| Topics in this Volume
 2012 Meeting Schedule Announced |
The NATA Airline Services Council (ASC) meeting schedule for 2012 was recently announced. The council will conduct two in-person meetings in 2012 as well as two conference calls that will be determined shortly and confirmed with members. Both in-person meetings will be held in the Washington, D.C. area.
Details on these meetings:
Location:
DoubleTree Hotel, Crystal City
300 Army Navy Drive
Arlington, VA 22202
General Tel: (703) 416-4100
The guest room rate is $229++ per night for single occupancy. Please contact Diane Gleason at dgleason@nata.aero or (703) 575-2050, and she will secure your room reservation for each meeting.
The DoubleTree is conveniently located five minutes from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) and offers complimentary shuttle service to and from the airport.
Spring Dates:
Monday, May 14 – 6:00 p.m.-evening: Dinner (TBD)
Tuesday, May 15 – 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.: ACS Meeting
Fall Dates:
Monday, October 1 – 6:00 p.m.-evening: Dinner (TBD)
Tuesday, October 2 – 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.: ACS Meeting
Back to Top
| FAA Reauthorization Legislation Extended, Final Passage Imminent |
The U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate unanimously approved an extension of Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) programs, clearing the way for negotiators to complete work on a final long-term FAA reauthorization bill.
Last week, one of the major hurdles holding up the bill from final passage, a controversial labor provision, was agreed upon by Republicans and Democrats on both sides of the Capitol.
The short-term extension (H.R. 3800) that expires on February 17, 2012, is the 23rd FAA stopgap since the last long-term FAA law expired in 2007.
Back to Top
| Release Of President’s Fiscal Year 2013 Budget Delayed |
The White House announced this week that it will release its budget a week late, on February 13, 2012. When asked about the delay, an administration official stated, “As in previous years, the date was determined based on the need to finalize decisions and technical details of the document.”
Republicans wasted little time in attacking President Obama for the delay. Former Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Director and now U.S. Senator Rob Portman (R-OH) issued a press release criticizing the administration for the looming federal deficit and for not outlining a clear vision of fiscal policy. Federal law stipulates the budget is to be released on the first Monday in February, but release last year was also delayed by the OMB.
Back to Top
| Aviation Coalition Thanks Cabinet Secretaries For EU ETS Support |
NATA joined a coalition of aviation organizations in sending a letter to U.S. Department of State Secretary Hilary Clinton and U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood, thanking them for their letter of opposition to European Union (EU) officials regarding the European Trading Scheme. Along with commending the cabinet secretaries, the letter supports the administration’s next steps in blocking an international law from including U.S. air carriers.
The inclusion of airlines in the EU cap-and-trade program as of this year has sparked opposition from countries including the U.S., China and Russia, which said Europe should let the United Nations’ International Civil Aviation Organization decide on greenhouse gas limits for the industry.
Back to Top
NATA Compliance Services Renews Its Partnership With TSA For General And Commercial Aviation Security
Partnership Enters Its Second Decade With New Pact |
Late last month, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) approved a five-year extension of its partnership with NATA Compliance Services (NATACS) to provide security across a broad range of programs for the critical general aviation sector. The agreement authorizes NATACS to continue as a Trusted Fingerprint Facility to process biographical and biometric information for general aviation and commercial aviation populations worldwide.
NATACS has partnered with the TSA since 2002. Under the revised and extended agreement, its work for the agency can continue until December 2016. NATACS is a partially owned subsidiary of NATA.
Under the agreement, NATACS will provide all pre-enrollment, enrollment, fingerprint collection, and secure data transmission for TSA-conducted background checks on tens of thousands of aircrew members and flight students each year.
For more information, please visit www.natacs.aero.
Back to Top
| NATA’s Safety 1st Ground Audit |
NATA established the NATA Safety 1st Ground Audit Standard to promote industry best practices and Safety Management Systems development among ground handling providers in response to member requests for a safety standard and rating for FBOs. This audit standard is the first published audit for FBOs and other ground-handling service providers. NATA’s Safety & Security Committee, which includes representatives from large and small FBOs, on-demand charter operators, fractional program managers, insurance brokers, fuel companies, and more, was instrumental in drafting this important new audit standard.
As an NATA member, you have expressed concern that your company is subject to numerous audits by charter operators, fractional ownership program managers and many other consumers. The preparation and hosting of these audits drains both staff time and resources to accommodate the various audits, which range in complexity from completing and returning an electronic self-audit form to a multi-day on-site audit. The requirements of each auditing company vary greatly, making preparation for the audits a year-round necessity.
Find out more about NATA’s Safety 1st Ground Audit by clicking here.
Back to Top
| NATA Raises Funds For Combat Wounded |
NATA has partnered once again with the Veterans Airlift Command (VAC) to raise funds for their mission supporting our combat wounded. The VAC is a charitable organization that provides free air transportation to wounded warriors, veterans, and their families for medical and other compassionate purposes. NATA and VAC established a special fund last year, NATA Wings for Warriors, for NATA members and friends to contribute to the organization. This year, NATA's support of VAC has been expanded throughout all of the association's major 2012 events.
What can you do to help?
- Make a personal or corporate contribution to the NATA Wings for Warriors fund by clicking here.
- Share the VAC mission with fractional share owners and card program members. Ask them to donate unused flight hours to the VAC.
- Give a corporate gift of flight hours to the VAC.
Click here for the latest news on the VAC and to read stories from veterans and their families regarding the critical work of the VAC.
Back to Top
EPA’s SPCC Rule Article In ABJ
Learn More at NATA’s Environmental Compliance Seminar |
Most FBO or aviation facility managers have at least heard of the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Spill Prevention, Control and Countermeasure (SPCC) plan requirements. Some managers also know that the rules affecting SPCC plan development and implementation have undergone several changes over the last nine years and that the deadline for compliance was November 10, 2011.
Now that the November 2011 compliance deadline has passed, it would be reasonable to expect EPA inspections of aviation facilities to increase. Fines can be significant and inspectors can issue fines on the spot or can utilize higher fines as they progress up the EPA management ladder. EPA inspectors can also simply issue a Notice of Violation (NOV) and require the facility to correct deficiencies within a certain time period. Recent fines for SPCC rule violations have ranged from a few thousand dollars to more than $100,000.
For more information on SPCC compliance, click here to read the Q4 2011 Aviation Business Journal article by George Gamble and Michael France. You may also be interested in registering for the Environmental Compliance Seminar for Aviation Facilities to be held at NATA's Spring Training Week in Las Vegas. Visit www.nata.aero/springtraining for more details on this seminar.
Back to Top
| NATA Environmental Compliance Minute – Refueler Trucks |
The newest edition of the NATA Environmental Compliance Minute is now available.
A mobile refueler truck is one of an FBO’s most valuable pieces of equipment, and it often represents a significant expense. These trucks typically perform the bulk of the work of providing fuel on an FBO ramp. However, mobile refuelers also present the potential for environmental damage or liability, through fuel spills or leaking of fuel.
In this episode of the NATA Environmental Compliance Minute, presenter George Gamble of 2G Environmental discusses the important environmental issues to consider regarding mobile refuelers.
Click here to watch the NATA Environmental Compliance Minute.
Back to Top
| 2011 NATA Airline Services Council Brochure Now Available For Member Use |
The NATA Airline Services Council brochure provides information on the latest activities that the council is undertaking, including issues, meeting schedule and member listing.
Members interested in receiving professionally printed hard copies of this brochure may contact NATA Vice President of Government and Industry Affairs Eric Byer.
Back to Top
| New NATA ASC Logo Available For Member Use |
NATA has created a new NATA Airline Services Council logo that members can use on company stationery, publications and their Web site. The association recently provided members with two types of logos that members can use as appropriate. Members wishing to secure the new logo may do so by contacting Eric Byer.
Back to Top
|