NBAA and Rolland Vincent launch analytics partnership amid business aviation softening signals

FlightGlobal reported that the National Business Aviation Association has launched a market-intelligence partnership with advisory firm Rolland Vincent Associates (RVA) to survey members and generate intelligence reports on market conditions and policy recommendations.

Under the deal, RVA will survey NBAA members and make findings available to them under a paid subscription model with three tiers. The first product in the series will roll out early next year, according to NBAA chief revenue officer Andrew Broom, who said it will "provide our members with a new level of intelligence in making sound decisions in how they operate their businesses and how they fly."

Market strength masks emerging pressure

The partnership was announced at the NBAA-BACE exhibition, at a moment when the broader business aviation market remains strong. Aircraft manufacturers have roughly two years of orders in their backlogs, worth $67 billion, and their deliveries are up 12% year on year. Sales of pre-owned jets are also up 12%. The fractional-ownership segment is performing particularly well, with RVA president Rollie Vincent describing it as "on fire".

However, several indicators suggest softening conditions may be emerging. A recent RVA survey found that 40% of aircraft owners and operators strongly or somewhat agree that elevated fuel prices will cause them to fly less. Majorities also agree that original-equipment-manufacturer price increases are constraining demand for new aircraft, and that broader inflation will majorly disrupt the industry in the coming years.

Rising costs are a central concern for the industry. "We're seeing some impact, especially of fuel prices and other factors that are driving up the cost. Inflation is a problem in our industry," Vincent says. "Prices are going up in our industry ahead of inflation – quite a bit faster."

One signal of potential pressure is the increase in used jets on the market. Historically, 6–12% of jets in the used fleet are up for sale, but about 16% of used light jets are now available. Vincent cautioned against reading too much into this shift: "That may be a softening signal… Cracks can just mean pressure. They don't mean a break."

Vincent said of the monitoring effort: "We are watching this like a hawk." The reporting does not say when NBAA members will begin receiving survey invitations or what the three subscription tiers will cost.