NATA News

NATA President and CEO Tom Hendricks provides an update on his latest activities via his blog:

Highlights and the Road Forward

What the General Aviation Industry Means to the Economy

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One of the key components of general aviation security is awareness. The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has released a simple security awareness bulletin that provides you and your employees a reminder about the positive role we all can play in keeping general aviation secure. The bulletin also provides important contact information in the event you or your employees see something that could be a security issue. NATA encourages you to download the bulletin and discuss with your employees the important role they play in keeping our industry secure.

Click here to download the TSA Security Bulletin.

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The FAA has released interim policy guidance on compatible land use within a designated Runway Protection Zone (RPZ). The agency’s memorandum states, “The FAA Office of Airports (ARP) has identified the need to clarify our policy on land uses within the Runway Protection Zone (RPZ). This memorandum presents interim policy guidance on compatible land uses within Runway Protection Zones (RPZ) to address recurrent questions about what constitutes a compatible land use and how to evaluate proposed land uses that would reside in an RPZ.”

This policy will serve as guidance to regional and district airport offices until the FAA Office of Airports has completed a more comprehensive policy. This policy requires regional and district airport offices to coordinate with ARP-400 (National Airport Planning and Environmental Division) when determining if any of the following land uses within a specific RPZ are compatible:

• Buildings and structures
• Recreational land use
• Transportation facilities
• Fuel storage facilities
• Hazardous material storage
• Wastewater treatment facilities
• Above-ground utility infrastructure, including any type of solar panel installations

Click here to review the Interim Policy Guidance on Land Use Compatibility in an RPZ.

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The FAA has published SAFO 12005 to clarify the appropriate approach category to be used for instrument approaches. According to the Safety Alert for Operators (SAFO), an aircraft’s approach category must be determined by the Vref or 1.3Vso speed at the maximum certificated landing weight. The certificated approach category is independent of day-to-day operations and therefore remains constant. Only in conditions where a faster that normal approach speed is required is an aircraft allowed to use a higher approach category.

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Beginning on October 1, all applications for an FAA Medical Certificate or Student Pilot Certificate must be submitted electronically via the FAA’s MedXpress prior to visiting an Aviation Medical Examiner. To complete Form 8500-8 electronically, applicants must first create a user account with MedXpress. More information on creating an account and using the website can be found in the user guide by clicking here.

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Workers’ Compensation Insurance Program Fact Of The Week

NATA's new Workers' Compensation Insurance Program is specifically designed for typical NATA members such as an FBO, air charter operator, flight training provider, aircraft management services provider, aircraft maintenance and repair providers, and airline services companies. The new program starts January 1, 2013. Click here for more program details.

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NATA’s State Advocacy Network (SAN) is an effort started in January 2012 that aims to increase awareness of state and local issues among members of the general industry and highlights ongoing state legislation, events and opportunities for NATA members to raise issues or pose questions or concerns for association and industry assistance.

As you know, aviation businesses are confronted with a host of issues, including airport and land use, security, taxation, aircraft noise and emissions, and other priorities that arise. Volunteers of the network will play an important role in the association’s efforts to stimulate and encourage greater involvement among its members, with the goal of building a strong network to defeat unwarranted policies. The network’s website is used as a platform to gain awareness and support for issues facing members and their businesses and provides news and updates on ongoing state legislation.

If your business or state is experiencing local industry problems that require the association’s support, to view a list of SAN volunteers, or if you hear of problems that may arise and need more information, contact the State Advocacy Network via email at SAN@nata.aero or by calling (800) 808-6282.

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West Virginia Governor Earl Ray Tomblin has recently signed a proclamation declaring October 2012 as “General Aviation Appreciation Month” across the state. Highlighting the industry’s “critical role in the lives of our citizens, business communities and the state of West Virginia,” the governor acknowledged general aviation’s contributions to the state’s people, movement of products and services and communication between rural communities across the vast state. In 2012, then Governor Joe Manchin III also recognized general aviation’s vitality to West Virginians and their businesses.

“A great many businesses and communities depend on GA aircraft and small aircraft of all types for access to medical treatment, mobility, economic opportunity, disaster relief and a wide range of critical resources,” the proclamation states. West Virginia is home to 35 airports that service 1,916 pilots and 1,371 general aviation aircraft, according to the Alliance for Aviation Across America. The association also noted that between 2000 and 2005, aerospace employment increased by nearly 600 jobs, making it one of the fastest growing sectors of West Virginia’s economy. Annually, general aviation contributes $616 million to the state’s economy.

“Governor Tomblin recognizes general aviation’s central importance to farming and agriculture, just one of West Virginia’s many important contributions to the nation,” noted NATA President and CEO Tom Hendricks. “General aviation and the businesses it serves directly contribute to the state’s economic prosperity and competitiveness, now and in the future.”

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“NATA is thrilled to assist our members with implementing these industry-leading auditing standards for ground operations. This cutting-edge program is already providing lasting benefits for our members and their customers. Helping FBOs adopt this “gold standard” program is a huge win for the industry and helps communicate our proactive message to the public and our regulators.” – NATA President and CEO Tom Hendricks

NATA's Safety 1st Ground Audit Standard will allow for two levels of certification: a self-certification level and a third-party audit level. All candidates must submit an application to become an auditor and, if qualifications are met, they then need to be trained on the Ground Audit Standard by NATA to be listed as an accredited auditor. FBOs seeking self-certification may submit an employee’s application in order to be considered for the self-certification audit process.

To apply to become an auditor and gain admittance into this training workshop, click here. For more information about the ground audit program, please click here.

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Join NATA and four well-known industry experts as they discuss the ins and outs of aviation fuel handling and quality control (QC) challenges. Following NATA’s popular fuel webinar series from last summer, the upcoming webinars highlight the latest developments on QC and filtration and are available at a package price of only $249.95 for NATA members.

Aviation Fuel Quality Control from Receipt to Issue - Leading industry expert, Jim Gammon, president of Gammon Technical Products, will provide a review of what you need to know about aviation fuel handling and quality control. The procedures and tips you get from this webinar will help you ensure that you provided the highest quality fuel that is “Clean and Dry” to your customers every single time.
Wednesday, October 17th - 2p.m. EDT

Aviation Quality Control – Record Keeping - An effective record keeping system not only protects you and your company, it also serves as a tool that can assist you in spotting and addressing trends that could end with equipment failure or contaminated fuel. Reed Fuller, equipment director and quality control officer for Ascent Aviation, will conduct a review of the technical material critical for every line service technician.
Wednesday, October 24th – 2p.m. EDT

Spec. 103 – An Overview - During this webinar, you will hear from an Airlines for America representative who is involved with the development of revisions to Spec. 103, Standard for Jet Fuel Quality Control at Airports. Spec. 103 is the standard required by airlines in order to provide fuel service and is also used by most general aviation facilities for fuel quality control.
Wednesday, November 7th – 2p.m. EST

Aviation Fuel Filter Monitors - EI-1583, 6th Edition - Fuel filters and water separators are the central component of most on-airport aviation fuel quality control systems. How well do you and your staff know your fuel filters? In this webinar, your staff will have the opportunity to hear from Rick McKenna, director of marketing and inside sales for Velcon Filters LLC, one of the leading aviation fuel filter manufacturers on the specifics of handling and using fuel filters.
Wednesday, November 14th – 2p.m. EST

What do you get for the package price of $249.95? One price will get you a copy of NATA’s Refueling and Quality Control Procedures for Airport Service and Support Operations, plus all four webinars (a $400 value). Your purchase price includes access to full recordings of each webinar that your staff can use over and again. This series package is also available to non-member companies for $349.95.

Click here to register for the NATA Fuel Handling & Quality Control Webinar Series.

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An election year is upon us, which means there is no time like the present to inform congressional candidates of the vital role of aviation businesses to our nation’s economy. User fees on general aviation are an ongoing issue, this time in the form of a $100-per-flight fee that will likely be included in the President’s fiscal year 2013 budget proposal.

NATA supports Members of Congress who have maintained a leadership role on issues important to NATA members by contributing to their congressional campaign. Through NATA’s Political Action Committee (NATAPAC), we are able to contribute to the congressional campaigns of Members of Congress who support aviation businesses, regardless of party affiliation. We must work harder than ever to ensure that Congress does not accept the President’s user fee proposal or target general aviation unfairly with negative policies.

Ultimately, we need your contributions to NATAPAC today! No contribution is too small; however, political action committee requirements prohibit more than $5,000 annually to a single PAC. In order to contribute to NATAPAC, all members must complete a brief solicitation authorization form that then allows NATAPAC to ask for contributions. This is a quick and easy process. To download and complete this form, please click here and return the form via fax to (703) 845-8176 to the attention of Rebecca Mulholland on the NATA staff.

To learn more about NATAPAC, please click here.

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Click here to view a listing of archived webinar recordings.