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July 6, 2015 – Volume 14 Issue 27
 Release of Draft House FAA Reauthorization Legislation Delayed
The expected release last week by the House Transportation Committee of its proposed FAA reauthorization legislation was delayed due to a lack of House floor time in July to consider the proposal. The Chairman of the House Transportation Committee, Representative Bill Shuster, told NATA members attending the Aviation Business Conference the draft legislation will, among other things, create a separate, user-fee funded air traffic control organization. Details however continue to evolve. For example, though the proposed air traffic control corporation will be funded by user fees, it’s unclear whether some, or all, of general aviation will continue to contribute via the current tax structure.
Release of the bill last week was expected to trigger committee action as early as this Wednesday/Thursday. It is now unclear whether the proposal will be unveiled before Congress returns in September from its annual August recess. Major pieces of legislation like the FAA reauthorization are typically considered in the House in a manner that allows for floor consideration without long delays. Last week House Majority Leader McCarthy announced the July House floor agenda that will include unfinished appropriations bills, the National Defense Authorization, action on the Highway Trust Fund and possibly reauthorization of the Export-Import Bank.
Noting that Rep. Shuster’s proposal holds “profound implications for aviation businesses,” NATA President Tom Hendricks in a note to the membership, stated the association is fully prepared to roll out an aggressive campaign to support general aviation once the details of this FAA reauthorization bill are released and urged association members to review legislative updates from NATA to stay abreast of developments.
NATA Attends General Aviation Safety Summit
Last week, NATA staff attended the GA Safety Summit with industry and government representatives to review the top safety issues impacting the general aviation community. FAA-Industry engaged in discussions on Loss of Control (LOC); Angle of Attack (AOA) Systems; FAA Part 23 rewrite; Non-Required Safety Enhancing Equipment (NORSEE) Policy; and Risk-based Training. FAA Deputy Administrator Michael Whitaker released a statement after the Summit on how the agency is looking “forward to working with industry as we promote safety through education, technology solutions, and improved regulatory standards.” Read more.
NATA Participates in Consistency of Regulatory Interpretation (CRI) Aviation Rulemaking Committee (ARC) Meeting
Last week, NATA participated in an industry teleconference with the FAA to hear an implementation update on the CRI ARC recommendations. The FAA provided an update on activities to improve the consistency of regulatory interpretations within the FAA’s Flight Standards Service (AFS) and Aircraft Certification Service (AIR). The CRI ARC will continue to hold teleconferences to discuss the agency’s ongoing efforts to improve on regulatory interpretation inconsistencies. For more information, please contact Megan Eisenstein at meisenstein@nata.aero.
EPA Issues an ANPR to Regulate Pollution from Airplanes
On July 1st, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) published in the Federal Register a “Proposed Finding That Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Aircraft Cause or Contribute to Air Pollution That May Reasonably Be Anticipated To Endanger Public Health and Welfare and Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking.” The agency is issuing the ANPR in order to find that certain greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from certain classes of aircraft engines are contributing to air pollution. As stated in the ANPR, “The U.S. transportation sector constitutes a meaningful part of total U.S. and global anthropogenic GHG emissions. In 2013, aircraft remained the single largest GHG-emitting transportation source not yet subject to any GHG regulations.” Comments must be received on or before August 31, 2015. Read more.
Member Benefit Highlight: NATA Workers’ Compensation Insurance Program™
NATA has once again partnered with AirSure Limited to administer the association’s official Workers’ Compensation Insurance Program, offered as a compelling member benefit. The strong appeal of the program centers on the annual return on insurance premiums to ALL participants when premiums collected exceed the administrative costs and claims expenses for an individual year. Underwritten by insurance companies with a minimum A-rating by AM Best, the program marks NATA’s 2015 re-engagement of AirSure Limited, which served as the association’s original Workers’ Comp Insurance Program Administrator from 1975 to 2008. The AirSure program now available to NATA members has declared average Good Experience Returns (GER) of 14% since its inception in 2011. Click here for more information.
NATA Flag Pins for Veterans Project – Pledge Your Support with 16 Other Member Company Participants
NATA’s Flag Pins for Veterans Project’s 2015 campaign began Memorial Day and runs through October 2015. Project participants are asked to display American-made flag pins in their operations with signage suggesting a $1.00 donation per pin, or make a direct donation to the project. Last year’s campaign raised more than $30,000 for veterans organizations. So far, Atlantic Aviation, Bakersfield Jet Center by Loyd’s Aviation, Batten International Airport, Harbour Air Services KTVC, Hill Aircraft, Jet Aviation, Keystone FBO Services, Landmark Aviation, Million Air, Montgomery Aviation, Inc., Pentastar Aviation, Napa Jet Center, NATA, NATA Aviation Legal Services, Signature Flight Support and Transplant Transportation Services, Inc. have signed on to support the enduring sacrifices of our Nation’s veterans. For more information, click here or contact Shannon Chambers at schambers@nata.aero to participate.
West Star Aviation Welcomes Two New Sales Managers
West Star Aviation recently announced they have welcomed two new sales managers to their team. Steve Bates has been named Bombardier & Gulfstream Technical Sales manager and Wayne Sawyer has accepted the position as Northeast Regional Sales Manager. Both Steve and Wayne started their new positions in June 2015. Read further.
Sun Air Jets Goes Live as a Signature Select
Signature Flight Support Corporation announced that Sun Air Jets of Camarillo, California has fully transitioned and is operational as a Signature Select member. Sun Air Jets now offers the full suite of benefits of the Signature Flight Support network, including Signature Status® and Signature TailWins® customer rewards programs. Read more.
Commercial Operators Tax Seminar – Special Offer for NATA Members
NATA and Conklin & de Decker are holding their Commercial Operators Tax Seminar in Chantilly, VA on July 14-15, 2015. This Seminar is held every year and is truly the only Seminar designed for Charter Management companies. The Commercial Operators Tax Seminar covers taxes that you, the commercial operator, face every day in your operations. Are you concerned with the IRS Chief Counsel Advisory relating to the application of the commercial FET to owner flights and management fees? This seminar will provide insight on this and other IRS opinions and how to prepare and survive an IRS audit. In addition, a comprehensive review of the Federal Aviation Regulations, Ops Spec A008 and language that should be included in charter/management and management agreements will be provided on the first day. If you, or someone else within your company is interested in attending, please call the AZ Conklin & de Decker office at (928) 443-8676 and we will extend the 20% discount off the full price of $995 (10% early bird and 10% NATA member discounts). For more information, click here.
Final Safety 1st Regional Advanced Line Service Workshop in 2015 Takes Place in Fort Lauderdale
Following on the success of the Wheeling, IL Advance Line Service Workshop, NATA Safety 1st is pleased to bring its unique mix of technical and service training to Fort Lauderdale, FL on October 20-21, 2015. The Safety 1st Regional Advanced Line Service Workshop is designed to provide the knowledge and skills needed to make your line service team succeed and become new leaders within your company. This is the last Advanced Line Service Workshop in 2015. Don’t miss out, register now!
ACSF News
ACSF is pleased to announce that Red Wing Aeroplane Company, Bay City, WI, and Pinnacle Air Charter, Scottsdale, AZ, are the newest charter operators to join the foundation. Visit www.acsf.aero for more ACSF news.
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