 |
Top News
State Advocacy Network News
Events
 NATA Asks FAA To Withdraw Proposed Repair Station Rule |
As part of its formal comments submitted to the FAA last week, NATA asked that the agency withdraw its proposed rule changes affecting certificated repair stations. The association noted that the rulemaking:
- Does not achieve its stated purpose
- Cost far more to implement than expected
- Imposes significant cost without corresponding increases in safety
- Likely cannot be supported with existing FAA resources
- Cannot be rewritten to be acceptable without further public comment
NATA’s comments also provided the results of an industry survey the association performed to understand better the possible costs associated with this proposal:
“NATA conducted a survey of its repair station members that considered the cost of the recertification application, manual revisions and tool/equipment rentals for the compliance inspection (tools/equipment are now required as a result of the loss of the prior option to show a contract for tooling.) NATA’s survey determined that the total cost of this rulemaking is in excess of $846 million, which is greater than a 5,000% increase in cost over FAA estimates.”
NATA’s full comments are available for review by clicking here.
Back to Top
Last week, NATA, NBAA, and representatives from Part 135 operators and Part 142 training centers met with FAA officials to discuss concerns related to how contract check airmen and instructors employed by Part 142 training centers are qualified for use by Part 135 air carriers and how the industry can meet agency concerns without significant disruption to training operations.
At issue is an FAA requirement that all contract simulator instructors and check airmen must have completed initial training and qualification for at least one Part 135 operator at some point in their career in order to be eligible to provide services on a contract basis to Part 135 carriers. This standard has not been uniformly understood or enforced in the past.
The industry group discussed how individuals could satisfactorily document to the operators and their FAA inspectors that the required training had been received, how industry and the FAA could work together to facilitate training for those that have not previously worked for a Part 135 operator, and how industry and the FAA could partner going forward to resolve concerns over how the Part 135 relationship with Part 142 training centers can best be regulated and managed in today’s environment.
FAA officials indicated their willingness to provide additional information regarding acceptable methods to document prior experience and agreed to review concepts presented by industry on appropriate methods to qualify contract instructors and check airmen that lack the necessary prior experience.
NATA will continue to work with the FAA to resolve these concerns. Operators impacted by this issue are encouraged to notify NATA Director of Regulatory Affairs Jacqueline Rosser with information on their specific situation.
Back to Top
| NATA Regulatory Report On FAA NPRM For Part 135 Large Aircraft Maintenance |
NATA published a regulatory report that summarizes the FAA’s Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) on Air Carrier Maintenance Requirements. The proposed rule would require Part 135 operators to establish FAA-approved policies, procedures, methods and instructions for contract maintenance that would be included in the operator’s maintenance manual. The NPRM would only pertain to those that operate aircraft that are type certificated for 10 or more passenger seats. Certificate holders will also be required to provide the FAA with a list of names of all maintenance providers that are used. To download the NATA regulatory report, click here.
Back to Top
The November/December edition of the FAA’s digital magazine Safety Briefing is available for download. In this edition, titled “Small Plane, Big World,” the agency addresses some important international concerns for general aviation aircraft operators, including:
- Say Altitude…In Meters!?
- In the Know, with ICAO
- (Don’t Get) Lost in Translation
- Let’s go Island Hopping
Click here to read the “Small Plane, Big World” edition of Safety Briefing
Back to Top
| Workers' Compensation Insurance Program Fact Of The Week™ |
|
|
Want to obtain a competitive quote from NATA’s new Workers’ Compensation Insurance program? If so, have your insurance agent contact a representative from Beacon Aviation Insurance today. Beacon is the administrator of NATA’s new Workers’ Compensation Insurance program starting January 1, 2013. Find out how the key features of the program will benefit your company, including greater pricing discounts, expanded coverages, and increased dividend potential. Click here to find out more about this new program.
|
Back to Top
| Weekly Regulatory Update |
Relevant updates from the FAA, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Homeland Security are compiled each day from the Federal Register. The latest notices, rules and proposed rules can now be found in a single source by clicking here.
Back to Top
| Texas Governor Recognizes Value Of Aviation |
On October 25 Texas Governor Rick Perry proclaimed November 2012 as “Aviation Appreciation Month” across the Lone Star State. The proclamation notes that general aviation and related activities “generated $14.6 billion in direct, indirect and induced economic activity in the state of Texas, representing $580 in activity per capita.”
Governor Perry cited aviation’s importance to the well-being of the state’s citizens, transportation of cargo to businesses, and agricultural services. The Governor urged all Texans to learn more about the industry and to recognize the contributions of those who work in all sectors of aviation. According to the Alliance for Aviation Across America, there are 391 public-use airports that serve 31,690 general aviation aircraft and support 61,900 jobs.
“NATA welcomes Governor Perry’s proclamation and appreciates the Governor’s commitment to an industry that contributes so much to a state’s economy, society, and business and job development,” stated NATA President and CEO Tom Hendricks. “This is the third year in a row that Governor Perry has noted the importance of aviation to Texas, and we look forward to working with him to keep aviation a vital asset to Texas’ wealth and culture.”
Back to Top
The NATA Business Management Committee’s first meeting of 2013 will take place on January 22 in conjunction with the NBAA Schedulers & Dispatchers Conference. All NATA committee members are invited to attend this meeting as guests and attend the reception with the NATA Board of Directors that immediately follows the meeting. To register for the meeting and reception, please complete this form and fax to 703-845-8176 or email to cclark@nata.aero.
NATA Business Management Committee Meeting and Reception
Tuesday, January 22, 2013
Meeting: Noon – 5:00 p.m.
Reception: 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Housing arrangements may be made through the NBAA website under events for the NBAA Schedulers and Dispatchers Conference, January 22-25, 2013.
Back to Top
| Tackling Supervisor Challenges Webinar – Reserve December 13 |
The new supervisor wants to shine from the beginning. He puts in extra hours, works hard, demonstrates nothing but enthusiasm, but then the problems begin. It comes time to “sit on the other side of the table.” There are challenges that come with having to manage those employees who not too long ago were the supervisor’s peers. They used to hang out together, go to lunch, talk on the phone regularly, or grab a beer together after work. Is it any wonder that the employees doesn’t take the new supervisor seriously when he starts to assign work, much less tries to manage the employees’ performance?
This is one of many challenges new and experienced supervisors face as they try to create, maintain and improve their team. This webinar will address some of the challenges faced by supervisors and provide some tools for tackling and overcoming these challenges.
Do you have any of the challenges listed below as a supervisor? Then join us for our webinar on “Tackling Supervisor Challenges.”
Some challenges faced by supervisors:
- Creating cohesion and unity among varied skill levels and personalities
- Getting everyone on the shift to work as safely as they can and perform good customer service
- Not knowing how to motivate and/or discipline employees
- Keeping consistent, accurate and positive communication among all shifts
- Being a constant great example for employees
- Making a healthy and pleasant work environment
- Managing time
- Getting respect from those who have been there longer
- Lacking specific support from upper management
- Being more assertive
- Employee relationships/conflicts
- Leading all employees fairly and equally
- Trying to stay consistent on training
- Delegation
- Dealing with several personalities/departments
- Providing knowledge or lack thereof to the crew
- Dealing with upset customers
Speaker: Bob Hobbi, Founder, President and CEO, ServiceElements
When: Thursday, December 13, 1:00- 2:00 EST
Click here to order.
Back to Top
| Send Your Team To NATA’s Spring Training Week |
The 5th Annual Safety 1st Spring Training is taking place March 11-14, 2013, at the Las Vegas Convention Center. This popular training event is designed to teach FBO managers and supervisors safety techniques and tools to maximize productivity and minimize accidents. Attendees get a chance to meet the NATA staff and participate in contests and drawings for prizes and free safety training. This fun and educational event covers all of the bases of safety training.
Line Service Supervisor Training and the FBO Success Seminar start off the series on Monday and Tuesday. Next up is Safety 1st Trainer on Wednesday, and closing out the event is the Environmental Compliance Seminar on Thursday.
For more information on each seminar, or to register, please click here.
Back to Top
|
|
|
|
|
|
NATA E-Learn Webinars
Click here to view a listing of archived webinar recordings.
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.
National Air Transportation Association
4226 King Street
Alexandria, VA 22302
Phone: 800-808-6282
Fax: 703-845-8176
|
|