August 4, 2010

What’s at Issue
AB 48, Chapter 310, Statutes of 2009 and the corresponding regulations issued by the California Bureau of Private Postsecondary Education (BPPE) threaten to harm California flight schools irreparably.  Assembly Bill 1140 (AB 1140) was recently offered by Assemblyman Roger Niello and would provide an 18-month delay in implementation of these rules for the flight training community.  NATA has learned that AB 1140 will now be considered by the Senate Business, Professions and Economic Development Committee this Monday, August 9th.  Ensuring passage of AB 1140 requires your support today!

Why It’s Important
Without the delay in implementation offered by AB 1140, the regulations issued by the BPPE will force flight schools wanting to remain in operation in the state to submit unnecessary fees and other burdensome requirements as detailed in NATA’s May 6, 2010 regulatory report.  The delay offered by AB 1140 will provide the time needed for the California Legislature to work with the flight training industry to understand more fully the issues with compliance and to develop a working long-term solution.

What to Do
NATA urges all of its California members and others concerned about the outcome of this issue to write a letter to the Chair of the Senate Committee and copy your Assemblyman and Senator and ask for support of AB 1140.  The links below provide a letter that can be edited and sent to your Assemblyman and Senator as well as a tool to help you determine who your representatives are and their mailing addresses.

Address information for your representatives is available by clicking here.

Sample letter to send to your Assemblyman and Senator.

Please fax your letter to all your representatives as soon as possible.  Also, NATA requests that you fax us a copy of your letters so we may maintain a file for upcoming hearings on AB 1140.

It is imperative that you contact your representatives this week!  The Senate Business, Professions and Economic Development Committee will be considering AB 1140 this Monday, August 9th.

NATA Position
As the sponsor of AB 1140, NATA fully supports this measure and believes that its passage and signing by Governor Schwarzenegger is the best means to ensure that California flight training facilities are not forced to close.  NATA stands ready to work closely with the Legislature during the delay period to find workable long-term solutions to these issues.

Status
ACT NOW, time is limited!

Click here for a pdf of this release.

Staff Contact:  Michael France
Director, Regulatory Affairs
mfrance@nata.aero

For general press inquiries, contact Shannon Chambers at 703-298-1347 or schambers@nata.aero. 

The National Air Transportation Association (NATA) has been the voice of aviation business for more than 80 years. Representing nearly 3,700 aviation businesses, NATA’s member companies provide a broad range of services to general aviation, the airlines and the military and NATA serves as the public policy group representing the interests of aviation businesses before Congress and the federal agencies.