Washington, DC—General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA) President and CEO Pete Bunce today briefed members of the U.S. House General Aviation Caucus on two issues important to the future of general aviation: certification reform and reauthorization of the Export-Import Bank of the United States. Caucus Co-Chairs Sam Graves (R-MO) and John Barrow (D-GA) invited Bunce to participate as part of a series of briefings the Caucus is holding with key government and industry leaders to raise awareness of general aviation issues.

In his remarks, Bunce said the process for certifying aircraft must be reformed so that manufacturers can bring new, safety-enhancing products and technologies to market without enduring unnecessarily cumbersome and costly regulatory hurdles. He also called on Congress to reauthorize the Export-Import Bank, which has provided more than $1 billion in financing for fixed-wing business airplanes and rotorcraft since 2012, allowing companies to compete globally and keep workers employed. The bank’s current authorization expires on September 30, 2014.

“I’m pleased to have this opportunity to talk with national leaders who genuinely care about the future of general aviation,” Bunce said. “The General Aviation Caucus is a critical forum for our industry and provides us the opportunity to discuss issues vital to our industry’s growth and success like the reauthorization of the Ex-Im Bank and certification reform. I am extremely grateful for the leadership of Caucus Co-Chairs Sam Graves and John Barrow and their staffs.”