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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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Professional Line Service Training
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PLST Online provides the most up-to-date training available for line service specialists – 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Line service supervisors can conduct the new PLST Online training anytime and from anywhere there is access to the Web. continued |
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| Obama Nominates Deputy FBI Director To Head TSA |
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| On May 17, 2010, President Obama made his third attempt to fill the vacant position atop one of the government’s primary security agencies, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA). The President announced that he will nominate John S. Pistole, the deputy director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), to administrator of the TSA.
The appointment comes at a sensitive time for the TSA as procedures come under review following the near escape of the suspected Times Square attempted bomber. The man being hunted by the authorities was able to buy a ticket to Dubai with cash at the last minute and board a plane at John F. Kennedy International Airport even though his name had been flagged by the FBI. Authorities discovered that he was on the plane and removed him from it just minutes before it was supposed to take off.
“Mr. Pistole exemplifies the talent and knowledge acquired from more than two decades of service with the FBI. His background and experience make him an excellent choice to lead the TSA and to continue to enhance our nation’s aviation security,” NATA President James K. Coyne stated.
Pistole’s likely support for confirmation from both sides of the aisle was reflected in statements issued by lawmakers on Capitol Hill. U.S. Senator Susan Collins (R-ME), the ranking Republican on the Homeland Security Committee, quickly applauded the choice of a career law enforcement official to head the agency. “Since the attacks of September 11, 2001, he has been on the forefront of our nation’s fight against terrorism. While I will withhold my final judgment on this nomination until the committee’s full examination and vetting processes are completed, I am pleased that the president has chosen an individual with such strong law enforcement experience.”
A graduate of Anderson University and the Indiana University School of Law at Indianapolis, Pistole joined the FBI in 1983 and served in the Minneapolis and New York divisions before joining the organized crime section in Washington. He later worked in Indianapolis and Boston, and in 1999 helped lead the investigative effort following the crash of Egypt Air Flight 990 off the coast of Rhode Island. In addition, Pistole helped lead a working group in 2001 to address security issues raised by the arrest of Robert Hanssen, the FBI agent that worked as a spy for Russia. In 2002, he moved to the counterterrorism division where he held a series of jobs before taking on his current assignment in 2004.
The president’s first two choices to lead the TSA withdrew after questions about their past came to light. The first, Erroll G. Southers, also a former FBI agent and counterterrorism supervisor for the Los Angeles airport police, dropped his bid for the job in January after giving conflicting answers about conducting police background checks on a man his estranged wife was seeing. The second, Major General Robert A. Harding, a retired Army intelligence officer, withdrew after his nomination when questions were raised by Congress about his work as a defense contractor.
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| NATA Action Call And Survey On California's Regulations Of Flight Schools Still Available |
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| As reported in previous editions of NATA News, the State of California is in the process of including flight training providers in regulations issued by the Bureau of Private Post Secondary Education (BPPSE). These regulations were intended to protect students from predatory education providers but when applied to the flight training industry will create an unbearable economic situation.
The proposed regulations issued by the BPPSE are open for public comment until June 7. Two weeks ago, as part of its comment development process, NATA released a survey designed to gather detailed information about the possible effects of the regulations on California flight training providers. Response from California flight training providers has been good, but more data is needed. NATA is asking that the operators of all flight training facilities located in California who have not yet participated click here to complete the survey so the association can assemble a comprehensive data package to combat these harmful proposed regulations.
Additionally, NATA’s action call on this issue is still available for viewing at www.nata.aero. The action call provides NATA members detailed information on developing comments for submission to the California Bureau of Private Post Secondary Education regarding the bureau’s proposed regulations affecting flight schools. For more information on this issue, please contact NATA Director, Regulatory Affairs Michael France at mfrance@nata.aero.
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| NATA Publishes Report On Climate And Energy Legislation |
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| On May 12, 2010, U.S. Senators John Kerry (D-MA), chairman of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, and Joseph Lieberman (I-CT), chairman of the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, introduced the American Power Act. The bill includes a provision addressing international aviation emissions by requiring that the U.S. actively promote, within the International Civil Aviation Organization, the development of a global strategy for the regulation of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from civil aircraft. The bill mandates that the Environmental Protection Agency and the FAA establish a program to distribute allowances for the GHG emissions of the fuel used for an air carrier or foreign air carrier engaged in foreign air transportation.
The legislation attempts to reform our country's energy economy by reducing carbon dioxide emissions by 17 percent by 2020 and 80 percent by 2050. The bill imposes a national set of emission standards that would override two state-run cap-and-trade emissions programs already in existence. According to the bill’s sponsors, the targeted reductions and investments in alternative fuels and energy efficiencies could reduce U.S. dependence on foreign oil up to 40 percent by 2030. The transportation industry was given different terms for their carbon payment. The terms include purchasing allowances beginning in 2013 on a quarterly basis and at the market price allowing the industries to buy only the amount of permits they need instead of speculating their consumption over the course of a year. Allowances will be assessed each quarter for refined products including aviation fuel. The transportation sector is prohibited from trading carbon allowances.
To view NATA’s legislative report, please click here.
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| TFR Announced For Chicago Area |
| Restrictions begin May 27 |
| President Obama will be visiting the Chicago metro area over Memorial Day Weekend. As a result, temporary flight restrictions (TFR) will be in effect for the duration of the president’s visit. The FAA has released a flight advisory giving the preliminary details of the TFR.
The TFR will consist of a 30-NM outer ring and 10-NM inner ring centered on downtown Chicago. Special provisions for flights by operators with the Twelve-Five Standard Security Program and DCA Access Standard Security Program are included in the flight advisory.
Restrictions will begin on May 27 and extend through May 31. Anyone planning flight operations in or around Chicago during that time should review the flight advisory as well as the FAA NOTAM that will be issued shortly.
Click here to view the FAA flight advisory.
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| NATA Launches E-learn Webinars This Summer |
| Delivering Thought Leaders To Your Location |
| NATA’s new E-learn webinars are designed to enhance your education from the convenience of your site. E-learn webinars launch in June and include several sessions specially priced at $49.95 as well as free policy and event preview webinars – a continuation of the member benefit webinars that NATA has offered since fall 2009. The registration rate for the five scheduled webinars includes participation for one computer/connection in the live webinar, a pdf copy of the presentations and any additional materials. These 60-minute webinars complement NATA’s networking summit, conference and seminars by bringing experts on the hottest topics to you throughout the year.
Upcoming Webinars:
- “Strategies for Negotiating with Airport Authorities: Utilizing the Sponsor Assurance to Ensure Fair Treatment Among FBOs” – June 17, $49.95
- “Success with Social Media” – July 13, $49.95
- “New or Amended Minimum Standards: How to Ensure that Minimum Standards Help Not Hinder Your Business” – July 21, $49.95
- “Hiring & Screening In Today’s Market” – August 10, $49.95
- “Social Media Strategies: Tools & Tactics for Success” – August 17, $49.95
Plus, Free June Webinar:
“Health Care Reform Compliance” – June 23, FREE
Click here to see the webinar details and to register. Please send suggestions for future webinar topics to lpylant@nata.aero and forward this article to others in your office who will benefit from any of these educational opportunities. NATA also offers Professional Line Service Training Online, Flight Crew Briefings and SMS webcasts as a part of E-learn – NATA’s online learning programs.
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| Line Service Supervisor Training Seminar – Two Days Of Action Packed Learning And Fun |
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| The New England Air Museum in Windsor Locks, Connecticut, was the perfect venue on May 19-20 for more than 50 line service supervisors and managers to build career knowledge, confidence and success.
Class began with a comprehensive technical review given by Ascent Aviation’s Reed Fuller, legal compliance for supervisors by McBreen and Kopko’s Lenny Kirsch, leadership essentials by Dr. Todd Dewett and safety culture fundamentals by NATA’s Amy Koranda. Day two continued with an action-packed self assessment review by Amy Koranda; dynamite customer service tips by NATA’s Mike France; leadership and supervisor essentials, employee engagement and coaching leadership by ServiceElement’s Dr. Mario Martinez and a fire safety review by Mike France to complement NATA’s Safety 1st 14 CFR Part 139 Section 321 online fire safety training.
Attendees took advantage of team building activities after lunch that sparked ingenuity and camaraderie among the group. Participants flew test flights of balsa wood flyers and attempted to increase their number of "flight circuits." Flight circuits were determined by how long each plane remained airborne once the rubber band was wound and the plane set free to fly around a tethered pylon. Teams were challenged to modify their planes to fly additional circuits by modifying wings, tails and removing extraneous plane parts. Many successfully increased their flight circuits but other modifications resulted in a fast taxi or a nose high takeoff and subsequent stall! Participants also visited three hangars of vintage aircraft and successfully completed the museum’s scavenger hunt of ten questions encompassing the J-3 Cub, DC-3, Gee Bee, Blimp and B-29. Everyone had a great time, and it created a real team spirit that followed attendees into the classroom. You may view team challenge photos from NATA’s LSST Seminar in Windsor Locks on Facebook at http://bit.ly/9SZsvk.
NATA plans to announce a future LSST in the fall due to popular demand.
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| NATA Staff Address Illinois Aviation Conference |
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| Last Wednesday, NATA Director of Regulatory Affairs Michael France was the opening speaker at the Illinois Aviation Conference (IAC) in Schaumburg, Illinois. The conference is sponsored by the Illinois Aviation Trades Association (IATA), Illinois Public Airports Association and the Illinois Department of Transportation, and is the premier event for the composite networking of all segments of general aviation in the state. Other speakers at the conference included, Russell W. Meyer, Jr., chairman emeritus of Cessna Aircraft Company, Larrie Dahl, director global aviation services for John Deere Corporation and Barry Cooper, regional administrator Great Lakes FAA.
France’s presentation, titled “70 Years with NATA” in honor of NATA’s 70th anniversary, provided attendees the history of the association from its inception in the late 40s through NATA’s current legislative and regulatory agenda. France provided an overview of some of the association’s government affairs agenda, including FAA reauthorization, state taxes on interstate commerce, security policy and environmental issues. More information on the Illinois Aviation Conference is available here.
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| Byer And Rosser Discuss Upcoming NATA Air Charter Summit |
| Sign Up Two By May 28 For Half Off The 2nd Registration |
| Visit www.nata.aero/acs to view the Air Charter Summit Preview Webinar Recording. Last Friday, NATA Director of Regulatory Affairs Jacqueline Rosser and NATA Vice President of Government and Industry Affairs Eric Byer discussed the importance of this event to the Part 135 and 91k community and outlined several highlights on the agenda, including guest speaker Bruce Jenner – Olympian and aviation business owner. The NATA Air Charter Summit will take place June 7-9 at the Westfields Marriott in Chantilly, VA. Take advantage of our special offer: sign-up two by May 28 for half off the second registration. Register today at www.nata.aero/acs.
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| Congressional Recess Is Approaching - Host A Congressional Tour Of Your Facility |
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| The United States Congress is gearing up for their week-long Memorial Day recess, a time during which they spend an entire week in their congressional district. With advance notice, Members of Congress welcome the opportunity to visit constituents and local businesses in their community. NATA encourages its members to host a congressional tour to showcase your business, airport or facility to educate your Members of Congress and their staff about the importance of your aviation business to the community and to our nation’s economy.
For more information on hosting a congressional tour, please click here to view NATA’s Congressional Tour Webpage.
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| Byer’s Weekly Blog: |
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| This week, NATA Vice President of Government and Industry Affairs Eric R. Byer discusses how last week’s primary election results affect General Aviation.
To read Byer’s blog, please click here.
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| Weekly Web Survey |
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| Do you think the U.S. Senate will approve John Pistole as the next TSA administrator before the 4th of July?
Participate in survey.
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| Environmental Fact Of The Month |
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| One of the purposes of the Environmental Fact of the Month segment is to recognize the efforts of NATA member companies in the area of environmental responsibility and innovation.
Last week, NATA member company, Heritage Aviation celebrated the grand opening of its FBO facility in Burlington, VT. The creation of the new facility involved renovating and adding-on to an existing 1950s Army National Guard hangar. For this process, Heritage Aviation partnered with TruexCullins Architecture and Interior Design, a firm known for its green building practices, to develop an eco-friendly design without sacrificing the four-star service and amenities. The completed facility won the “Best of the Best Award in Commercial Building Design and Construction” at the 2010 Better Buildings by Design Conference from Efficiency Vermont and is currently slated to receive LEED Silver certification, an industry leading certification for eco-friendly building design and construction.
“We are tremendously proud of our new FBO, from the hangar that needs little to no electrical lighting during daytime shifts, to the LEKTRO tugs that provide exceptionally safe aircraft handling while still minimizing our carbon footprint,” said Heritage Aviation President, Chris Hill.”
For more information on Heritage Aviation and their new facility, visit www.flyheritage.com or click here to view Heritage’s press release.
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