's the Uber playbook: start in one city, prove the concept, then scale. But here's the reality check… Hawthorne's neighbors are going to be a nightmare. Tyler managed Baltimore Heliport and can tell you firsthand: airport neighbors will come after you constantly. eVTOLs better be as quiet as promised, or this $126M investment becomes a very expensive community relations disaster. The 2028 Olympics deadline is aggressive for type certification, but at least they're not waiting around for someone else to build the infrastructure.

Why It Matters: This signals that eVTOL companies are moving from vaporware to actually deploying capital into hard assets. You don't drop $126M unless you're confident in your timeline and regulatory pathway. United Airlines' backing (they're a major investor) adds credibility, but the clock is ticking on that type cert.

3️⃣ California's Aviation Fuel Crisis — Russian Oil Via India, 3-Day Supply, and Military Concerns

Russian GIF

Gif by Tank_Gurmesi on Giphy

The Scoop: California State Assembly member Stan Ellis warned that the state is facing an "aviation fuel crisis" due to declining oil production and refinery closures. California now imports about one million barrels of oil per day, with roughly 20% of jet fuel coming from India… where 40% of that crude originates from Russia. Multiple U.S. military installations including Travis Air Force Base and Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake rely almost entirely on California refineries for jet fuel, with only a three-day supply on hand.

Our Take: This is what happens when energy policy ignores logistics and national security. Ellis correctly calls this "a clear and present threat to national security." If California's refineries can't meet demand and we're dependent on Russian oil laundered through India, that's a strategic vulnerability that should terrify Pentagon planners. Three days of fuel supply means if something disrupts that supply chain—geopolitical event, natural disaster, whatever—military aviation is grounded. That's unacceptable.

The Political Reality: California's environmental regulations are driving refineries out of business or out of state. Ellis is calling for federalizing oil and gas production and easing air quality regulations on refineries. Good luck with that in Sacramento. The political will to prioritize fuel security over climate goals doesn't exist in California's current government.

Business Aviation Impact: This isn't just a military problem. California is one of the largest business aviation markets in the U.S. If fuel availability becomes constrained or prices spike due to supply issues, operators based in California will feel it first. We're already seeing supply chain fragility—this just adds another pressure point.

The Solution: As Ellis says: reduce regulations on producers, maintain refinery operations, and stabilize supply chains. But that requires political courage to tell environmental activists that energy security matters. We're not holding our breath.

Read more: AVweb Coverage

4️⃣ NTSB Sounds Alarm: Learjet Landing Gear Could Literally Fall Off

The Scoop: The NTSB issued an urgent safety recommendation affecting 1,883 Learjets across 10 models, warning that main landing gear could separate from the airframe during landing due to an assembly issue that's nearly impossible to detect during routine maintenance. This follows a fatal February 2025 accident in Scottsdale where a Learjet 35A's left main gear detached on landing, causing the aircraft to veer off the runway and strike a parked Gulfstream G200. The captain was killed and three others seriously injured. Despite similar incidents in 1995, 2001, and 2008, the FAA decided in July that no airworthiness directive was needed.

Our Take: The FAA's decision to not mandate a two-hour inspection after multiple fatal gear separations is indefensible. The problem is an incorrectly installed retaining bolt on the aft trunnion pin that can't be spotted during preflight or routine maintenance. Bombardier issued service bulletins in March, but only 12% of affected aircraft have complied eight months later. When the NTSB calls the FAA's decision "incommensurate with the longstanding aviation safety risk," that's bureaucratic language for "you dropped the ball."

What This Means For Operators: If you operate or fly Learjets, verify whether your aircraft completed the inspection outlined in Bombardier's March service bulletins. If you're chartering a Learjet, ask the operator directly. This isn't theoretical risk—a captain died when the gear fell off. The 1,883 affected aircraft won't be grounded, but insurance underwriters and safety-conscious operators are paying attention.

The Bigger Picture: This is why "no Learjets" clauses are showing up in charter RFPs. End-of-production status, aging fleet demographics, and safety issues the FAA won't mandate fixes for create a perfect storm of risk. The Learjet was THE business jet for decades—literally synonymous with private aviation. But when you combine all these factors, the writing's on the wall.

Bottom Line: If you own a Learjet, get the inspection done. If you're shopping for one, price in these realities. If you're flying on one, maybe ask a few questions first.

1️⃣ FAA Effectively Bans Private Jets at 12 Major Airports — Government Shutdown Bites Back

The Scoop: Effective midnight November 9th, the FAA imposed virtual bans on private jet operations at 12 major U.S. airports—with exceptions only for based aircraft, emergency, medical, law enforcement, firefighting, and military operations. The restrictions come as air traffic controllers have been working without pay since the beginning of October due to the government shutdown. The dozen affected airports are critical connectors for domestic-to-international travel, where passengers might fly privately to catch commercial international flights.

Our Take: This is what happens when you don't pay the people who keep planes from hitting each other. The FAA previously ordered flight reductions at 40 busy airports, now they're effectively shutting down Part 91 operations at a dozen more. Ed Bolen at NBAA correctly points out this is "disproportionately impacting general aviation"—an industry creating over a million jobs and $340 billion in economic impact. But here's the political reality: when politicians want to show they're "tough on the rich," private aviation becomes the easiest target.

The Optics Problem: Groups like the Patriotic Millionaires and California gubernatorial hopeful Katie Porter are calling for complete private jet bans during the shutdown. It's populist theater that ignores how Part 135 air ambulances, disaster relief, cargo operations, and business travel actually function. But facts don't matter when you can get viral Instagram clips dunking on "billionaires and their jets."

What This Means: Charter operators are scrambling. One fleet operator posted that delays and complications over the weekend were bad—Monday will be worse. If you have upcoming flights through any of these airports, confirm with your operator NOW. This could drag on as long as the Senate fight over ending the shutdown continues.

The Real Victims: Air traffic controllers showing up to work without paychecks. Let's not lose sight of that while politicians grandstand.

BY THE NUMBERS

  • 12 airports - Where the FAA effectively banned private jet operations

  • $126 million - Archer's cash outlay for Hawthorne Airport

  • 1,883 aircraft - Learjets affected by NTSB landing gear safety warning

  • 12% - Portion of affected Learjets that have completed the safety inspection

  • 20% - California's jet fuel coming from India (40% of that from Russia)

  • 3 days - California's military aviation fuel supply on hand

  • 4 incidents - Documented Learjet gear separations (1995, 2001, 2008, 2025)

  • 2028 - Target year for Archer's LA air taxi launch (Olympics)

🎧 This Week's Episode

Missed the podcast? Catch up on the full episode at the links below! We would LOVE if you would give us a 5 start review, and share with your friends!

✈️ The Final Approach

Veterans Day edition with hard truths about safety culture, political grandstanding, and infrastructure bets. Three takeaways:

  1. Safety reporting only works when companies honor it: TransMedics firing pilots for filing ASAP reports isn't just illegal—it makes everyone less safe. When pilots can't report issues without risking their careers, we all lose.

  2. The FAA doesn't always have your back: Whether it's refusing to mandate a two-hour Learjet inspection after multiple fatal accidents or restricting private operations because Congress won't fund ATC, sometimes you have to be your own safety advocate.

  3. Infrastructure is destiny: Archer's betting $126M that controlling physical assets—not just building aircraft—is the path to winning eVTOL. Time will tell if they're right, but at least they're playing to win rather than waiting for someone else to build it.

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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