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NATA News - FAA Committee to Tackle Part 135 Pilot Flight, Duty and Rest Rules
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 July 15, 2019 — Volume 18, Issue 27 
  This Week's Top Stories 


FAA Committee to Tackle Part 135 Pilot Flight, Duty and Rest Rules

Last week the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) published the Part 135 Pilot Rest and Duty Rules Aviation Rulemaking Committee charter, signaling the beginning of a new effort to revise the long-standing, existing rules.

Congress mandated this ARC in the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018 (Pub. L. 15-254, Sec. 315). According to the FAA charter, the ARC will be limited to twenty members including representatives from Part 135 and fractional ownership operations and pilot unions as well as other safety experts. The ARC will be led by an FAA Co-Chair and an Industry Co-Chair selected from the Part 135 operations community.

 

Once the ARC members are selected and meetings commence, they will have 16 months to review the regulations and submit recommendations for any changes to the FAA.

 

NATA has a history of representing the interests of the Part 135 industry on prior ARCs concerning these rules. NATA will continue to advocate for reasonable regulations that protect against crew fatigue while accommodating the unique aspects of the industry, as directed by Congress in creating this mandate. 


 

 


FAA Releases PAFI Program Update

Last month the FAA issued an unleaded avgas progress update announcing the “test results with the Shell fuel were not successful with testing indicating additional refinements are required.” Shell is committed to additional R&D efforts to make the proper adjustments for a safe and viable unleaded avgas.

 

The FAA has also been conducting screening testing of 3 fuels not previously part of the PAFI program at the William J. Hughes Technical Center during the first 6 months of 2019. The FAA states, “The FAA alternative fuels program for general aviation must be multi-faceted, ongoing, and supported by a collaborative government and industry process. The focus remains qualification and authorization of an acceptable unleaded fuel and the safe transition to a more environmentally friendly aviation fuel.” FAA and industry continue to work on a “PAFI Deployment Guide” that will provide a roadmap to successfully deploy an unleaded avgas into all sectors of the aviation community from the refineries to the wingtips of aircraft.

 

NATA continues to participate on the Piston Aviation Fuels Initiative (PAFI), a government and industry collaboration, and we will be sure to keep you apprised on the development and deployment of a new unleaded aviation fuel(s) that can be available for the general aviation fleet. For further questions or concerns, please contact Megan Eisenstein at meisenstein@nata.aero.


 


Last Wednesday, the Senate Commerce Committee approved the nomination of Stephen M. Dickson as the next FAA administrator. This action follows Dickson’s spring nomination and clears the way for consideration by the full Senate.


Dickson is recognized throughout the industry as a steadfast advocate for safety and modernization, having served as chairman of several stakeholder groups and two Federal Advisory Committees: the Air Traffic Management Advisory Committee (ATMAC) and the NextGen Implementation Task Force.


NATA is hearing that the Senate vote could happen in the next few weeks before the August recess.


 

 


Delta Airlines Gets 50th U.S.-built Jet with Sustainable Aviation Fuel

Airbus announced last Friday that it had delivered Delta Air Lines’ 50th made-in-Alabama jetliner, an A321 that will help expand the industry’s use of sustainable fuel.

 

The company’s Final Assembly Line (FAL) in Mobile has delivered 130 jets to 8 clients overall, according to Kristi Tucker, director of communications for Airbus Americas. After JetBlue, Delta is the second customer to receive jets tanked up on a blend of conventional petroleum-based jet fuel and sustainable fuel. According to Airbus, the Mobile FAL will deliver 20 such jets over the course of the next year.

 

“Airbus is committed to being part of the solution for meeting aviation’s global CO2 emissions reduction targets, said Simone Rauer, Head of Aircraft Operations for Environmental Affairs at Airbus. “Contributing to a lasting decrease of our industry’s carbon footprint is key to ensuring a sustainable future for aviation.” Read more.


 




 
  FAA News:
 


Fly Safe: Prevent Loss of Control

 

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the general aviation (GA) community’s national #FlySafe campaign helps educate GA pilots about how to avoid loss of control (LOC) accidents. A LOC accident involves an unintended departure of an aircraft from controlled flight. LOC can happen when the aircraft enters a flight regime that is outside its normal flight envelope and quickly develops into a stall or spin. It can introduce an element of surprise for the pilot.

 

LOC is the number one root cause of fatalities in GA accidents. More than 2 percent of GA fatalities occur during the maneuvering phase of flight. Of those accidents, half involve stall/spin scenarios. Stay safe! This series will show you how you can incorporate safety into every flight.


 
 
   
 


FAA Safety Briefing 

 

The July/August 2019 issue of the FAA Safety Briefing addresses aviation safety culture. Feature articles focus on what a sound safety culture is and explore ways you can integrate those principles into your everyday flying and airman duties. Explore the many FAA and industry tools available to help you build your own personal safety culture. Download here.


 
 
 
   Association Highlights:
 


NATA Programs Assist with Pilot Retention

 

Did you know that NATA offers three Programs tailored for air charter businesses to help assist with pilot acquisition and retention?

 

Loss of License Insurance Program further protects your pilots — a crucial advantage in the current challenging environment for pilot staffing and retention. All participants are treated as one entity through the NATA plan, allowing for an easy underwriting experience and premium reductions created by the larger buying pool.

 

-  The NATA FAA Medical Certification Services benefit program is available to all Part 135 air carriers and their pilots, as well as Part 91 corporate flight departments and their pilots, for a budget-friendly flat, per-pilot monthly fee. NATA members are eligible for a significant additional discount.

 

-  NATA-Med powered by AirDocs is an exclusive program that improves operational safety and inflight assistance, 24/7. NATA-Med reduces liability by giving pilots inflight access to medical personnel. In addition, the service helps avoid costly and unnecessary flight diversions and coordinates ground assets post flight. The program assists before, during, and after flights.

 

Learn more at www.nata.aero/HarveyWatt.


 
 
   Events:
 


Remaining 2019 NATA and Safety 1st Events Calendar

 

NATA has multiple events throughout this calendar year across the country. Review the remaining 2019 events calendar and don’t miss your opportunity to network within the industry, enhance your professional/technical skills, and let your voice be heard.

 

Conferences and Symposiums
2019 Ground Handling Safety Symposium

October 1-2 | NTSB Training Center | Dulles, VA

 

2019 Aviation Leadership Conference

November 5-6 | MGM Hotel | National Harbor, MD

 

Town Halls and Forums
Air Charter Forums
September 26 | International Jet Aviation Services | Denver, CO

October 3 | Teterboro, NJ

 

Industry Town Halls
August 6 | International Jet Aviation Services | Denver, CO
September 12 | West Houston Airport | Houston, TX
October 1 | Boca Raton Airport | Boca Raton, FL


 

Professional/Technical Development

NATA Safety 1st Certified Quality Control Inspector Workshop

September 10-11 | Aeroplex/Aerolease | Van Nuys, CA

 

NATA Safety 1st Advanced Deicing Workshop

October 1-2 | Jet Aviation | Bedford, MA

 

NATA Certified Customer Service Representative Program

December 10-11 | Chateau LeMoyne – French Quarter | New Orleans, LA 


 
 
 
   Membership Spotlight:
 


Yingling Begins Cessna Citation Excel/XLS Garmin G5000 Installs

 

Yingling Aviation has launched a Garmin G5000 retrofit program for Cessna Citation Excel and XLS jets, the Wichita-based FBO and MRO announced last week. "This new STC from Garmin is what the market has been asking for,” Yingling avionics department manager Stuart Ashenden said. “It obviously meets the needs and desires of NextGen operators. We are already taking firm reservations and scheduling installations three months in advance.” The new program follows FAA approval of the G5000 Excel/XLS STC by Garmin, for which Yingling is an authorized facility. Read more.


 
 
   
 


Universal and Drivania to Form New Ground Transportation Joint Venture

 

Universal Weather and Aviation, Inc., and private transportation company, Drivania Chauffeurs, announced they have formed a new joint venture. Under this agreement, Universal’s ground transportation business, formally under Universal Private Transport, will combine with Drivania’s business aviation division, Drivania Bizav, to create a new ground transportation company focused on the business aviation industry. “Both organizations share a common vision to reduce operating risk and enhance business aviation operators’ ground transportation experience by reducing handoffs, simplifying logistics through trip integration, and delivering a leading digital experience,” said Charlie Mularski, Executive Vice President, International, Universal. “We’re combining our two ground transportation networks to create something bigger that gives our customers more options. And it will be seamlessly integrated into Universal’s global trip planning and logistics network through Drivania’s digital platform – when an operator makes a trip change, the ground transport automatically changes with it.” Read more.


 
 
 
   
 


Paragon Aviation Group Makes Care Packages for Community Members in Need

 

Paragon Aviation Group team members spent an evening making care packages for those in need in the Houston area community. With the help of friends and neighbors that volunteered, they made over 100 care packages. The care packages included first aid kits, socks, snacks, toiletries, bottled waters, electrolyte mixes, and hand towels, plus a list of important numbers/hotlines. To add a personal touch, the children volunteers drew colorful pictures and wrote messages of hope along with making a little craft to include in the packages. “We are creating these since the hurricane season is in full effect now through November. It was a rough couple of years in Houston for hurricanes and if we can help ease a little of the burden for those in need, we want to do that,” said Megan Barnes, President of Paragon Aviation Group®. Read more.

 
 
   Air Charter Safety Foundation:
 


ACSF Announces New Chairman and Vice-Chairman

 

The Air Charter Safety Foundation (ACSF) is pleased to announce the selection of Joshua Hebert, Founder and CEO of Magellan Jets, as its new ACSF Chairman. Additionally, Robert Rufli, Vice-President and Director of Flight Operations of Pentastar Aviation was elected the new Vice-Chairman, beginning July 1, 2019. Hebert succeeds Mike Graham, Director, Flight Operations Safety, Security and Standardization whose term expired June 30, 2019. "Both Joshua and Bob have been invaluable members of the ACSF Executive Committee and Board of Governors," said ACSF President Bryan Burns. "With their knowledge and experience as leaders in the aviation industry, they will continue to support and promote the foundation's ongoing risk management programs."

For further information, visit www.acsf.aero.


 
 

 

 


Spring 2019

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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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