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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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| Congress Passes 18th Extension; House Passes Tax Title For FAA Reauthorization |
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| Last week, the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure passed yet another extension to fund the FAA through May 31, 2011. Committee Chairman John Mica (R-FL) expects H.R. 658, the FAA Reauthorization and Reform Act of 2011 to be on the House floor by the last week in March. The extension will allow lawmakers more time to complete conference negotiations in order to finalize the bill. Chairman Mica is optimistic about completing the FAA bill by May 31. Both House and Senate negotiators view passage of the bill a top priority. One of the major differences between the House and Senate bill that will have to be worked out in conference is funding levels. The House bill funds the FAA for four years at fiscal year 2008 levels, the total amount being $59.7 billion. The Senate bill is a two-year bill, and would cost $34.5 billion.
Also last week, the House Committee on Ways and Means held a mark-up in committee on H.R. 1034, “Airport and Airway Trust Fund Financing Reauthorization Act of 2011.” The bill did not include a similar provision as the Senate tax title, which included a tax increase for jet fuel and aviation gasoline. This difference will also have to be addressed in conference, and it is unknown whether the House is going to support the Senate’s tax increase on aviation fuels fully. | |
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| FAA Publishes RTTF Policy |
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The FAA has published an interim policy governing the use of residential through-the-fence (RTTF) agreements at airports receiving federal funding. An RTTF agreement provides a legal right for owners of residential property adjacent to an airport to access the airfield via aircraft. This interim policy is the result of a year-and-a-half-long FAA policy review of the impact of RTTF agreements on public-use airport development and grant assurance compliance.
In the past, the FAA has approved, at a local and regional level, certain RTTF agreements at public-use airports. These approvals have created an impression that, from a national policy prospective, the FAA approves of RTTF use. This policy is intended to clarify and set a national policy regarding RTTF at public use airports.
NATA has long been concerned that allowing RTTF agreements at airports receiving federal funding works to encourage residential development adjacent to those airports. Residential development in proximity to airports has led to many of the issues that negatively impact airport development, including noise, pollution and land-use concerns. With this interim policy, the FAA strikes a balance between existing RTTF users and the future needs of public-use airports that:
- Allows existing RTTF agreements to continue under tighter scrutiny
- Prohibits new RTTF agreements at public-use airports
- Provides for a review of this policy by the FAA in 2014
NATA fully supports this policy because of its protections of the federal investment in public-use airports. This policy does not affect RTTF use at private airports and those airports are free to continue utilizing RTTF agreements.
Click here to view the Interim Policy on RTTF agreements.
Click here to view the NATA Policy Playbook Blog on this issue. | |
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| NATA And McFarren Aviation Consulting Partner To Raise Funds For Wounded Warriors |
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NATA has partnered with McFarren Aviation Consulting (MAC) to raise funds for the Veterans Airlift Command (VAC) at the upcoming NATA Air Charter Summit, to be held June 6-8 at the Westfields Marriott in Virginia. The VAC is a charitable organization that provides free air transportation to wounded warriors, veterans, and their families for medical and other compassionate purposes. NATA and MAC have established a special fund, NATA Wings for Warriors, for NATA members and friends to contribute to the organization.
VAC was founded by retired U.S. Army helicopter pilot Walt Fricke, who grew the VAC mission from a single volunteer aircraft owner and pilot, himself, into a national network consisting of more than 1700 volunteer aircraft owners and pilots.
When wounded warriors return from the battlefield, they are often in need of ongoing medical treatment far from their homes, loved ones, and comrades. VAC coordinates the transportation of wounded veterans and their families all over the country, utilizing a network of volunteer aircraft owners and pilots who have generously donated their time and equipment to support the activities of the VAC. In fact, these flights are now recognized under the official FAA call sign “Hero Flight,” which air traffic control grants priority handling whenever possible.
“We are honored to bring awareness to the Veterans Airlift Command and its important mission. We encourage our members not only to consider making financial donations, but also to offer aircraft and pilots for VAC flights; even a few hours a year would be a gracious contribution to VAC,” said NATA President James K. Coyne.
McFarren Aviation Consulting President Lindsey McFarren said, “Our servicemen and women are returning from Iraq, Afghanistan, and other conflict-torn areas and are in need of compassion. All of our soldiers deserve our respect, but those who are wounded while serving our country especially need comfort and care. Join us in supporting the Veterans Airlift Command.”
VAC will have a booth at the upcoming NATA Air Charter Summit. Stop by to learn more about this important program.
Visit http://www.veteransairlift.org/m/donate.aspx?campaign=NATAWFW2011 to make a donation! | |
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| Annual Aircraft Activity Survey Getting Underway |
| Look for your survey to arrive in April |
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Your help is needed to provide accurate information on aviation activity and aviation safety. The 33rd annual General Aviation and Part 135 Activity Survey (GA Survey) for reporting on calendar year 2010 is beginning in early April.
The FAA’s annual GA Survey is the only source of information on the general aviation fleet, the number of hours flown, and the ways people use general aviation aircraft. These data help to determine funding for infrastructure and service needs, assess the impact of regulatory changes, and measure aviation safety. The GA Survey is also used to prepare safety statistics and calculate the rate of accidents among general aviation aircraft.
You can complete the survey on-line or a survey form will be mailed to you along with a postage-paid envelope.
Why is your participation important?
- Your help is needed so accurate estimates of aviation safety can be prepared. Data from this survey are used to calculate fatal accident rates for general aviation and Part 135 aircraft.
- Please respond, even if you did not fly a particular aircraft during 2010, it was sold, or the plane was damaged.
- Responses are confidential. Tetra Tech is an independent research firm that conducts the GA Survey on behalf of the FAA. The information will be used only for statistical purposes and will not be published or released in any form that would reveal an individual participant.
- A short version of the survey form is available for owners of multiple aircraft. We know your time is valuable. If you own three or more aircraft and receive several surveys, please contact Tetra Tech.
Questions? Own three or more aircraft? Please contact Tetra Tech toll-free at 1-800-826-1797 or email infoaviationsurvey@tetratech.com. Thank you. | |
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| Air Charter Safety Symposium Draws Record Attendance |
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Last week, the Air Charter Safety Foundation (ACSF) hosted its 2011 Air Charter Safety Symposium at the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) Training Center in Ashburn, Virginia. The symposium provided two days of learning and discussion on topics such as how to develop a positive safety culture and a successful emergency response plan.
“Several keynote speakers from the Part 135 and 91K industry shared their views on emergency planning, preparation and safety culture,” said ACSF President Bryan Burns. “In addition, the FAA and the NTSB provided valuable insight on past incidents and accidents and recommended best practices to prevent them from happening again. The symposium drew a remarkably large number of attendees, and they were rewarded for their time with very informative presentations. The best part was the interaction between attendees and presenters. It was an extremely successful event.”
The theme for this year’s Safety Symposium was “Your Business Plan for Safety,” which drew over 100 representatives from the on-demand/charter, and shared aircraft ownership industries as well as various aviation industry experts.
“The Air Charter Safety Symposium that concluded March 16th was the best ever,” said ACSF Chairman James C. Christiansen. “Attendees benefited from senior FAA officials, industry experts and NTSB Board presentations that included NTSB Member Dr. Earl Weener and NTSB Chair Deborah Hersman. We’re very pleased that the ACSF continues to gain momentum and the validity of the foundation’s mission – to raise the level of safety within air charter and shared ownership operations – continues to be confirmed through operator and industry participation in ACSF activities.”
Presentation highlights from the symposium included:
- Keynote Speaker John M. Allen, director of Flight Standard Service for the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) discussed some trends in Aviation Safety and Challenges for 2011 and beyond. He noted that with demand for resources and an uncertain budget, the FAA’s ability to meet the challenges of designing, manufacturing, regulating and operating new aircraft will be affected, and the FAA will be looking to safety management systems to help tailor priorities and focus.
- A Safety Management System (SMS) update from Dr. Don Arendt, SMS program manager for the FAA, who noted the need for top management to stimulate a healthy safety environment, build trust and gain knowledge through a company-wide SMS program. Dr. Arendt discussed the FAA SMS Pilot Project, which currently has 60 Part 135, 43 Part 121, 4 Part 141, and 10 Part 145 participants.
- The Honorable Earl Weener, board member, NTSB, provided an overview of safety issues affecting business aviation with a focus on airframe icing and runway excursions. He noted that although there are efforts to raise awareness of these issues, there are still recurring issues in aviation accidents.
- Presentations on Emergency Preparedness and Response were given by Don Rickerhauser, manager of safety and security with Bombardier FlexJet, and Bob Schmidt, director of operations for Million Air Dallas. Both presentations highlighted the importance of being prepared for an emergency through development of an emergency response plan and the need to put that plan in practice at least annually. Preparation through planning, training, exercises and appropriate service level agreements can significantly assist an operator in properly managing an accident and providing care for those people affected.
The ACSF’s leadership acknowledged key contributors that have supported the on-going efforts of the foundation in promoting the safety of on-demand charter and fractional ownership operations throughout the industry. Among those recognized for their dedication were CAE, NetJets, Signature Flight Support, FlightOptions, JetSolutions and many others.
“We were extremely gratified by the record level of financial support the ACSF received this year from leading companies and individuals,” stated Christiansen. “We also added three new members during the symposium. Any organization that supplies charter or fractional lift, and those organizations that use this lift, should strongly consider joining their peers by becoming members of the ACSF. The benefits to their organization, and to the industry in general, far outweigh the cost of membership.”
Presentations from the symposium will be made available to the public on the ACSF’s Web site at www.acsf.aero/symposium. | |
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| Coyne Praises New Hampshire Proclamation |
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| Last week, NATA joined the Alliance for Aviation Across America event in Concord, New Hampshire, where Governor John Lynch announced a statewide proclamation recognizing March as General Aviation Month.
The proclamation highlights the economic value of general aviation by stating that the industry supports 8,000 jobs and contributes $639 million to the state. New Hampshire is home to 11 charter flight companies, 23 repair stations, 17 fixed-base operators and numerous flight schools.
“NATA applauds Governor Lynch for recognizing the value of aviation business in the state of New Hampshire,” said NATA President James K. Coyne.
“We commend Governor Lynch for his proclamation highlighting the importance of general aviation to New Hampshire," stated Alliance for Aviation Across America Executive Director Selena Shilad. "General aviation is a critical lifeline for businesses, law enforcement, charities, medical organizations, and farmers across Hew Hampshire and the entire United States." To view the Alliance for Aviation Across America’s press release, please click here. | |
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| U.S. and E.U. Conclude Cooperative Agreement On Civil Aviation Safety |
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| Following an exchange of diplomatic notes last week between the United States and the European Union, the completion of the final step required for implementation of the landmark U.S. - EU Aviation Safety Agreement will take effect May 1, 2011. Under the agreement, U.S. and EU air-safety agencies will recognize the other's inspections and analysis to allow the U.S. FAA and the European Aviation Safety Agency to capitalize on each other's resources and avoid duplicating efforts, officials say.
The coordination also will help to harmonize air-safety rules in the world's two biggest aviation markets, reducing costs and confusion for airlines, pilots and manufacturers. The U.S. has bilateral safety agreements with several European countries. The new deal will replace those with a single accord with the 27 members of the EU.
The aviation industry is urging the FAA and the European Commission to move promptly on the vital next steps to establish mechanisms and procedures called for in the agreement.
To read the press release from the E.U., please click here. | |
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| Register Today For NATA’s Annual Day On The Hill On May 5 |
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One of the great things that NATA does every year is provide an opportunity for association members to visit with their Members of Congress. More commonly known as the “Day on the Hill,” this event enables NATA company representatives to highlight issues important to the general aviation community, including the importance of their business to that congressional district and/or state. NATA has been coordinating this event for nearly 15 years and has been incredibly successful, with an average of 100 participants and meetings with more than 150 Members of Congress annually. NATA’s annual Day on the Hill really provides that “grassroots army” push on the key issues affecting the aviation business community.
This year’s Day on the Hill will take place on Thursday morning, May 5. We are thrilled to announce that Senator Mike Johanns (R-NE), co-chair of the Senate General Aviation Caucus, will address our attendees the evening before the Day on the Hill meetings at NATA’s Industry Excellence Awards Dinner on May 4. You can learn more about this year’s Day on the Hill and NATA Industry Excellence Awards Dinner by clicking here. | |
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| Last Chance To Register For Charter Tax Webinar |
| Don’t Miss the March 23 FET Overview |
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FET Overview for Air Charter Operators Webinar will now be held on Wednesday, March 23, at noon EDT.
This one-hour E-Learn Webinar is designed for employees responsible for managing federal excise tax (FET) assessment, collection or remission for air charter operations.
Some of the questions to be answered during this one-hour webinar:
- Have you ever been confused about why some flights to Canada are taxed as domestic and others are international?
- Are you unsure of whether to apply FET to landing fees or overnight expenses for the crew?
- Do you know if hospitals, universities and other non-profits are exempt from FET?
- Are you sure you are claiming the proper fuel credit?
- Do you know why sometimes you should receive a 20-cent-per-gallon credit and other times it is 17.5 cents?
If you're looking for the answers to these questions and more, you need to attend NATA's newest Webinar "FET Overview for Air Charter Operators" on Wednesday, March 23, from noon to 1:00 p.m. EDT.
Among the Topics to be Covered:
- Commercial and Noncommercial FET rates
- Items subject to and exempt from FET
- Operations exempt from FET
- Fuel credits
- IRS Forms and Publications
Speaker
Jacqueline Rosser, director of regulatory affairs, NATA
Registration
Click here to register now. Registration for this webinar is $49.95 per location and includes a copy of presentation materials and a link to a recording of the webinar. | |
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| OSHA 10-Hour And LSST Seminars To Be Held May In Windsor Locks |
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NATA’s Line Service Supervisor Training Seminar will once again take place at the New England Air Museum in Windsor Locks, Connecticut, on May 24-25. This seminar, specifically designed for Line Service Supervisors, provides the training you need to become more proficient in strategic planning, supervising staff, motivating others, communicating and coaching a team. This high-impact, high-energy seminar includes guided group debates, role playing, interactive games and various case studies designed to take you to a new level of leadership. You will also take part in self-assessments to explore your strengths and weaknesses and their effect on your management style.
Don’t miss the chance to attend the LSST in Windsor Locks. Click here for more details and a link to register.
Safety & Health Training For Ground Operations Seminar – Only One In 2011
NATA’s Safety & Health Training for Ground Operations (OSHA 10 HR) will be offered once this year on May 26-27 immediately following NATA’s popular LSST Seminar in Windsor Locks, Connecticut. NATA’s OSHA 10-Hour Course has been specifically designed for all employees with safety and health responsibilities. Attendees will be introduced to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and general industry policies, procedures and standards, as well as gain a working knowledge of OSHA regulations. Our instructor will provide real-world OSHA guidance and aviation case studies. Attendees will be provided audit and checklist templates as well as the knowledge to implement and improve their facility compliance programs. Participants will receive a course completion certificate from NATA as well as a course completion card from OSHA.
Seminar Topics:
- Gain in-depth knowledge of safety and health concepts
- Obtain a working knowledge of OSHA regulations as well as general industry policies
- Increase your awareness of the link that exists between risk and safety
- Review and take back a practical checklist that will increase your ability to perform your day-to-day duties safely
- Learn correct safety procedures and standards
Click here for more details and a link to register for NATA’s OSHA 10-Hour Course.
Visit www.nata.aero/event.aspx for information on future NATA events. | |
| Policy Playbook Blog – Making The Right Call |
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In this week’s Policy Playbook Blog, NATA Director of Regulatory Affairs Michael France takes a look at the FAA’s policy on residential through-the-fence agreements and the protection for the future development of public-use airports this policy provides.
Click here to view the NATA Policy Playbook Blog. | |
| Fact Of The Week – Environmental |
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| One of the greatest potential threats to the environment surrounding airports arises from the possibility of fuel spills. FBOs and other facilities providing fuel service are currently subject to various regulations intended to mitigate the possible environmental damage resulting from fuel spills.
This month’s Environmental Compliance Minute details some basic measures a fuel service facility can implement to ensure they are prepared to deal with fuel spills. The Environmental Compliance Minute will be delivered, via email, to NATA members later this week. | |
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NATA Sustaining Members:
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