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NATA is the National Air Transportation Association
Founded in 1940, NATA aggressively promotes safety and the success of aviation service businesses through its advocacy efforts before government, the media and the public as well as by providing valuable programs and forums to further its members’ prosperity. |
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Professional Line Service Training |
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PLST Online provides the most up-to-date training available for line service specialists – 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Line service supervisors can conduct the new PLST Online training anytime and from anywhere there is access to the Web. continued |
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| Pistole Confirmed as TSA Administrator |
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| John Pistole, former deputy director of the FBI, who was chosen by President Barrack Obama to lead the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) was officially confirmed by the U.S. Senate on Friday, June 25, 2010. Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle are pleased with the confirmation. U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Homeland Security Chairman Bennie Thompson (D-MS) stated "I look forward to meeting with him to discuss the plan for the agency and the committee's priorities as soon as possible." U.S. Senator Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Chairman Joseph Lieberman (I-CT) referred to Pistole as "a well-qualified and urgently needed candidate."
While the security issues involving air, rail and trucking issues that the TSA oversees are critical, one of the biggest issues facing the agency is the federal employees union wanting collective-bargaining rights for more than 50,000 transportation security officers (TSOs). Pistole didn't take a position on the matter during his confirmation hearings but said he would review the issue carefully once confirmed. | |
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| SAFO Emphasizes Training For Night Operations At Uncontrolled Airports |
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The FAA has published a safety alert for operators (SAFO) reminding operators to ensure that flight crews are trained on proper procedures for night operations at uncontrolled airports.
SAFO 10008, Ground Operations During the Hours of Darkness at Uncontrolled Airports, explains that there has been an increase in the number of incidents involving aircraft operating (taxi, take-off and landing) at night where flight crews have failed to activate the airport pilot-controlled lighting system (PCL).
The FAA asks that operators ensure that the content of this SAFO is provided to pilots during ground training and reinforced in flight training and during supervised operating experience, line checks and proficiency checks.
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| Environmental Groups Ask EPA To Regulate Green House Gas Emissions From Aircraft |
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This month, a coalition of environmental groups, including Earth Justice and the Western Environmental Law Center, filed suit in the Federal District Court of the District of Colombia to attempt to get the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to regulate greenhouse gas emissions from aircraft and other sources.
Danielle Fugere, regional program director for Friends of the Earth, said in a recent press release, "The evidence of climate change is becoming clearer each and every day. We can no longer afford the EPA's refusal to address important and growing sources of greenhouse gas emissions."
The petition asks the court to force the EPA to make a determination whether greenhouse gas emissions from aircraft, ocean-going ships, and nonroad vehicles and engines used in industrial operations pose a threat to public health and welfare by contributing to climate change. This determination, known as an endangerment finding, would trigger the agencies authority to issue rules limiting those emissions. The coalitions filing with the Federal District Court can be viewed here.
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| NATA's First E-Learning Webinar Highly Successful |
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NATA's first fee-based webinar, one of many in our summer E-Learning series, was an overwhelming success. Nearly forty attendees learned in-depth strategies to use when negotiating new or existing FBO leases, preparing to invest capital in an existing business or handling everyday issues that affect businesses at an airport. Additional discussions included rights as an airport tenant and how to protect your investment while improving your negotiating power as well as other helpful strategies and an enlightening Q & A session. NATA Vice President, Government & Industry Affairs Eric R. Byer said, "Our members asked us to provide continuing education at an affordable price, and we listened. NATA's E-Learn series is just the beginning. There are many more webinars to come."
Leonard D. Kirsch, Esq, with McBreen and Kopko, led the webinar discussions and provided valuable advice and lessons learned from his more than 25 years experience representing FBOs. Kirsch responded to nearly 30 minutes of questions from engaged attendees following the presentation. Questions included, Is there a grant assurance limit to term on a lease?; What is generally the lease term to which an airport would like to commit initially?; In today's economic environment, what is best to put on your rent adjustments, CPI vs. FMV?; What do you do when your FBO is in direct competition with the Airport Authority?; and many more.
NATA's new E-Learn Summer Webinar Series consists of several concise (about an hour or so), informative sessions on a wide array of topics important to our industry. | |
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| 2010 Compensation Survey Now Available |
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| The NATA has released its 2010 annual survey report of general aviation service employee compensation. The report includes salaries and benefits for pilots, line-service personnel and maintenance technicians.
Employees' 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, 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 report is provided at no cost to NATA members who participated in the survey. The downloadable pdf version is available at a cost of $125 to non-participating members and $299 to non-NATA members. There is an additional $25 charge to receive a hardcopy of the report.
A copy of the report may be purchased on the NATA Web site at www.nata.aero/store. | |
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| Have You Checked Out NATA's Workers' Compensation Plan? |
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The NATA Workers' Compensation Plan was created in April 1975, with three specific goals in mind:
- Provide NATA members with a dependable long-term market for Workers' Comp insurance;
- Structure the plan in such a way that if the overall loss experience of the participating members is favorable, participants would share in the return of a portion of the premium at the end of the policy year (Good Experience Return); and
- Make joining the plan as easy as possible.
The NATA plan is underwritten by USAIG (United States Aircraft Insurance Group), the nation's largest aviation insurance organization and a division of Berkshire Hathaway. They have provided the coverage since the plan's inception.
NATA's Workers' Compensation Plan is available to any member who meets USAIG's underwriting requirements for participating in the plan. NATA membership notwithstanding, USAIG can underwrite Workers' Comp Insurance only for individuals or firms directly involved in the operation, servicing, maintenance, storage, repair or sale of aircraft. While the NATA plan is available in most states, it cannot be written in Ohio, North Dakota, Washington and Wyoming. Its availability in other states may vary due to rating and tax considerations.
For complete details, have your agent/broker check with USAIG at (212) 859-3988 or visit www.nata.aero | |
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| Register Today For NATA's New E-learn Webinars |
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NATA's new E-learn webinars are designed to enhance your education from the convenience of your site. E-learn webinars launch this month and include several sessions specially priced at $49.95 as well as free policy and event preview webinars - a continuation of the member benefit webinars that NATA has offered since fall 2009. The registration rate for the five scheduled webinars includes participation for one site (one computer/connection) in the live webinar and electronic copies of the presentations and any additional materials. These 60-minute webinars complement NATA's networking summit, conference and seminars by bringing experts on the hottest topics to you throughout the year.
Upcoming Webinars:
- "Success with Social Media" - July 13, $49.95
- "New or Amended Minimum Standards: How to Ensure that Minimum Standards Help Not Hinder Your Business" - July 21, $49.95
- "Hiring & Screening In Today's Market" - August 10, $49.95
- "Social Media Strategies: Tools & Tactics for Success" - August 17, $49.95
Click here to see the webinar details and to register. Please send suggestions for future webinar topics to lpylant@nata.aero and forward this article to anyone in your office who will benefit from any of these educational opportunities. NATA also offers Professional Line Service Training Online, Flight Crew Briefings and SMS webcasts as a part of E-learn - NATA's online learning programs. | |
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