NATA News

The FAA is revamping two major branches, Flight Standards Service (AFS) and Aircraft Certification Service (AIR), to emphasize areas of expertise, rather than the traditional regional or directorate divisions. FAA officials have begun detailing the reorganization of both AFS and AIR, saying most points of contact will remain the same for industry, but the management of the structures and reporting chains will differ. “We constantly want to improve quality of the work with industry,” stated James Viola, Manager of the FAA’s General Aviation and Commercial Division. Rather than managing by geographical location, AFS will be managed by functional areas, “so we have experts from bottom to top…and work closely with industry, which is the ultimate expert,” Viola added. General aviation and Part 135 will interact with “one person” who has the expertise to make that decision, he said.

The NATA Safety 1^st General Aviation Misfueling Prevention Program provides awareness training for Pilots, Line Service Professionals, FBO Managers, Customer Service Representatives and more. This free, online-based awareness program is comprised of four different tracks and conforms with standards from the Energy Institute and the Safety 1^st Operational Best Practices. The misfueling prevention program can be found at www.preventmisfueling.com.

NATA was built on a foundation of advocacy as the voice of aviation business. Follow aviation business issues and other important industry news in real time on NATA's Social Media channels.

Developed by industry experts, the NATA Part 135/91 Training Center provides online training in a standardized, easy-to-use format to train your entire team. The training library includes over 50 courses specifically designed to assist air charter, corporate and fractional operators in meeting regulatory training requirements. The system is offered by subscription with unlimited access for a fixed annual fee. Request a demo at www.nata.aero/TrainingCenter.

Register today for an upcoming Advanced Line Service Workshop. The next ALS workshop will be held on May 23-24 at NATA Compliance Services in Reno, NV. ALS workshops are designed for Line Service Professionals who are experienced or relatively new to the industry. This workshop also assists managers, owners and even customer service representatives with knowledge and skills that will help them excel in their respective areas. 

Conklin & de Decker Associates and NATA continue to offer the only tax seminar designed for commercial operators. The Commercial Operators Tax Seminar looks at tax issues that you face every day in your operations, including:        

Florida Governor Rick Scott declared April 2017 as “Aviation Appreciation Month.” In Florida, general aviation airports contribute more than $7.7 billion to the state’s economy annually. According to the proclamation, “More than 8.5 percent of Florida’s Gross State Product results from businesses dependent upon aviation.” “General aviation and the businesses that rely on it are essential to Florida’s manufacturing industry, job creation and the state’s economy,” stated NATA President Marty Hiller. “NATA and our member companies in Florida applaud Governor Scott’s acknowledgement of the contributions aviation businesses make to the state.” Read more.

Watertown International Airport officials are looking to make a few improvements to its infrastructure. The $2.7 million FAA funding request will involve reconstructing the terminal apron, removing pavement deficiencies and improving drainage and lighting. Airport Manager Grant W. Sussey said the current apron is beginning to fail, with higher aircraft loads now being parked there. “It’s at the end of its useful life and needs to be reconstructed,” Mr. Sussey said. FAA funding is also being requested to reconstruct a runway intersection so that it meets FAA standards and to purchase new de-icing equipment. The county and the state will cover 5 percent of all the costs, while the FAA funding will handle the remainder. Over the last few years, the airport has made several significant improvements, including a $3.5 million runway extension and a $700,000 terminal expansion. Read more.