No wonder the White House believes it’s winning the 10-day-old standoff with Republicans over the government shutdown. With the power he has American businesses, including much of the aviation industry, the president holds what might be an unbeatable hand. If Republicans didn’t know it before, they do now.
With one phone call to Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx, President Obama could order the FAA’s Oklahoma City aircraft registration office reopened and start the flow of aircraft deliveries. Until then, aircraft sales are grounded as registry paperwork piles up. That means Boeing and Airbus can’t deliver airliners to U.S. customers. Business jet manufacturers have their hands similarly tied. Even the sale of a measly used Cessna 150 can’t go through until the FAA Registry reopens.
