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NATA News - NATA Welcomes Passage of House FAA Reauthorization Bill
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View HTML Version of Newsletter   April 30, 2018 — Volume 17, Issue 18 

This Week's Top Stories 


NATA Welcomes Passage of House FAA Reauthorization Bill

Last week, the House of Representatives passed H.R. 4 – The FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018, legislation to reauthorize the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) through Fiscal Year 2023 and provide long-term funding and stability for the agency.


In a press statement following House passage, NATA President Marty Hiller praised the efforts of Transportation Chairmen Bill Shuster and Frank LoBiondo and Ranking Members Peter DeFazio and Rick Larsen for leading this bipartisan bill to House passage, and noted the many included provisions beneficial to the aviation business community. “The legislation contains many NATA-supported provisions that will improve safety and address the needs of aviation business across the country, including efforts to streamline certification and flight standards processes, as well as improve the consistency of FAA regulatory interpretations,” Hiller noted. 


Thanking the membership for their efforts throughout the journey, Hiller concluded by stating, “This bill reflects the engagement and dedication of NATA and its members to help shape the policy that preserves safety for the aviation industry and ensures the continued development and implementation of NextGen and FAA reform.” The Senate will soon vote on companion legislation and a conference committee will convene to resolve differences between the House and Senate-passed measures. 


To learn more about the journey to passage of H.R. 4 and provisions that benefit the general aviation community, listen to NATA’s Legislative Affairs podcast.


 


NATA Awards Top Honors to Long-time Aviation Executives Larry R. Flynn and Randall D. Berg

Today, NATA announced the recipients of its two highest honors, who will be recognized at the annual Awards Presentation Luncheon on June 13th, held in conjunction with the NATA 2018 Annual Meeting and Aviation Business Conference. This year’s William A. “Bill” Ong Memorial Award recognizes Larry R. Flynn, a renowned aviation business leader with more than 30 years of experience in managing and elevating aircraft service facilities. Flynn most recently served as Vice President of General Dynamics (2001-2015) and President of its subsidiary Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation (2011-2015).


The NATA Distinguished Service Award goes to Randall (Randy) D. Berg, A.A.E., current NATA Board Member and Partner of Aeroplex/Aerolease Group. Berg, an airport executive with over 40 years of experience, was most recently the Director of Aviation for King County in Seattle, Washington, where he directed the King County International Airport/Boeing Field. In addition to Berg’s airport management career, he has been an Adjunct Professor in Aviation Management at California State University, Los Angeles for the past 30 years, and at Westminster College in Salt Lake City for 13 years.


The Annual Meeting and Aviation Business Conference provides important advice, access and information to aviation businesses. Highlights include Capitol Hill meetings and sessions on FAA reauthorization, general aviation staffing challenges, ethical standards for aviation businesses and more!


Attend the full conference by registering here or contact Karissa Uko at kuko@nata.aero to secure a ticket for the awards luncheon.




Registration Still Open for May Events in Minneapolis and Charlotte

On May 8-10, prepare your business and management team for the future of ground handling safety with NATA's Certified FBO Safety Manager Workshop in Minneapolis, MN. Attendees will learn how to enhance their safety leadership and communication skills, analyze return on safety investments and benefits of safety programs, and develop and effectively administer a safety management system (SMS). The workshop will also cover implementing industry standards such as the Industry Standard – Business Aircraft Handling (IS-BAH). Please click here to register. 

On May 8, NATA will host an Air Charter Forum, inviting operators in the Charlotte area to discuss issues impacting the Part 135 community — including illegal charter, federal excise taxes, the pilot shortage, FSDO relationships and more. RSVP complimentary and enjoy lunch courtesy of our sponsor GoGo Business Aviation.  

NATA will also hold an Industry Town Hall at Thunderbird Aviation on May 10th, providing aviation businesses across the Minneapolis region the opportunity to sit down together and discuss the challenges, risks and opportunities within our industry. Attendance is free and lunch is provided complimentary thanks to Airsure Limited. RSVP today

Click here for NATA’s full 2018 events calendar.

    
 


NATA Participates in NTSB Roundtable on Preventing Loss of Control Accidents

Last Tuesday, NATA attended the National Transportation Safety Board’s (NTSB) Roundtable on Preventing Inflight Loss of Control in General Aviation through Training and Technology. The Roundtable was moderated by Chairman Robert Sumwalt and the panel included many notable guests, including Patty Wagstaff of Patty Wagstaff Aviation Safety and former NASA Shuttle Pilot Charlie Precourt — who is now VP and General Manager of Orbital ATK Flight Systems — as well as representatives from aviation universities, the FAA, and technology firms.


Several panelists stressed the necessity of continual training for pilots over the course of their careers. Promoting this concept for general aviation will require a cultural shift within the entire community to make lifelong learning a priority. Speakers also pointed out that there are many training options available. For instance, Stasi Poulos from Mindstar Aviation, explained how his company was building fully immersive training simulation programs to ensure pilots can be as prepared as possible to handle emergency situations.


A highlight was a presentation by high school seniors, Justin Zhou and Thomas Baron, who were awarded the Experimental Aircraft Association’s (EAA) 2017 Founder’s Innovation Prize for their company called Remora Systems that will produce and sell a head-mounted avionics display for critical flight information.

 

 
From the FAA
 


FAA Fact Sheet: General Aviation Safety

 

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and industry are working on several key initiatives to improve general aviation (GA) safety: 

GA Joint Steering Committee (GAJSC)

Equip 2020 for ADS-B Out

New Airman Certification Standards (ACS)

Streamlining aircraft certification

The Got Data? External Data Initiative

The Fly Safe outreach campaign on Loss of Control

The fatal accident rate is beginning to decline, but there is still room for improvement. Last year, 347 people died in 209 general aviation accidents. The FAA and industry are focused on reducing general aviation accidents by primarily using a non-regulatory, proactive, data-driven strategy to get results.

Read the fact sheet here.

 
 
Association Highlights
 


Deadline Approaching to Participate in NATA’s 2018 Compensation Survey

 

This is your last chance to participate in NATA’s 2018 Compensation Survey. All information will be kept strictly confidential and cannot be tied back to the respondent or reporting location by anyone (including NATA), and will be reported only in aggregate with other responses. 


The survey will provide valuable information that allows NATA members to:


- Stay competitive in your region

- Assess your current benefit and salary offerings

- Take an in-depth look at your operation from every position


The results of the report are only as good as the quality of the data submitted and the number of companies that respond, we ask all members to please participate in the survey so that NATA can provide the best data results possible. The general aviation community greatly benefits from this resource, thanks to your cooperation.

The deadline to complete the survey is May 15, 2018. View the survey outline here and participate by contacting Jake Legere at jlegere@nata.aero

Members that participate will receive a complimentary copy of the survey results.
 
 
 

 


NATA Safety 1st Blog Posts Discuss Aviation Fuel Handling GamGrams

 

Check out the latest blog posts from NATA Safety 1st regarding GamGrams and aviation fuel handling. “The Safety Net” blog is a great place for trainers and administrators to share thoughts on safety and training issues, ask questions, share comments or even make suggestions for using Safety 1st online training more effectively. Subscribe to “The Safety Net” to stay informed and engaged with the Safety 1st community. 


We encourage you to also read the 2018 Q1 Aviation Business Journal article remembering fuel quality control pioneer Howard Gammon, founder of Gammon Technical Products and The GamGram.

 
 

 

Speak with Your Broker About NATA’s Workers Compensation Insurance Programs

 

NATA offers two outstanding Programs* with tangible annual savings returns in the form of a Good Experience Return (GER), which often equals or exceeds membership dues. Read the December GER announcement of over $3 million here.

NATA now offers an added credit incentive for new Workers Compensation Insurance Program joins. Take advantage of this promotion and receive either a credit towards Safety 1st Training or NATA Compliance Services offerings. Email Jake Legere at jlegere@nata.aero for details.

Through a strategic relationship with the Independent Fixed Base Operators Association (IFBOA), NATA members are given a choice: participate in the IFBOA Safety Group Program, underwritten by QBE, or NATA's Program underwritten by Allianz. 

 
 
 
Events
 


NATA Advanced Line Service Workshop to Take Place This Week in Chicago | Additional 2018 Workshop Dates Available

 

On May 1-2, NATA Safety 1st will hold its popular Advanced Line Service (ALS) Workshop in Chicago at DuPage Flight Center (DPA). This workshop is designed to develop your line service team into the next leaders of your company. In addition to fuel quality control, the agenda includes sessions on motivation and leadership techniques, customer service and fire safety training, and the impact of human factors on aviation ground handling. NATA would like to thank our host DuPage Flight Center and our sponsor PecoFacet!


The next ALS workshop will be held July 31-August 1 in Austin, TX. Other workshop dates and locations are available at www.nata.aero/als.


Member Spotlight
 


Conklin & de Decker Delivers State Tax Guide Online

 

Conklin & de Decker announced last week that its 2018 State Tax Guide for General Aviation (“State Tax Guide”) is now available online through a web-based application in addition to the windows platform. State Tax Guide subscribers can now stay up to date on any state tax law change that occurs and can compare each state’s tax rates quickly from any mobile device or computer without any installations or downloading. The Guide is packed full of vital tax information and remains to be a must-have reference for helicopter and fixed-wing operators, accountants, dealers, brokers, aviation law professionals and other aviation professionals. The State Tax Guide contains the latest taxes and fees imposed on general aviation in all 50 states and addresses the sales and use taxes applicable to aircraft sales, ownership, leases, parts and labor. Learn more at www.conklindd.com.

 
 
 
  
 


Duncan Aviation Cites Ongoing Education as Important Employment Benefit

 

To combat industry pilot and aircraft technician shortages, Duncan Aviation is preparing for the potential shortages by supporting education as an employment benefit. That is one reason Duncan Aviation developed comprehensive and wide-ranging in-house training classes in addition to its tuition reimbursement assistance program and a formal technical apprentice/internship program. Since starting the formal technical apprentice/internship program, Duncan Aviation has helped 65 team members obtain their Repairman, A&P, Airframe or Powerplant certificates. Last year, six team members earned their associate degrees, seven earned their bachelor’s, and four earned their master’s through Duncan Aviation’s Tuition Reimbursement Assistance Program. Learn more at www.duncanaviation.com.

 
 
ACSF News
 


ACSF and FltPlan.com Collaborate to Offer ASAP Services

 

The Air Charter Safety Foundation (ACSF) and FltPlan.com have been working together to offer the charter and business aviation community an Aviation Safety Action Program (ASAP) that allows customers to combine the FAA/ACSF ASAP Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with FltPlan.com’s safety software. Both ACSF and FltPlan.com are pleased to announce they have reached an agreement. “The goal is to provide end users with one-stop shopping by combining their overall safety management system with an ACSF-ASAP program,” said ACSF president Bryan Burns. “It is through a cooperative effort and shared mission of safety, that the ACSF and FltPlan.com have been able to bring this program to the marketplace through a single data source. Both entities believe this will be a win-win relationship for the charter and business aviation community, as we work together to reduce operational risk and redundant workload associated with multiple databases,” noted Burns.

 

For further information, go to www.acsf.aero.
 
 
 
 
 
 


Q1 2018 Issue

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