Eric R. Byer
Vice President, Government & Industry Affairs
800-808-6282
ebyer@nata.aero

BILL PROVIDING RELIEF TO CALIFORNIA FLIGHT TRAINING INDUSTRY BECOMES LAW

Alexandria, VA, September 21, 2011 — The National Air Transportation Association (NATA) is pleased to announce that California Governor Jerry Brown has signed Senate Bill 619 into law as Chapter 309. SB 619 was introduced by State Senator Jean Fuller, sponsored by NATA and supported by many in the industry. SB 619 provides relief to many of the flight training facilities that were facing burdensome regulation from the California Bureau of Private Postsecondary Education (BPPE). With the signing of SB 619, flight training providers and flight training programs that pose no financial risk to students are exempted from the BPPE’s regulations.

The fight for relief began in early 2010 after the California legislature included flight training in the BPPE’s regulatory authority with the passage of Assembly Bill 48. Flight training providers were never included in the development and debate over this bill and the result was regulation that threatened to harm flight training severely in the state.

“While we wish this long process could have been avoided in the first place through inclusion of flight training providers in the legislative process, today’s signing of SB 619 speaks volumes about the power of our industry when we all stand up and work together,” said NATA President and CEO James K. Coyne.

“Today’s signing of this bill marks the end of a long battle to ensure that California flight training remains a vibrant contributor to our state economy. I am proud to have worked alongside NATA and many others in the flight training industry in passing this legislation,” commented Senator Fuller, a pilot and author of the legislation.

Under the new law, flight training providers and programs that do not require upfront payment of fees in excess of $2500 and also do not require students to enter into contracts of indebtedness are exempted from regulation by the BPPE.

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NATA, the voice of aviation business, is the public policy group representing the interests of aviation businesses before Congress and the federal agencies.

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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.