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  View HTML Version of Newsletter    November 21, 2016 — Volume 15, Issue 47 
 
This Week's Top Stories 


Flytenow Attorneys Use Smoke and Mirrors to Attempt to Lower Flying Safety Standards

 

A Wall Street Journal opinion piece authored by Flytenow’s attorneys (November 16, 2016Ride-Sharing for Pilots is No Flight of Fancy”), suggests the Federal Aviation Administration is banning pilots from using the Internet to take advantage of the share economy. In NATA’s response also published by the Wall Street Journal, Marty Hiller stated, “This is part of a campaign to convince people it is now acceptable to allow the public to ride-share with private pilots with potentially little flight time or training for challenging weather conditions. As the U.S. Court of Appeals noted in one of several legal rebukes issued to the authors’ clients, “Pilots communicating to defined and limited groups remain free to invite passengers for common-purpose expense-sharing flights . . . so long as they share a common purpose and do not hold themselves out as offering services to the public.” The website was shut down in December of 2015 after the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia denied FlyteNow’s request to overturn the FAA’s ban on online flight-sharing websites. 

 

 


TAC Air Becomes First IS-BAH Registered FBO Chain

 

TAC Air, a Fixed Base Operator (FBO) with 14 locations across the country, is the first FBO chain to gain an International Standard for Business Aircraft Handling (IS-BAH) certificate of registration. IS-BAH was developed jointly by NATA and the International Business Aviation Council (IBAC) and represents the first truly international standard for ground handling of business and general aviation aircraft. Arising from the NATA Safety 1st Ground Audit Program, IS-BAH blends industry best practices with an ICAO compliant safety management core. "We'd rather be better than lucky," says Christian Sasfai, TAC Air VP and COO, an attitude exemplified by this achievement and TAC Air’s in-depth use of the NATA Safety 1st program. IS-BAH and Safety 1st are complementary tools that can assist any FBO or ground handler in reducing incidents and improving operational safety. Learn more about IS-BAH and Safety 1st at www.nata.aero/safety1st.



NTSB Releases 2017-2018 Most Wanted List

 
Following the appearance by National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) Chairman Chris Hart at NATA’s 2016 Aviation Business Roundtable, the NTSB released its 2017-2018 Most Wanted List (MWL) of Transportation Safety Improvements.  The Most Wanted List represents the Board’s advocacy priorities and is intended to “increase awareness of, and support for, the most critical changes needed to reduce transportation accidents and save lives.” Loss of Control remains on the list as a top safety priority for the Board. Among the safety issues identified in the 2017-2018 NTSB MWL:

 

- Increase Implementation of Collision Avoidance Technologies
- Prevent Loss of Control in Flight in General Aviation
- End Alcohol and Other Drug Impairment in Transportation
- Require Medical Fitness
- Reduce Fatigue-Related Accidents
- Eliminate Distractions


The Board also announced the Most Wanted List will be released every two years, allowing industry and government enough time and resources to address the safety improvements.
 


NATA Maintenance and Systems Technology Committee Supports the FAA’s New Draft Advisory Circular AC 145-5 Chg. 1 Repair Station Internal Evaluation Program

 
On November 17th, the NATA Maintenance and Systems Technology Committee submitted a letter fully supporting the FAA’s revised AC for Internal Evaluation Programs for Repair Stations. The AC provides information and guidance material that repair station certificate holders may use to design and implement an Internal Evaluation Program (IEP). While there are no regulatory requirements for an IEP, the Maintenance and Systems Technology Committee members that are 145 certificate holders do use IEPs and self-audit programs to sustain compliance with the regulations and their quality systems. The committee noted that the addition of FAA compliance findings in the AC listing the common trends that arise during FAA audits is helpful information and can be incorporated into the repair station internal evaluation program. The committee also requested the FAA ensure the contents of the AC and FAA Inspector policy in FAA Order 8900.1 are aligned to the extent possible. The effort will help continue the consistency and standardization effort that the FAA and NATA have supported over the past few years.
 

 
Association Highlights
 


Sign Up for the Next Advanced Line Service Workshop

 
Registration is now open for the first Advanced Line Service Workshop of 2017. The ALS workshop will be held on January 18 & 19 at Galaxy FBO in Houston, TX. The registration fee is only $225/person for this 2-day event and there’s limited seating – don’t hesitate! Click here to register or download the registration form.
 
 

 


2017 NATA Aviation Business Conference | Early Bird Registration Available

 

NATA's 2017 Aviation Business Conference takes place June 6-8, 2017 at the Hyatt Regency Washington on Capitol Hill. The conference kicks off with a reception Tuesday evening and concludes Thursday afternoon. Early bird registration is now open and runs through Friday,

April 7, 2017 — save $95! For more information, please visit www.nata.aero/abc

 
 
 
PartnerShip
 


Understanding the UPS and FedEx Rate Increases with PartnerShip

 

Every year FedEx and UPS evaluate their shipping rates and make adjustments that can affect your business. The UPS rate increases take effect on December 26, 2016 and FedEx’s take effect on January 2, 2017. Small package shipment rate increases are determined by shipment volume, size, weight, and modes. The important takeaway when thinking about your shipping expenses in 2017 is that the announced average increases paint an inaccurate picture of the true impact these new rates could have on your business. This tip is brought to you by PartnerShip, the company that manages the NATA Shipping Program. Visit www.partnership.com/NATA or www.partnership.com/rateincrease to learn more. 

 
 
Member Spotlight
 


Justin Castagna of Aeroplex/Aerolease Group Named in the 2016 Airport Business Top 40 Under 40

 
Justin Castagna began working in aviation at 17 years old when he was working on his private pilot certificate while working as a line service technician for Signature Flight Support. After several internships in airport operations, Castagna became an airport operations officer for the Ventura County Department of Airports. Shortly thereafter Castagna was named Operations and Project Manager for the Aeroplex/Aerolease Group. Castagna is the Project Manager on the company’s new $7.5 million development at Van Nuys Airport (VNY). Learn more
 
 
 

 


Cutter Aviation Appoints Michelle Hoover to HondaJet Regional Sales Manager Position

 
Cutter Aviation recently announced the hiring of Michelle Hoover to the HondaJet Regional Sales Management position for Southern California, Southern Nevada (Clark County) and Hawaii. Michelle previously served as Regional Sales Associate at Textron Aviation, where she was responsible for prospecting and growing new aircraft sales for the portfolio of jet and turboprop aircraft. Learn more
 
 

 


Ross Aviation Completes Major Acquisition of AirFlite

 
Ross Aviation completed its acquisition of AirFlite, the FBO based at Long Beach Airport/Daugherty Field. AirFlite was the top-scoring FBO in AIN’s Annual FBO Survey for the past three years. The facility at the Long Beach Airport entails a four-story terminal with pilots' lounge, conference rooms, VIP lounge, flight-planning room, passenger atrium lobby, crew rest area, business center, and 132,000 sq. ft. hangar. Learn more
 
 

 


Bohlke International Airways opens Part 145 Repair Station

 

Bohlke International Airways — a FBO and Part 135 operator based in St. Croix — received a certificate from the FAA, authorizing its new repair station, 6TDR745C. The addition of the 14 CFR Part 145 repair station makes Bohlke International Airways the first to offer maintenance in the Caribbean on Astra IAI-1125 series, Cessna 400 series and Citation 550 aircraft. Additional service offerings include Astra SPX, G100; King Air 200 series; and PT-6A hot sections. Learn more.

 
 
 
ACSF News
 


Register for the 2017 ACSF Safety Symposium

 

The 2017 ACSF Safety Symposium will take place March 7-8, 2017 at the NTSB Training Center in Ashburn, VA. Topics will include Reducing Risk, Emergency Response Plans, Leadership, Ground Handling and more. ACSF members can register for $685 (nonmembers $795). Registration includes admittance to the two-day event, all scheduled group meals, breaks, and social functions, and transportation to and from hotel to events. To learn more or to register, click here.

 
 

 

 


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