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November 17, 2014 – Volume 13 Issue 46
 NATA and its Members Raise More than $30,000 for Our Nation’s Veterans
NATA is pleased to announce the donation of more than $30,000 to veterans’ organizations raised through the 2014 NATA Flag Pins for Veterans Project. Earlier this year, NATA and its members developed the project to expand our support of our Nation’s veterans. Donations from this year’s project will support the Veterans Airlift Command and the Medal of Honor Foundation.
“Since 2011 NATA has supported the Veterans Airlift Command through a raffle and auction at our annual Air Charter Summit. We experienced great success through generous donations by our members and staff, collecting nearly $75,000," said NATA President and CEO Thomas L. Hendricks. "I am very pleased to report that with the addition of the NATA Flag Pins for Veterans Project, we exceeded $100,000 in total support of our veterans and expanded our efforts to include the Medal of Honor Foundation.”
“Nineteen NATA member organizations of all sizes joined NATA staff members to participate in this year’s NATA Flag Pins for Veterans Project. I am extremely proud of all who participated. We could not have succeeded without their tremendous efforts and generosity,” added Hendricks. Read more.
NATA Asks Members to Help Educate Congress About the Tax Status of Management Services
NATA is seeking the assistance of its member companies that offer aircraft management services. The association is educating Congress about the tax status of management services in order to secure cosponsors for bipartisan House and Senate legislation that clarifies the issue. NATA members are not seeking to avoid taxation, rather that aviation taxes are applied appropriately. The legislation makes clear that the amounts paid by aircraft owners for management services should not be taxed at the commercial federal excise tax rate of 7.5%. Read more.
NATA Looks At Lame Duck Session Of Congress
NATA Senior Vice President for Government and External Affairs Bill Deere assess what may be the result of the lame duck session of Congress, “Aviation and the Lame Duck Session.”
House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Kicks Off FAA Reauthorization
NATA Supports Senate Passage of TSA Legislation
NATA joined other industry associations in a letter to the Senate leadership seeking floor action on S. 1893, the Transportation Security Acquisition Reform Act introduced by Senator Kelly Ayotte (R-NH) and S. 1804, the Aviation Security Stakeholder Participation Act introduced by Senator Jon Tester (D-MT). Companion versions (H.R. 2719 and H.R. 1204) of these two bills passed the House of Representatives with overwhelming bipartisan support on December 3, 2013, and the Senate versions were reported unanimously from the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation on July 24, 2014. Read more.
Register Now for ACSF's 2015 Safety Symposium
Registration is now open for next year’s Air Charter Safety Foundation Safety Symposium. The symposium is scheduled for March 10-11, 2015. This year’s theme is “How do you know you’re safe?” Visit http://www.acsf.aero/ for Air Charter Safety Foundation News.
Spring Committee Meetings Take Place Preceding NBAA’s Schedulers & Dispatchers Conference – Book Your Hotel Now
NATA’s Spring Committee Meetings are scheduled for February 2, 2015. The meetings will precede the NBAA Schedulers & Dispatchers Conference in San Jose, CA. Room registrations must be made through NBAA’s room block.
FAA Approves Departure Flexibility for Medical Helicopters
Last year, the FAA published a final rule enacting numerous new regulations for helicopter air ambulance flights. Those rules are set to enter into force in April 2015. This month, the FAA finalized a rule giving pilots of helicopter air ambulances authority to depart from locations where weather reporting is not available. Pilots must assess the current weather and determine certain minimums exist. If so, a departure can occur enabling flights to enter the airspace under Instrument Flight Rules (IFR). The rule is expected to improve safety by increasing the number of flights under positive radar control. This rule, along with the other new air ambulance rules take effect on April 22, 2015. Click here to review the IFR departure final rule.
Texas Governor Declares November ‘Aviation Appreciation Month’
For the third year in a row, Texas Governor Rick Perry signed a proclamation declaring November 2014 as ‘Aviation Appreciation Month.’ Governor Perry, an advocate for aviation in his state, noted the importance of aviation to the people, businesses, economy, and government agencies that rely on air transportation on a daily basis. Annually, aviation contributes $59.5 billion to the Texas economy and employs 51,000 certified pilots.
Click here for more information on aviation in Texas and here for more information on general aviation across the United States.
Steven Loranger Joins FlightSafety International as a Senior Advisor to CEO
FlightSafety International announced that Steven Loranger has joined the company as a Senior Advisor to the CEO. “We are very pleased and proud that Steve Loranger has joined FlightSafety,” said Bruce Whitman, President & CEO. “His proven leadership abilities, in-depth knowledge of the aerospace industry, and experience as a long-time customer, will benefit FlightSafety and those we serve.” Read more.
Safran, Duncan Aviation Join Forces on ADS-B Out
Safran Engineering Services has announced that it is developing with Duncan Aviation, an Approved Model List Supplemental Type Certificate (AML-STC), for Automatic Dependent Surveillance – Broadcast “Out” (ADS-B Out), utilizing the Rockwell Collins TDR-94D Transponder. Read further.
Bosco Named UAA Interim Executive Director
Cassandra Bosco has been named interim executive director of the University Aviation Association (UAA). She takes up the responsibilities of retiring Executive Director Carolyn Williamson. Click here for more.
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