NATA News

The IG report cites numerous examples of differences between Part 135 and Part 121 regulations but does not offer adequate explanation for the reason for the variations.

“The IG largely conducts an apples and oranges comparison,” NATA President James K. Coyne said. “Part 121 is very homogenous with regard to the types of aircraft and operations. Part 135 contains every possible mission profile and includes single-engine pistons up to large cabin jets. Of course the requirements are going to be different.”

As an example, the report simply states that Terrain Awareness and Warning Systems and In-flight Weather are required for all Part 121 aircraft but “not required for all operators” in Part 135. There is no explanation of which aircraft are covered, nor are the number of aircraft impacted expressed as a percentage of the fleet.

“The IG offers no information or explanation as to why it might not be feasible or necessary to install such equipment in, for example, a single-engine plane flying only in Visual Flight Rules weather conditions,” said Coyne. 

In one section of the report, apparently in an effort to bolster an argument for adding a dispatcher requirement to Part 135, the IG claims to know better than the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) by suggesting that if a dispatcher was present the 2001 crash of a Gulfstream III aircraft may have been averted.

“NATA is quite alarmed that the DOT IG, performing perfunctory review of accidents, somehow felt more knowledgeable and qualified than the NTSB,” said Coyne. “The primary cause of that accident, as determined following an extensive NTSB investigation, was operation of the aircraft below approach minimums, in violation of the regulations. Pressure to land at Aspen was listed as one of the six contributing factors. Stating that the presence of a dispatcher would have changed the outcome of this flight is an unacceptable leap for the IG to make.”

In that accident, the NTSB recommended implementation of Crew Resource Management Training, which was also proposed by the Part 135 Aviation Rulemaking Committee (ARC) and has since been formally proposed by the FAA. The NTSB made no recommendations related to aircraft dispatching functions.

“It is, however, gratifying to see that the IG strongly emphasized the fact that industry has made numerous safety recommendations, in the ARC, that have largely been collecting dust on a shelf at the FAA,” concluded Coyne. “It is our hope that this new report will spur the FAA to act on the ARC recommendations.”

A copy of the IG’s report can be viewed by clicking here.

Next week, the Senate Committee on Commerce is scheduled to mark-up the bill during a committee hearing scheduled for Tuesday, July 21. Once the bill passes out of the committee, it will be reviewed in the Senate Committee on Finance that will likely work on similar language as last year’s to modify the fuel tax. 

Click here to view NATA’s Legislative Report on S. 1451.

Click here to view NATA’s Press Release on S. 1451.

Subcommittee on Transportation Security and Infrastructure Protection Chairwoman Sheila Jackson Lee focused on the shortcomings of the DHS report written by Mann, stating, “There were no perceived threats before the acts of September 11, 2001. How can you say in your report there is no perceived threat from general aviation.” Congressman Pete Olson (R-TX) asked Mann to clarify the difference in threat levels between large aircraft such as a Boeing 747 and general aviation aircraft (aircraft less than 12,500 pounds). Mann agreed with Rep. Olson’s remarks that a Boeing 747 containing 20,000 pounds of aviation fuel has considerable potential as a weapon and that general aviation aircraft are unattractive for use for that purpose in comparison.

In a separate panel before the subcommittee, Martha King of King Schools and General Aviation Manufacturers Association Chairman Mark Van Tine, President and CEO of Jeppessen, Inc. both told the committee that applying security protocols similar to those of commercial airlines to general aviation will be detrimental to the industry without improving security. Van Tine said the recently proposed Large Aircraft Security Program “missed the mark on several fronts” and reiterated that the general aviation community is not opposed to enhancing security.

To view the testimony from the witnesses of the hearing, please click here.

The new language for the NFPA 409 revision will only require automatic sprinkler systems in newly constructed group III hangars if:

• Local building codes already require the installation of sprinkler systems, or
• The hangar is also to be used as a residence

The changes to the proposed revisions were included in the committee’s Report on Comments, available here, and now will go before NFPA’s Standards Council for final approval and inclusion in the 2010 revision of NFPA 409. NATA staff member Mike France has applied to NFPA for membership on the Technical Committee on Airport Facilities and his application will be voted on by the Standards Council at their meeting next month.

The UK plans on publishing draft regulations by mid-July and then finalizing those regulations and presenting them to Parliament shortly after receiving the finalized operator assignment list from the European Commission. These finalized regulations will come into force 21 days after being submitted to Parliament.

Aircraft operators assigned to the UK will then have 8 weeks to finalize and submit their monitoring plans. NATA will advise its membership of the exact compliance dates for submission of monitoring plans once they become available.

Please note: This update only applies to operators assigned to the United Kingdom as their administering state.

The official UK Environment Agency update can be viewed here.

• Remain a chart agent and submit a business plan to the FAA detailing plans for increasing sales to reach the $5,000 net sales level
• Cancel your account with the FAA and become a sales outlet for another chart agent
• Cancel your account with the FAA and no longer sell aviation charts

NATA applauds the FAA for its concern for efficiency and economy in aviation chart delivery, but is concerned that the new chart model may adversely affect safety by restricting the availability of aviation charts at smaller FBOs and airports. Current chart agents who do not meet the sales volume requirement are encouraged to develop a plan of action so the availability of current charts is not affected. More information on the FAA’s new Chart Agent Model is available here.

As part of this partnership, AOPA President Craig L. Fuller and NATA President James K. Coyne jointly appeared at General Aviation Serves America Town Hall Meetings Saturday in Martha's Vineyard and today in Charlotte, NC.

To learn more about the General Aviation Serves America campaign click here. 

NATA members interested in hosting a Town Hall Meeting or learning more about how they may participate in this initiative should contact Eric R. Byer.

Under the bill, employers with payroll between $250,000 and $400,000 would pay a smaller penalty than larger companies for not providing health insurance to their employees. Medium- to large-sized businesses would pay an 8 percent payroll tax as a penalty for not providing insurance. House Democrats claim that insurance market reforms in the bill would offset some of the loss to small businesses, as would a tax credit of up to 50 percent of the cost of an employer's coverage costs, worth $53 billion. Employers with an annual payroll of less than $250,000 would be exempt from a play-or-pay requirement. 

The Senate bill contains $611 billion and includes a public health insurance option, a pay-or-play employer mandate, requires that every individual obtain health insurance, and provides government subsidies for those who can’t afford health insurance. The HELP’s bill and the total cost are dependent on the Senate Committee on Finance’s decision to expand Medicaid to all Americans who make less than 150 percent of the poverty level. It is uncertain when the Committee on Finance will release its portion of the reform package. 

President Obama and Democratic Members of Congress are determined to pass legislation by the end of the month.

Once initially configured for an operator, the IC Check flight release process typically requires two minutes of data entry per flight. Results are nearly instantaneous. Two recent developments further enhance NATA IC Check’s safety and efficiency benefits:

CharterX/Wyvern Partnership = Enhanced Support
NATA recently named CharterX/Wyvern the exclusive sales and support organization for NATA IC Check. CharterX/Wyvern is an aviation technology leader in the Part 135 and 91 markets. We are pleased to be partnering with their knowledgeable team of support and analysis personnel.

“IC Check fits in perfectly with the innovative safety information collection, analysis and delivery systems we have developed for private aviation. It gives operators a consistent and documented procedure to demonstrate both legal compliance and their commitment to safe operations.” – Jim Betlyon, CEO of CharterX/Wyvern

Integration With CTA/FOS = More Streamlined Processes & Savings
IC Check has also recently completed its third phase of integration with CTA/FOS, the leading system for scheduling and operations management, to streamline data entry – reducing an operator’s administrative burden and resulting in safer and lower cost operations.

Visit www.nata.aero/iccheck to discover how NATA IC Check can enhance your operation.

Walter Chartrand, AirBP Aviation Services, and Frank Surface, MoneyWise Solutions, will provide the tools to increase the performance of line crew supervisors to set your operation apart from the rest at NATA’s Advanced Line Service Supervisor Training (ALSST) Seminar. The ALSST will be held in San Diego, CA, on September 23 and 24.

Featured Speakers:
Walter Chartrand, AirBP Aviation Services
Walter is known throughout the industry for his knowledge and entertaining teaching style. His technical expertise is sprinkled with light humor, leaving all in attendance wanting more. He has an uncanny ability to relate people, places and knowledge to any subject.

Frank Surface, MoneyWise Solutions
After running his own family business in the mountains of Virginia for a decade, Frank began a career of helping others make the most of their business opportunities by managing and responding to the liability issues of the employment relationships that can make or break businesses. He has worked closely with hundreds of family-owned and privately held businesses to deal with the intricacies of human resource management and compliance with numerous government employment regulations.

With more than 30 years of human relations experience, Frank highlights his training techniques with creative and interactive team-building exercises.

Seminar Benefits:

• Advanced skills to train, motivate and discipline employees
• Employees will be better equipped to respond to both emergency and ordinary, day-to-day situations
• An energized and confident workforce
• Decreased employee turn-over
• Improved communication and performance
• FAA-Approved 14 CFR 139.321 Fire Safety Training certification
• Attendees who have completed both the LSST and ALSST seminars receive an NATA Certified Supervisor Certificate and are recognized in NATA’s e-Toolkit

New! Register by August 15 for a 15% discount off of the regular member rate!

For more information or to register, visit the Advance Line Service Supervisor Training Seminar event page or call 800-808-NATA.

NATA and Conklin & de Decker have teamed up to present this two-day comprehensive seminar covering the entire range of key tax issues. From Federal Excise Taxes to state taxes and international fees, and from FARs to IRS regulations, you will find the information and answers you need.

The Commercial Operators Tax Seminar is the only tax seminar created specifically to address the needs of Part 135 air charter operators.

Why Attend:

• Discover common tax errors and how to avoid them
• Anticipate state tax issues before they become your problems
• Expand your understanding of international user fees
• Save time and money by knowing your rights

Join Us September 23 and 24 in San Antonio, TX!

The two-day event gives attendees an exceptional value. In addition to presentations from industry experts, registration fees include all course materials, lunch both days and an evening networking reception. In addition, NATA members who register online by August 15 receive a special discounted rate. 

For more information, including a detailed agenda and speaker information, and to register, visit NATA's Commercial Operators Tax Seminar event page.

Sponsorship opportunities are available for this event. Contact Jacqueline Rosser for more information on becoming an event sponsor.