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February 20, 2017 — Volume 16, Issue 8 |
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| This Week's Top Stories |
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House Aviation Subcommittee Holds Hearing on Aviation Manufacturing
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Last Wednesday, the House Aviation Subcommittee held a hearing on the state of aviation manufacturing, including the economic and regulatory strengths and pitfalls. Transportation Committee Chairman Bill Shuster (R-PA) highlighted the importance of aviation manufacturing and its role as one of our nation’s top exporters — “America’s long-standing leadership in aviation has been sustained because of our high safety standards, and the dedication of those who design and build aircraft and aviation equipment, and those who oversee that process.” Subcommittee Chairman Frank LoBiondo (R-NJ) added, “As the aviation industry expands its international reach, and introduces new technologies and innovations, it is critical that the FAA certification and regulatory processes adapt and respond.” In her final hearing as FAA’s Associate Administrator for Aviation Safety, Margaret Gilligan highlighted the agency’s accomplishments over the past few years and discussed how the FAA is working with Congress and industry to streamline certification and regulatory processes now and in the future.
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NATA Supports Vermont Legislation to Extend the Sales and Use Tax Exemption for Airplanes and Parts
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Last week, NATA submitted a letter to the leadership of the Vermont state legislature urging support for H. 205, legislation to make permanent the sales tax exemption for aircraft and depreciable parts for commercial and private use. NATA President Marty Hiller commented that passage of the bill will allow Vermont aviation businesses to continue to compete with neighboring states that already offer the exemption, providing job opportunities and increased general aviation activity. “The imposition of burdensome taxes on general aviation aircraft use and purchase will result in business lost to neighboring states,” Hiller stated. A position statement developed by the Vermont Chamber of Commerce explained that, absent this exemption, Vermont aviation businesses can expect to experience reduced economic activity including direct job loss. A consistent and permanent tax policy is “conducive to the preservation and growth of the aerospace industry and its manufacturers,” the Chamber stated. NATA will continue to monitor the bill and report on future developments.
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NATA Seeking Facilities and Sponsors for 2017 Events
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NATA is currently seeking member locations to host our regional town halls and other association events tailored for the air charter, FBO, and maintenance community. NATA is currently planning events in Colorado, Washington, Oregon, Florida, Illinois and Georgia, however all interested members are encouraged to respond. We are also looking for sponsors for these new events that are quickly gaining traction throughout the industry — options start at $500. These are great opportunities for companies looking for direct, in-person exposure with our members and other industry attendees. In addition to the onsite visibility of hosting or sponsoring an event, your business will be featured on the event webpage and emails, and in NATA News. Please note, the meeting space must have room to fit a minimum of 25 attendees comfortably. If interested in hosting or sponsoring an event, please contact Karissa Uko at kuko@nata.aero or (202) 774-1513.
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NATA Requests Legal Interpretation on Receiving Functions Under Part 120
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Last week, NATA and other industry stakeholders requested the FAA provide legal interpretation on the applicability of Part 120 drug and alcohol testing rules to individuals performing tasks associated with receiving articles for stock. The request is in response to FAA auditors within the Drug Abatement Division, who “have informally opined that personnel conducting tasks associated solely with receiving items for stock are performing maintenance and are therefore engaged in safety-sensitive functions. This expansive interpretation would result in the misclassification of employees, thereby diluting random testing pools with non-safety-sensitive personnel.” Industry stakeholders argue the purpose of the receiving process is to simply verify the incoming parts are what they purport to be and that these tasks are not required maintenance and therefore are not safety-sensitive functions under Part 120.
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| Associatio Highlights |
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Limited Seats and Hotel Rooms Available for March FBO Success Seminar
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NATA’s FBO Success Seminar returns by popular demand! Join your colleagues March 7-8, 2017 at the Chateau LeMoyne French Quarter in New Orleans, LA, to learn new FBO management techniques, gain essential operational and service knowledge, and connect with fellow attendees at a networking forum. This seminar is designed for FBO owners, operators, general managers, new managers, finance personnel and other key FBO employees who are interested in building a more successful FBO. Attendees will hear from industry experts John Enticknap and Ron Jackson, who have decades of experience in FBO services, marketing, and training. Read the latest article from Ron and John on running a better FBO in 2017. NATA's discounted room block rate ends tomorrow, February 21. Please visit here for agenda, hotel information and registration details.
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| Events |
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Develop Successful Customer Service Skills at NATA’s Certified CSR Workshop
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On April 18-19, NATA will hold its Certified CSR Workshop in Tampa, FL. The workshop will provide attendees with valuable knowledge and skills to create successful customer service experiences. Attendees will also learn how to deal with disgruntled customers and turn a marginal customer transaction into a fulfilled client transformation. New this year, attendees may choose to spend an additional day and obtain an Aviation Food Safety Certification on April 20th. This course will cover FBO food handling best practices. Learn more and register here.
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2017 NATA Aviation Business Conference | Early Bird Registration Available
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NATA's 2017 Aviation Business Conference takes place June 6-8, 2017 at the Hyatt Regency Washington on Capitol Hill. The conference kicks off with a reception Tuesday evening and concludes Thursday afternoon. Early bird registration is now open and runs through Friday,
April 7, 2017 — save $95! For more information, please visit www.nata.aero/abc.
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| Member Spotlight |
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Ohio State University Celebrates Aviation Milestones
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This year, Ohio State University will celebrate the 100th anniversary of its aviation education program and the 75th anniversary of its airport. Ohio State has played an integral part in the advancement of the aeronautics field, and has evolved into one of the nation’s premier aviation education, flight training and research programs. Today, more than 500 students a year pursue aviation degrees, train for professional pilot certifications, perform federally sponsored research and engage in community outreach programming. Owned and operated by the College of Engineering, the university’s airport is Ohio’s fourth-busiest airport in terms of take-offs and landings and delivers $157 million in direct and indirect benefits to central Ohio, according to a study commissioned in 2012. Throughout the year, Ohio State will commemorate both anniversaries and its expanding role as a leader in aviation. Check https://aviation.osu.edu/ and https://osuairport.org/ for details.
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Auburn University Airport to Add New Aviation Education Facility
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The Auburn University Regional Airport will begin construction on a new education facility to create additional space for instruction and training for the university’s aviation programs. The new 23,000-square-foot building will have two floors with classrooms, a flight-simulator laboratory, debriefing rooms and flight dispatch and departmental spaces, bringing everything “in-house,” according to Bill Hutto, Airport and Aviation Center Director. “We’ll have our simulation bay in there,” Hutto said. “We’ll have flight dispatch, weather capabilities, a conference room and even our testing center.” The $8.7 million project is slated to begin in May and finish by July 2018. For more information, click here.
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Napa Jet Center Expands Maintenance Services
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This month, Napa Jet Center (KAPC) announced it was selected by Textron Aviation to add the Beechcraft Authorized Service Center authorization for the Bonanza / Baron Aircraft Series to its FAA 145 authorized maintenance capabilities. Napa Jet Center’s association with Cessna goes back to the company’s founding as Bridgeford Flying Services in 1946. “It is storied that the original relationship between Cessna and Napa Jet Center began with Clyde Cessna and one of Bridgeford’s founders, Caesar Bertagna, sitting under a peach tree sealing a business arrangement with a hand shake,” explained Mark Willey, Napa Jet Center CEO. Napa Jet Center is a long-time Cessna single engine dealer and remains a Cessna Pilot Center. Read more.
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| ACSF News |
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Register for the 2017 ACSF Safety Symposium
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The 2017 ACSF Safety Symposium will take place March 7-8, 2017 at the NTSB Training Center in Ashburn, VA. Topics will include Reducing Risk, Emergency Response Plans, Leadership, Ground Handling and more. ACSF members can register for $685 (nonmembers $795). Registration includes admittance to the two-day event, all scheduled group meals, breaks, and social functions, and transportation to and from hotel to events. To learn more or to register, click here.
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