The Scissortail Brief | Week of March 16–22, 2026

The third week of March brought a strong mix of policy activity in Washington, operational updates from NBAA, infrastructure developments that will directly affect operators in key markets, and continued pressure from fuel pricing tied to global conditions. Industry advocacy took center stage on Capitol Hill, while FAA-related exemptions, workforce-driven safety considerations, and airport planning updates continued shaping day-to-day operations.

Scissortail continues to track the regulatory, operational, and industry developments that matter so you can stay focused on running your operation.

Advocacy and Policy: Industry Pushes Forward in Washington

NBAA CLIMBING. FAST. Fly-In Highlights Industry Impact

This week, NBAA hosted its CLIMBING. FAST. Capitol Hill Fly-In, bringing business aviation leaders to Washington to engage directly with lawmakers. The event reinforced the industry’s economic impact, supporting approximately 1.3 million American jobs and contributing nearly $340 billion to the U.S. economy.

A major focus of the fly-in was sustainability, including the role of sustainable aviation fuel, emerging technologies, and long-term emissions reduction strategies. Industry leaders also emphasized the importance of regulatory stability, infrastructure investment, and maintaining global competitiveness for U.S. operators.

For operators, advocacy efforts like this directly influence future regulatory direction, funding priorities, and the operating environment over the long term.

FAA and Regulatory Developments

Small Aircraft Exemption Extended Through 2028

One of the most practical updates this week came from NBAA, which announced that the FAA has extended the Small Aircraft Exemption through March 31, 2028.

The exemption allows operators of smaller aircraft to utilize certain operational flexibilities typically associated with larger turbine aircraft operations, including cost-sharing provisions and alternative maintenance structures under Part 91.

For small flight departments and owner-operators, this extension preserves operational flexibility and removes near-term uncertainty that would have required adjustments to compliance strategy.

Increasing Focus on Workforce and Safety

NBAA’s Safety Committee also highlighted the growing connection between workforce shortages and operational safety, particularly in maintenance and technical roles.

Maintenance delays, longer turnaround times, and technician workload are increasingly becoming operational considerations. The issue is no longer limited to staffing challenges. It directly affects aircraft availability, scheduling, and overall risk management.

This aligns with broader trends across the industry, where maintenance capacity and workforce availability continue to shape operational planning.

Airport and Infrastructure Impacts

Westchester County Airport (HPN) Runway Closures

Operators flying into the Northeast will need to plan ahead for a significant infrastructure impact.

Westchester County Airport (HPN) announced primary runway closures scheduled from March 29 through November 23. HPN remains one of the busiest business aviation airports in the country, and the extended closure will have direct operational implications.

Operators should expect increased congestion at surrounding airports such as Teterboro and other regional alternatives, along with potential scheduling pressure during peak periods. Performance planning may also be affected depending on available runway configurations.

Advance planning for alternate airports and revised operating strategies will be essential.

Technology and Safety Innovation

AI and Flight Data Integration

ForeFlight leadership indicated this week that AI-driven flight data analysis tools are expected to play a larger role in aviation safety, particularly within Safety Management Systems.

Flight departments and operators already generate large volumes of operational data, including flight profiles, approach metrics, engine performance, and maintenance records. Historically, much of that data has been reviewed after events or during periodic audits.

AI-driven tools allow that data to be analyzed continuously, identifying patterns across multiple flights rather than focusing on individual events.

This allows operators to detect trends such as repeated approach instability, variations in energy management, or operational deviations tied to specific airports or conditions. These insights can then be used to adjust training, refine procedures, and improve overall consistency across the operation.

ForeFlight’s position within the pilot workflow makes it a likely entry point for these capabilities, as data analysis can be integrated directly into tools crews already use.

Jet-A Pricing: Where Things Stand

Jet-A pricing continued to climb this week, driven primarily by ongoing instability in the Middle East and its direct impact on global crude supply and refining margins.

As of this week, operators across the U.S. are seeing national average Jet-A pricing in the $6.20 to $6.50 per gallon range at the truck, with significant regional variation depending on location and fuel contracts. The Central U.S. remains the lowest-cost region, with many operators reporting mid-$5 per gallon pricing with contract fuel. The highest prices in the country continue to be seen in Alaska, where Jet-A is running at or above $8.00 per gallon, with some remote locations exceeding that due to delivery logistics. Within the contiguous U.S., parts of California and the Northeast are consistently seeing $6.80 to $7.50 per gallon at the truck, particularly at high-traffic FBOs without volume agreements.

The driver is clear. Middle East tensions are tightening global crude markets, increasing refining costs, and pushing aviation fuel prices higher worldwide. U.S. supply remains stable, but pricing is being set by global conditions rather than domestic availability.

Impact on Part 91 Operations

For Part 91 operators, the impact is being felt through operating budgets and trip planning decisions.

Fuel remains one of the largest variable costs in aircraft operations. At current pricing levels, even small increases per gallon translate into meaningful changes in annual operating cost for high-utilization aircraft.

Operators are responding by becoming more deliberate with fueling strategy. More flights are being planned with fuel stops in lower-cost regions, particularly in the Central U.S., and tankering decisions are becoming more common on multi-leg trips. Flight departments are also adjusting annual budgets to reflect sustained higher fuel costs rather than short-term spikes.

Impact on Part 135 and Charter Operations

For Part 135 operators, fuel pricing directly affects revenue and trip pricing.

Most charter operators either build fuel assumptions into hourly rates or apply fuel surcharges tied to market conditions. With Jet-A pricing now consistently above recent averages, operators are adjusting pricing in real time.

On longer missions, fuel remains a meaningful portion of total trip cost, but not the majority. For midsize through large cabin aircraft, fuel typically accounts for approximately 20 to 30 percent of total trip cost at current pricing levels, depending on stage length and fuel pricing at departure and destination airports. Larger aircraft and longer-range missions can push that percentage higher.

As a result, higher fuel costs are being passed through to customers, primarily through increased hourly rates or trip-level fuel adjustments. Operators are balancing cost recovery with maintaining competitive pricing in a market where demand remains steady but price sensitivity has returned.

What It Means for Trip Pricing

For customers, the impact shows up in total trip cost rather than a separate fuel line item.

Trips are being quoted at higher overall rates, especially for longer missions where fuel burn is a larger component of the total cost. Shorter flights are less affected, but still reflect incremental increases tied to fuel pricing.

For operators, pricing models are becoming more dynamic. Fuel assumptions are being updated more frequently, and quotes are often adjusted closer to departure to reflect current market conditions.

Market and Operational Environment

Continued Stability in Operations

Operationally, the market remains steady.

Charter demand continues to track in line with early 2026 trends, with no major shifts in utilization patterns this week. Aircraft availability continues to be influenced more by maintenance scheduling and MRO constraints than by demand-driven shortages.

Looking Ahead

The coming week will bring continued focus on operations and coordination as the industry heads into one of its most practical conferences of the year.

NBAA’s Schedulers and Dispatchers Conference (SDC) takes place March 24–26 in Cleveland. The event will bring together schedulers, dispatchers, and flight operations professionals for sessions centered on trip planning, dispatch technology, crew coordination, and real-world operational challenges.

Operators in the Northeast will continue preparing for the upcoming runway project at HPN, with increased focus on alternate airport planning and scheduling adjustments.

Fuel markets will remain in focus, with pricing continuing to track geopolitical developments in the Middle East.

Maintenance scheduling and workforce availability will remain key operational variables as the industry moves further into the spring travel cycle.

That’s The Brief

The Week in One Sentence

Industry leaders advanced business aviation priorities in Washington, the FAA extended key operational flexibility for small aircraft through 2028, operators began planning for major infrastructure impacts at HPN, fuel prices climbed on Middle East-driven pressure, and attention now turns to operational coordination as the industry heads into NBAA’s Schedulers and Dispatchers Conference.