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NATA News - Aviation in the Spotlight as Senate Considers Two Key Bills
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View HTML Version of Newsletter   July 23, 2018 — Volume 17, Issue 29 
  This Week's Top Stories 


NATA Welcomes Aviation Safety Veteran Chris Baum to Its Regulatory Team

NATA is pleased to announce that Chris Baum, industry veteran and former military aviator, has joined NATA’s regulatory team as a Senior Advisor, specializing in general aviation business security issues, effective July 1st.


“Chris brings over 40 years of industry experience, including nearly two decades interacting with Congress, the FAA, NTSB, Transport Canada, Transportation Safety Board of Canada, industry organizations and international governmental entities. His addition to our regulatory team will enhance the association’s expertise on aviation security challenges and opportunities,” stated NATA President Marty Hiller. Chris Baum joins John McGraw, NATA’s Director of Regulatory Affairs; Megan Eisenstein Senior Manager, Regulatory Affairs; and fellow Senior Advisors Jacqueline Rosser (Air Charter) and Carol Giles (Maintenance). “We are happy to welcome Chris, as his extensive aviation background will allow NATA to better represent and educate our member companies and the entire general aviation business community.”


Baum is currently the President of Charlie Bravo AeroSafety, LLC, following a distinguished aviation career, where he served in key executive roles and held several senior-level positions within the Air Line Pilots Association, International’s (ALPA) Engineering and Air Safety Department.


 


Aviation in the Spotlight as Senate Considers Two Key Bills

Soon, the United States Senate will consider two bills to authorize and appropriate funds for the FAA. This evening, floor discussions will begin on a four-bill “minibus” package, to include fiscal year 2019 transportation appropriations.


Appropriating $17.7 billion to the FAA in the upcoming fiscal year, the legislation (S. 3023) includes many provisions beneficial to aviation businesses and supports the continued modernization of our nation’s air transportation system.


Also, next week, consideration of the much-awaited FAA reauthorization bill (S. 1405), to reauthorize FAA programs through 2021, will begin. However, issues surrounding the need to incorporate a revenue title may stifle the recent Senate energy around the bill and make it difficult to pass a comprehensive bill before the September 30th deadline.


November elections, judicial nominations and other issues happening in Washington are controlling Senate floor time, and the window of opportunity may close to pass a bill, which would result in yet another short-term extension of FAA authorization.


Continue to follow NATA’s social media for up-to-date information about these important bills and what they mean to your business.



FAA’s Duncan and Domingo Take on New Agency Safety Management Roles

Effective as of July 22nd, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) named/appointed John Duncan Deputy Associate Administrator of Aviation Safety on a permanent basis. 


Duncan will report to AVS Associate Administrator Ali Bahrami and serve as the agency’s second highest safety official. Former Flight Standards Aircraft Maintenance Division executive Rick Domingo, will replace John Duncan as Executive Director of the FAA’s Flight Standards division.


“NATA welcomes these changes and the association is looking forward to working with Duncan and Domingo as they take on higher levels of responsibility in their new roles at the agency,” stated John McGraw, NATA Director of Regulatory Affairs.


“I have known and worked with Rick for 20 years. His strategic leadership ability combined with his background in industry, as an inspector and as an FAA executive, is just what Flight Standards and industry needs to take aviation safety to the next level,” added Carol Giles, NATA Senior Advisor and President of The Giles Group. 


Read more.

    
 


GPS Interference Concerns Cause NATA and Industry to Oppose Ligado Networks Proposed Cellular Network

Last week, NATA joined a coalition of aviation parties in a letter recommending that the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) deny a pending request by Ligado due to concerns over impacts to GPS, satellite communications (SATCOM), aviation and weather data interference. Ligado, previously known as LightSquared, is seeking to develop a national wireless broadband service using satellites. However, the concept has consistently posed serious interference concerns for other satellite services, such as GPS, SATCOM, and weather and environmental data. Wilkinson, Barker, Knauer LLP, who acts as counsel to Iridium, filed the letter to the Commission on behalf of the industry coalition.

 

The joint aviation parties told the FCC, “While we appreciate Ligado’s recent acknowledgement that its license modification request as originally filed is insufficient to protect certified aviation GPS receivers, the aviation community continues to have concerns about the impact to aviation safety from harmful interference to GPS despite Ligado’s recent application amendment filings.” To protect the safety and integrity of the airspace system, the signatories are in favor of further evaluation and testing before any system deployment by Ligado is granted.

 

 
  From the FAA
 
 

The FAA issued InFO 18006 in response to situations where Part 135 air carriers added airplanes to their Operations Specifications when those airplanes had been issued exemptions containing certain conditions that prohibited commercial use of the aircraft. Specifically, this InFO pertains to full or partial exemptions from § 25.813(e), which establishes emergency exit requirements for aircraft. The petitions were granted to allow the installation of executive interiors on an airplane. Many of these exemptions list specific conditions, including one requiring that the airplane not to be operated for hire or offered for common carriage. NATA reminds its members that if you are considering placing your aircraft on a commercial operating certificate, ensure that an aircraft conformity inspection is completed, and that current exemptions and other special conditions are reviewed — along with the rest of the maintenance records, as well as visually accounted for in an aircraft inspection.


Additionally, the FAA has published draft Advisory Circular, AC_135-CODO, that provides information concerning the placement of aircraft into service for Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR) Part 135 commuter and on demand operations. Comments are due July 27, 2018. Please submit comments to NATA’s Aircraft Maintenance and Systems Technology Committee liaison Carol Giles at carol@carolgiles.com. You can also submit comments to the FAA by email or mail, click here for further details.

 
 
  
 


FAA Releases InFO 18007: False Alerts on 406 Megahertz (MHz) Emergency Locator Transmitters (ELT)

 

Last week, the Federal Aviation Administration issued InFO 18007 to raise awareness to pilots and aircraft operators on the alarming number of ELT false alerts caused by “accidental activation during testing, mishandling, improper installation, or unfamiliarity with beacon operation.” According to the agency, in 2017 alone, ELTs caused 8,786 false alerts in the United States. Since false alerts can waste valuable resources and place Search and Rescue (SAR) personnel into potential dangerous situations, it is imperative that pilots and aircraft operators properly register their ELTs so they can be easily reached to confirm the status of an activation. The FAA recommends that pilots and aircraft operators follow the manufacturer’s instructions for ELT self-tests and annual tests and to register their ELTs at www.beaconregistration.noaa.gov while making sure all contact information is continuously up-to-date.

 
 
 
   Association Highlights
 


One Week Left to Get Free 2018 Compensation Survey Results

 

Please 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.


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.


The survey deadline is next Tuesday, July 31, 2018.
 
 
  Events
 

Prepare for Your Next Audit with NATA Compliance Services
 

Join NATA Compliance Services (NATACS) on Thursday, July 26th at 11:00 AM ET for a 30-minute session full of information on the latest FAA inspection items and discuss best practices on keeping your records organized. If it's been a while since your last audit, or your last audit didn't go as planned, the upcoming NATACS webinar will give insight on regulations and/or changes you may not be aware of. 

Register here.

 
 
 
  
 


Remaining 2018 NATA and Safety 1st Events Calendar

NATA has multiple events throughout this calendar year across the country. Review the remaining 2018 events calendar and don’t miss your opportunity to network within the industry, enhance your professional/technical skills or let your voice be heard.


Conferences and Symposiums
2018 Ground Handling Safety Symposium
September 11-12 | NTSB Training Center | Ashburn, VA


2018 Aviation Leadership Conference
November 6-7 | Kimpton Hotel Palomar | Washington, DC


Town Halls and Forums

Air Charter Forum
August 15 | Priester Aviation | Chicago, IL


Industry Town Halls
September 13 | Jet Aviation | Bedford, MA
September 25 | Epps Aviation | Atlanta, GA
November 15 | Banyan Air Services | Ft. Lauderdale, FL


Professional/Technical Development

NATA Safety 1st Advanced Line Service Regional Workshops
July 31- August 1 | Austin Executive Airport | Austin, TX
October 24-25 | Mid Island Air Service | Long Island, NY
November 6-7 | Million Air | Orlando, FL


NATA Safety 1st Certified Quality Control Inspector Workshop
September 18-19 | Wilson Air | Charlotte, NC


NATA Certified Customer Service Representative Program

November 13-14 | Banyan Air Services | Ft. Lauderdale, FL

 

  Member Spotlight
 


JetSuiteX Launches New Flights Daily from Reno, NV to Oakland, CA

 

With a growing number of companies forming in the Reno area, JetSuiteX saw a demand for
the public who need to make frequent or daily trips to the Bay Area. Flights start at $129 with business class legroom, free cocktails and snacks, and charging outlets next to the seats. Learn more at www.jetsuitex.com.

 
 
 
  
 


Meridian Opens New Hangar at Teterboro Airport

 

Last week, Meridian announced the opening of a new, state-of-the-art hangar at its New Jersey-based headquarters in Teterboro Airport. Construction has ended, and the facility now includes a 40,000 sq. ft. hangar and a two-story support building. The first floor includes tenant office space, as well as a customer reception area. The second floor is primarily reserved for charter support, including maintenance, quality assurance and inflight services. The hangar will serve as a maintenance facility, as well as provide parking accommodations for both managed and transient aircraft. Learn more at www.meridian.aero.

 
 
   ACSF
 


ACSF Announces New Chairman and Vice-Chairman

 

The Air Charter Safety Foundation (ACSF) is pleased to announce the selection of Mike Graham, Director, Flight Operations, Safety, Security & Standardization at Textron Aviation, as the new ACSF Chairman. Additionally, Joshua Hebert, Founder and CEO of Magellan Jets, was elected the new ACSF Vice-Chairman, beginning July 1, 2018. Graham succeeds Dennis Fox, Vice President of Safety for Executive Jet Management whose term expired June 30, 2018.

"Both Mike and Joshua have been invaluable members of the ACSF Executive Committee and Board of Governors," said ACSF President Bryan Burns. "With their knowledge and experience as leaders in the aviation industry, they will continue to support and promote the foundation's ongoing risk management programs." Learn more at www.acsf.aero.

 
 
 
 
 
 


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