Member News
 Letter To Tennessee Governor In Opposition To Government Competition With Private Business |
NATA recently sent a letter to Tennessee Governor Bill Haslam expressing the association's concern with airport sponsors using state grant funding to compete unfairly with private business. NATA asked Governor Haslam to reexamine Tennessee's current policy of allowing state grant funding to be used to construct facilities designed to compete with existing private businesses.
The letter pointed to the Chattanooga Metropolitan Airport Authority's (CMAA) use of more than $10 million in government-issued grants to establish its own general aviation service facility to compete directly with the privately owned service provider at Lovell Field Airport (CHA). NATA noted that allowing state grant funding to be used to compete with private business will likely have the effect of chilling private investment at public use airports, placing a further strain on state and local government budgets.
NATA is working with the Business Coalition for Fair Competition to remind state and federal legislators of the importance of the private sector to the economy, jobs and businesses.
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| U.S. House Transportation Security Subcommittee Hearing Focused On Mishandling Of Airport Breaches Reports |
On May 16, members of the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Homeland Security Subcommittee on Transportation Security heard testimony from federal agency officials and industry stakeholders on the successes and pitfalls of security surrounding U.S. airports. Subcommittee Chairman Mike Rogers (R-AL) opened the hearing with a reiteration of the importance of protecting the nation's air transportation system and securing our airports through the "coordination and cooperation" of industry and federal stakeholders.
Agency officials John Sammon, assistant administrator of the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), and Charles Edwards, acting inspector general of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), presented to the subcommittee findings from the recently published Inspector General (IG) Report that show that the TSA is not accurately reporting potential breaches, partly because there is no clear and accurate definition of what constitutes a breach and no comprehensive oversight program to report them. The report concludes that only 42 percent of potential breaches were reported to TSA Headquarters, and of those, only 21 percent of the cases received responses. According to the inspector general, the lack of reporting potential breaches makes it difficult for the agency to spot and fix dangerous weaknesses in the system.
Chairman Rogers and the subcommittee were disturbed by the report's findings, and insisted that the TSA follow up the report by providing the subcommittee with a clear definition of what constitutes a breach as well as an outline of a comprehensive oversight program detailing the directions on how to report a breach and where the complaint goes. Chairman Rogers stated that he will be following up with TSA Administrator John Pistole, demanding that all breaches be reported to TSA Headquarters and that a process be implemented for accurately recording reports.
To view Chairman Rogers' opening statement and follow-up remarks, as well as to read all witness testimonies, click here.
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| EPA Releases Airport Deicing Rule |
Recently, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released a prepublication version of a final rule, Effluent Limitations Guidelines and New Source Performance Standards for the Airport Deicing Category. NATA commented in 2010 on the EPA's initial proposal to set a national standard regarding runoff from deicing at primary commercial service airports.
In this final rule, the EPA accepted the comments from NATA and many others in the industry that setting a national standard relating to capturing used deicing fluid was impractical and provided little benefit due to the diversity in airport layouts and operations. The EPA chose to continue to regulate deicing activities through the established permitting process. The final rule does, however, prohibit the use of urea-based pavement deicer at primary commercial service airports and require that new airports utilize centralized deicing pads to facilitate the collection of used deicing fluid.
NATA expects this final rule to be published in the Federal Register in the next two weeks. The rule will become effective 20 days after its publication.
Click here to read NATA's Regulatory Report on this final rule
Click here to read the prepublication version of the final rule
Click here to read NATA's comments on the original proposal
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| FAA Proposes Rewrite To Repair Station Rules |
Last month, the FAA published a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) that would make significant changes to the rules governing certificated repair stations. These changes to Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations, Part 145, would modify repair station certification requirements, the system of repair station ratings and the rules affecting repair stations that provide maintenance to air carriers. The FAA has proposed a 24-month transition period, where existing repair stations would be able to continue operating under the current rules while also applying for recertification under the new rules.
NATA plans to work closely with its Aircraft Maintenance and Systems Technology Committee and repair station membership to evaluate and comment on this proposed rule. The NPRM is open for public comment until August 20.
Click here to read the full NPRM.
Click here to read NATA's regulatory report on the proposed rule changes.
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| Senate Committee Approves FY 13 Transportation Budget |
The U.S. Senate Committee on Appropriations approved a $106.4 billion spending bill (S. 2322) funding the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) and other agencies through fiscal year 2013.
The bill allows $18.24 billion for the DOT, an increase of $299 million over last year's enacted level. For the FAA, the bill provides $15.96 billion, an increase of $186 million over last year's level. Notable funding levels are $140.4 million for the contract tower program, and $3.35 million for the Airport Improvement Program (same as the last seven years).
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| NATA’s New Weekly Regulatory Update |
NATA's addition of a weekly regulatory update provides members with an up-to-date account of the most recent changes taking place in Washington D.C. Relevant updates from the FAA, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Department of Homeland Security are compiled each day from the Federal Register. The latest notices, rules and proposed rules can now be found in a single source by clicking here.
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| Get the Most Out of Your Membership With Valuable Savings |
NATA is best known for its advocacy role in Washington, D.C., and throughout the nation. The association fights hard to ensure that aviation businesses receive equitable treatment in both the legislative and regulatory arenas. Locally, NATA actively supports a growing airport network so aviation businesses can continue to prosper.
But are you aware of the many money-saving discounts that NATA members can utilize? NATA has negotiated discount programs for many services and products that your business uses. ARAMARK provides up to a 20% discount off of customized uniform and rug solutions and HD Supply offers up to a 14% discount from its catalog prices. NATA also has rental car discounts with national providers, Avis and Hertz.
NATA Compliance Services offers a 10% discount to members off their already competitive rates and USAIG provides industry-leading Workers' Compensation Insurance coverage that provides a good experience return based on unused premiums.
Make sure you are getting the most out of your membership by seeing which of the many money-saving discounts will work for your company. For more information, please click here to visit the NATA Web site.
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| Special Offer On NATA’s Newest Publications |
FBO Managers Resource Kit Offers 20% Discount
NATA recently released new editions of its Negotiating Aviation Agreements guidebook and Community Relations Toolkit, and in late 2011 released an update of its Refueling and Quality Control Procedures for Airport Service and Support Operations guidebook. Each publication not only contains essential guidance on important business issues, but also provides templates, samples and other practical resources to put to work in your operation now.
NATA is offering the three books separately or together as an FBO Managers Resource Kit. The FBO Managers Resource Kit offers the best discount price for these publications, but you may still purchase them individually. The FBO Managers Resource Kit price is $600 for members and $880 for non-members- a 20% discount on published rates.
You may visit the NATA Store to purchase NATA publications. If you have questions, please contact Jess Hammett at (800) 808-6282.
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| NATA Releases 2012 Compensation Report |
NATA has published the results of its 2012 survey of general aviation service employee compensation. The 2012 Compensation Report includes salaries and benefits for pilots, line-service personnel and maintenance technicians.
Employee compensation is broken down by geographic region of the country, by the company's gross sales, by size of the town or city in which the company is located and by the number of employees in the company. In addition to pilots and maintenance technicians, the report includes compensation for inspectors and line service and customer service representatives, among others.
Association Research Inc., a leading economic research firm based in Rockville, Maryland, conducted the salary study. For privacy reasons, none of the individual responses are provided to NATA.
The 2012 Compensation Report is provided at no cost to NATA members who participated in the study. For non-participating members, the charge is $130 and $310 for non-NATA members.
A copy of the 2012 Compensation Report may be purchased on the NATA Web site under Products and Services and by clicking on Publications.
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