|
|
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. |
|
|
Professional Line Service Training |
|
 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 |
Visit Website
Back to top |
|
139 Fire Safety Training Online |
|
This training not only meets and exceeds the requirements of 14 CFR 139.321 but also allows you to interact with other students in a group learning environment, receive the very latest NFPA news, watch live training presentations and much more. |
Visit Website
Back to top |
|
|
|
| Members Encouraged To Act Today On Badging Security Directive At Airports That Takes Effect In Two Weeks! |
|
| Recently, NATA issued an action call to its membership requesting they write Members of Congress concerning a new security directive (SD) issued by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA). In December 2008, the TSA issued an SD to the directors of airports serving commercial air carriers mandating that any individual requiring unescorted access to the airport operations area (AOA) of an airport regulated by the TSA under Part 1542 that is served by commercial air carriers must apply for and receive airport-issued identification media. This requirement expands the airport identification process to include individuals such as FBO employees, private aircraft owners, general aviation maintenance providers, flight instructors, flight school students, and other airport tenants needing unescorted access to the AOA.
NATA is concerned that the TSA has chosen to use an SD to promulgate regulations affecting a broad category of previously unregulated individuals. Due to the large number, and varied interests, of the general aviation pilots, service providers and aircraft owners who will be affected by this SD, NATA believes that it is imperative that the TSA approach the issue of securing the AOA of commercial airports by issuing a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking. By following the federal rulemaking process, the TSA will enable those affected by the proposed rule to voice their concerns and offer suggestions on the best methods for securing the AOA.
To view NATA's Action Call, please click here.
Please contact Mike France, mfrance@nata.aero, or Kristen Moore, kmoore@nata.aero, for more information. | |
|
| NATA's 13th Annual 'Day On The Hill' A Resounding Success |
|
| Last week, NATA held its 13th annual Day on the Hill event that included nearly 75 association members meeting with over 100 members of the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate and their staff.
"Our Day on the Hill event is an invaluable opportunity for our members to visit with their federal legislators to discuss aviation business issues of national and local importance," NATA President James K. Coyne explained. "The potential for a user fee proposal for the general aviation industry and release of a new Transportation Security Administration security directive on badging, the Large Aircraft Security Program and the new Clean Energy bill were just a few of the critical issues that our members addressed with their Members of Congress."
"Our members have once again demonstrated to key policy makers on Capitol Hill the important role they each play in our national air transportation system and the global economy," Coyne concluded.
To view NATA's 2009 Legislative Agenda, please click here.
For more information, please contact Kristen Moore. | |
|
| AOPA Expands General Aviation Serves America Campaign Outreach |
| NATA President James K. Coyne to Chair Advisory Council |
| The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) on Thursday announced the formation of a special advisory council to the General Aviation Serves America campaign. NATA President and CEO James K. Coyne has agreed to chair the council, helping to ensure that opinion leaders, policy- and lawmakers, and the public at large understand the full breadth and scope of general aviation.
"Jim Coyne and NATA represent vital segments of general aviation — the fixed base operators who provide essential airport services, charter air service providers, and flight schools," said AOPA President Craig L. Fuller "His experience as a pilot and a leader in the aviation industry, as well as his time on Capitol Hill, will provide valuable insight as we stand up to the significant challenges general aviation faces today."
AOPA launched the General Aviation Serves America campaign last month to combat the economic, regulatory, and legislative difficulties besetting general aviation. The campaign's premise is that widespread misconceptions about general aviation are at the root of all these challenges.
"I truly don't believe that regulators and legislators are ‘out to get' a $150 billion industry," said Fuller. "They and their constituents just don't understand what general aviation is and all that it contributes to the economic and social fabric of the nation. All of us in GA must stand together and define ourselves, showing the importance of the vital link we provide in the transportation system — because if we do not others whose priorities do not include general aviation will."
"NATA, along with our Board of Directors and members, is pleased to support this fantastic initiative," stated Coyne. "Through General Aviation Serves America, we will dispel the myths about our community and promote the significant, meaningful contributions we make to our nation's economy, supply chain, and, in some regions of the country, even the standard of living. As chairman of the GA Serves America Advisory Council, I pledge to help generate the momentum we need to tell the real story of general aviation to the public, policy makers and opinion leaders."
Through targeted broadcast, print, and online advertising, General Aviation Serves America is telling general aviation's story in a way that many in the non-flying public have never heard before. The campaign is funded by AOPA, its members, and those, like NATA and its members, who are interested in seeing this vital sector of the American economy survive and thrive.
Visit General Aviation Serves America at www.gaservesamerica.com. | |
|
| Transportation And Aviation Security Provision Highlighted In New Legislative Report |
|
| Last week, President Obama issued the funding details for each federal agency and program in a budget proposal for fiscal year 2010 (FY10), one week after Congress approved a $3.4 trillion budget. The budget contains $17 billion in funding cuts across approximately 120 federal programs, which accounts for a savings of less than 1% that Obama claims will help reduce the deficit during his term as President.
To view NATA's Legislative Report on President Obama's FY10 budget proposal, please click here. | |
|
| NATA Joins Trade Groups In Opposing Legislative Changes to ARFF Regulations |
|
| Last week, NATA joined with six other aviation associations in opposing the possibility of mandated changes to regulations governing airport rescue and fire fighting facilities. NATA President James K. Coyne signed a letter to Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation Chairman John D. Rockefeller (D-WV) and Ranking Member Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-TX) asking them to:
"...oppose any and all attempts to include language in the Senate version of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Reauthorization bill that would either legislate changes in the current aircraft rescue and fire fighting (ARFF) standards or legislate that an unfair rulemaking process be undertaken to make changes in the standards."
NATA believes that requiring all airports, regardless of size, to comply with NFPA ARFF standards would impose significant cost without demonstratable increases in airport safety. A survey completed last year by the Airports Council International – North America (ACI-NA) concluded that the average cost of compliance with applicable NFPA standards would be $6.5 million and would also increase the annual operating costs of ARFF facilities by an average of $2.5 million at surveyed airports.
The letter also notes that:
"Updates to the FAA ARFF standards have been evaluated by the Aviation Rulemaking Advisory Committee (ARAC), which allows all interested stakeholders, including airlines, pilot organizations, airports, the FAA and fire fighters to participate, and the final report is being sent to FAA. In addition, a study conducted under the well-respected Airport Cooperative Research Program (ACRP) on how proposed ARFF standards would impact airports will be released this summer. The FAA needs time to properly evaluate the information put forth by both the ARAC and the ACRP study to determine what, if any, changes are needed to the ARFF standards."
The House version of FAA Reauthorization (H.R. 915) has provisions that could require airports to comply with the controversial NFPA standards. Over the coming weeks, NATA will continue its efforts to ensure that Congress does not mandate changes to ARFF regulation that would impose huge costs on our industry.
To view the complete letter, please click here. | |
|
| FAA And Ninth Circuit Court Of Appeals Rule Against The City Of Santa Monica |
|
| In late 2007, the city of Santa Monica instituted a ban on category C and D aircraft at Santa Monica Municipal Airport because it believed those aircraft presented a threat to safety. In 2008, the FAA issued a cease-and-desist order to prevent the city's ban from going into effect until the agency had time to conduct an administrative review. After the city did not respond to the order, the FAA was granted a temporary restraining order by U.S. District Court Judge George Wu that prevented the ban from being implemented. The city appealed the decision and last week the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals upheld the order issued by Judge Wu.
Also late last week, the FAA issued its decision from the March 2009 hearing that resulted from the agency's administrative review of the Santa Monica category C and D aircraft ban. The FAA's hearing officer found that the ban violated the city's obligation to prevent unjust discrimination against airport users. This obligation is the result of the city receiving federal funds from the FAA's airport improvement program. Santa Monica may now appeal the hearing officer's decision to the FAA associate administrator for policy.
NATA applauds both the FAA and the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals for their decisions to uphold the protections of federal law designed to prevent localities from unreasonably restricting access to the National Airspace System. NATA will continue to monitor this situation and will provide its members with details when Santa Monica decides on its next course of action. | |
|
| NATA Committees Meet In Alexandria, VA |
|
| NATA Air Charter Committee
The Air Charter Committee welcomed its new Chairwoman, Terri Farish of Chantilly Air in Manassas, Virginia. A wide range of issues currently impacting the industry were discussed and representatives from both the Transportation Security Administration (TS) and FAA participated in the meeting.
Concerns regarding the TSA's Large Aircraft Security Program and new airport badging requirements were presented to the TSA representative. The FAA participated in discussions with members regarding on-going concern with the lack of consistent guidance. Also discussed was the potential for fatigue management programs to be approved for certain long-range operations. Several members were pleased to learn that the agency still considers these programs viable and encouraged the FAA to continue to work on policy to establish such programs.
In addition, the committee members talked about the emerging popularity of selling individual seats on on-demand air charter flights. Members agreed to work with NATA staff to provide additional information and references/resources to those who have concerns about these marketing systems or are considering engaging in the practice.
For additional information on this meeting, please contact Jacqueline Rosser on the NATA staff.
NATA Aircraft Maintenance & System Technology Committee
The NATA Aircraft Maintenance & System Technology Committee discussed a number of policy issues affecting the Part 145 repair station community including:
- Foreign repair station legislative language being considered by Congress as part of a long-term FAA reauthorization bill.
- Repair station security proposed rule being developed by the TSA
- AMT Awards nomination process
- Lack of FAA standardization on regulatory interpretations.
For additional information on this meeting, please contact Eric Byer on the NATA staff.
NATA Airports Committee
The NATA Airports Committee's purpose is to promote the interests of the association's members relative to airport occupancy, airport security, competition, and environmental issues. The committee's agenda included:
- A briefing from Randall S. Fiertz, director, Airport Compliance & Field Operations, FAA Airports Office and Kevin Willis, airports compliance specialist, on current activities within the FAA Airports office
- A briefing from John Sammon, assistant administrator, Transportation Sector Network Management, TSA on the current state of the Large Aircraft Security Program & Security Directive 08F
- A briefing from NATA staff on the association's recent meeting with the National Fire Protection Association's (NFPA) Technical Committee on Airport Facilities regarding NFPA 409.
The committee also received an update from NATA Vice President for Industry and Government Affairs, Eric R. Byer on various legislative and regulatory issues affecting airport operations. Committee members also expressed their concerns and suggestions on a variety of issues the industry is currently facing.
For additional information on this meeting, please contact Mike France on the NATA staff.
NATA Business Management Committee
Members of the Business Management Committee discussed business in today’s economy, current NATA membership programs and services, and new initiatives. The committee reviewed PLST Online, NATA Compliance Services, Educational Seminars, Workers Comp Program and NATA’s website and viewed presentations on the Safety 1st Aircraft Ground Service Guide (online) and the GA Serves America campaign.
Committee members reported that fuel sales are down from 15% to 50% depending on the location of the operation, with resort areas experiencing the largest decline in sales. Some think that business will improve and then flatten off by mid-2010, but the consensus seemed to be that the face of customers, how we will capture those customers and the means by which those customers will buy products and services will change. The networking aspect of holding the Air Charter Summit and FBO Leadership Conference back-to-back this year was deemed productive in gaining new ideas to overcome these business challenges.
For additional information on this meeting, please contact Alan Darrow on the NATA staff.
NATA Environmental Committee
The purpose NATA's Environmental Committee is to develop programs designed to assist member companies in minimizing their impact on the environment. The committee's agenda included:
- A briefing from Richard Altman, executive director of the Commercial Aviation Alternative Fuels Initiative (CAAFI) and John Heimlich, vice president and chief economist, Air Transport Association, on the current state of CAAFI and possibilities for NATA participation
- A briefing from NATA's Vice President for Industry and Government Affairs, Eric Byer on NATA's current environmental public relations campaign
- A briefing from NATA staff on the development of NATA's Clear Skies program, an initiative that would allow member companies to begin tracking their energy use and give interested companies alternatives for reducing or offsetting that use.
In addition, the committee discussed with NATA President James K. Coyne several new and exciting ways in which NATA could remain in the forefront of aviation environmental initiatives.
For additional information on this meeting, please contact Mike France on the NATA staff. NATA's Safety & Security Committee
More than twenty members of NATA's Safety & Security Committee met on May 13, 2009, to discuss safety, training and security initiatives.
Members reviewed and approved the first, of many to come, Operational Best Practices (OBP) available online for NATA members. Other committee discussions included NATA's Safety 1st Professional Line Service Training (PLST Online) participation of more than 200 companies with nearly 3,000 students to date, a preview of the Safety 1st aircraft ground service guide (online) initiative rolling out this summer, the TSA's security directive affecting access to thousands of additional airport employees on the Airport Operations Area and the Air Charter Safety Foundation's announcement of the Industry Audit Standard.
Click here for NATA's Operational Best Practices (OBP)
Click here for additional information on the Safety & Security Committee
Click here for additional information on the Air Charter Safety Foundation Industry Audit Standard
For additional information on this meeting, please contact Amy Koranda on the NATA staff. |
|
|
| Get The Updated GA Facts In NATA's Downloadable Reference Book |
|
| NATA has updated its popular fact book titled General Aviation in the United States. This publication was produced by the association for its members, the media, government, and the general public as a tool to help illustrate general aviation's importance to the U.S. transportation system and economy.
General Aviation in the United States provides an in-depth review of the NATA membership segments as well as other important components of the general aviation and airline services industry. This handy reference also contains information on a number of U.S. government agencies that affect the day-to-day operation of aviation businesses, and features several charts containing vital general aviation and business aviation statistics on fuel consumption, fractional ownership companies, active pilots, airports, and much more.
"NATA's fact book is one of the many helpful resources available to aid our members in educating community and government leaders about the value of our industry as a critical component to the American economy," NATA President James K. Coyne stated.
Copies of this new publication are free and can be downloaded via www.nata.aero.
Click here to download your free copy of General Aviation in the United States now!
Members who have questions regarding this publication may contact Linda Pylant or Shannon Chambers. | |
|
| Top Five Reasons To Attend June Air Charter Summit And FBO Leadership Conference |
|
| 1. Fresh ideas – Today's economic and political environment is changing the face of aviation business and customers. Both events feature sessions designed to provide new and improved methods for retaining and recruiting customers, countering negative public perception of business aviation, and transforming challenges into motivational opportunities. Register to attend both events for maximum opportunities to gather innovative ideas to advance your business.
2. Face-to-face interaction – Get answers. Top FAA and TSA officials will be on hand to provide updates on the latest Part 135 and general aviation airport initiatives and security developments. Don't miss this opportunity to have your concerns addressed.
3. Expert guidance – Find out how to protect your business from criminal liability in the event of an accident, learn the proper response to enforcement actions and discover more about how building fire code requirements will affect your business. The best defense is a great offense. Stay ahead of the business curve.
4. Industry perspectives – Hear from some of the world's top general aviation manufacturing executives their take on the current state and future prospects of general aviation manufacturing, sales and delivery. In the absence of a crystal ball, arming yourself with information is the best strategy for business success.
5. Create connections – Catch up with colleagues, meet new friends and have some fun in several social settings. Network during receptions and lunches, celebrate the achievements of several industry greats during NATA's Industry Excellence Awards ceremony, be inspired by Jim Larranaga - GMU's most successful basketball coach, and enjoy the comedic genius of The Capitol Steps during a dinner performance. There are many opportunities to create and foster important industry connections.
Visit www.nata.aero/acs or www.nata.aero/fbolc for session descriptions, housing information and registration details. The final date for discounted hotel reservations is Friday, May 22.
The 2009 Air Charter Summit and 2009 FBO Leadership Conference will be held back-to-back this year to give you more options. Come for one event, stay for both or send a team to divide and conquer. Volume and combo event discounts are available. Contact Diane Gleason at dgleason@nata.aero or (703) 575-2050 for help with questions or to register multiple attendees from the same company at the volume discount rate.
Click here to find out how you can reach your target audience and demonstrate your commitment to higher learning by supporting a session. | |
|
| Shape Up Your Line Service In Clearwater Beach |
| Line Service Supervisor Training and Accident Prevention via Human Factors Training Seminars, June 15-17 |
| NATA Line Service Supervisor Training (LSST) is coming to Clearwater Beach, FL, on June 15-16, 2009. This seminar, specifically designed for Line Service Supervisors, provides the training you need to become more proficient in supervising staff, motivating others, communicating and coaching a team. This high-impact, high-energy seminar includes guided group activities, role playing exercises, interactive games and various case studies designed to take you to a new level of leadership.
NATA's new highly interactive Accident Prevention via Human Factors Training seminar has been specifically designed to enhance FBO safety by helping you identify and replace risky practices with safe ones. Proper training is key to improving the situational awareness and decision-making necessary to break the chain of events that occur prior to every accident. This seminar will be held on June 17, following the LSST in Clearwater Beach, FL, so attendees will be able to meet both training needs at one location.
Other NATA events in June include:
NATA's Safety 1st Management System (SMS) Workshop brings you helpful assistance with your SMS manual. Our one-day workshop, which will be held June 23 in Omaha, NE, assists attendees in the development and implementation of the company's safety management system. We will conduct in-depth discussions on SMS concepts and provide helpful templates to assist with manual development. The workshops supplement the ongoing monthly Webcasts and provide interactive question-and-answer sessions.
Click on any of the above links to find out more information about each seminar or to register. You may also visit www.nata.aero and click on the Events Calendar tab to learn more about all of NATA's educational opportunities. NATA's 2009 Educational Opportunities Catalog is available for download by clicking here. | |
|
| NATA Weekly Survey |
|
| President Obama hints in his FY 2010 Budget that user charges will be assessed to general aviation users in FY 2011. Do you believe user fees are appropriate for the general aviation community to pay versus the current system?
Participate in survey. | |
| Environmental Fact Of The Week |
|
| NATA's quick facts on the aviation industry's effect on the environment are designed to ensure that members take every step necessary to minimize the effect aviation has on the environment while recognizing the initiatives the industry has taken to reduce global warming.
Commercial Aviation Alternative Fuels Initiative Executive Director Richard Altman gave a presentation on the initiative's progress to NATA's Environmental Committee last week. CAAFI is an initiative sponsored by the FAA and three commercial aviation trade associations to enhance energy security and environmental sustainability for aviation by exploring the use of alternative jet fuels.
CAAFI participants include airlines, aircraft manufactures, energy producers and researchers all working together to advance the development of alternative aviation fuels that provide an equivalent level of safety and cost as current petroleum-based fuels with a reduced impact on the environment. CAAFI focus is on alternatives that have the ability to be used in conjunction with current fuels and distribution networks. NATA is currently reviewing ways in which the association can participate in CAAFI and looks forward to joining with the many other participants in CAAFI in helping to find a sustainable fuel source that will allow our industry to continue to grow while reducing its impact on the environment. | |
| |
|