|
|
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. |
Want to advertise in NATA News? Click here for more information.
Search for National Air Transportation Association |
|
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. learn more |
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 |
|
|
|
| Coyne Blasts USA Today For Misleading Story On GA Airports |
|
| NATA President James K. Coyne immediately responded to the outrageous September 17th USA Today article authored by Thomas Frank titled “Feds Keep Little Used Airports In Business.” Coyne stated, “Mr. Frank’s biased and poorly researched story clearly misses the extraordinary value that America’s general aviation airports provide to small communities across this great nation and contains misleading facts that do not demonstrate the entire picture of the importance of general aviation airports to those communities.”
Other excerpts from Coyne’s response include:
“The article clearly indicates that competition is not of value to the USA Today organization. The article certainly seems to align USA Today with the airline industry’s advocacy and public relation efforts to continue a monopolistic, mid-20th century hub-and-spoke air transportation system that showcases poor customer service, delayed flights and a business model for failure.”
“It is important to note that USA Today’s parent company, Gannett Company Inc., utilizes at least three general aviation aircraft according the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) aircraft registry. Clearly, the executives at Gannett recognize the value of general aviation as they would not operate these aircraft otherwise. I would be willing to bet that these aircraft use general aviation airports near major metropolitan areas to maximize their time, bypassing busier commercial airports with frequent delays.”
To view Coyne’s entire response to the USA Today article, please click here. | |
|
| Coyne Testifies Before Congressional Committees On Hudson River Corridor Midair Accident |
|
| NATA President James K. Coyne testified on September 15, 2009, before the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation’s Subcommittee on Aviation and on September 16 before the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure’s Subcommittee on Aviation. The purpose of the hearing was to hear testimony on the crash of the general aviation aircraft and helicopter that collided over the Hudson River on August 8. Although the investigation by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is ongoing, they released preliminary findings a few weeks after the accident highlighting air traffic control error and made recommendations on the Class B airspace around the Hudson River Corridor.
At the Senate hearing, Coyne discussed the contributions NATA has made to improving general aviation safety at Teterboro Airport and highlighted the need to accelerate the modernization of our nation’s air traffic control system. Coyne noted that the Teterboro Airport Flight Crew Briefing produced by NATA in 2008 continues to train pilots and other crew members flying into and out of Teterboro Airport, enhancing safety on the ground at one of the busiest general aviation airports in the world.
Before the House Subcommittee on Aviation, Coyne also took the opportunity to detail the essential need for accelerating modernization within our national air transportation system. Coyne called on Congress to separate certain aspects of the Next Generation Air Traffic Control System, including upgrading radios and other communication mechanisms in Air Traffic Control towers as well as allowing general aviation operators access to real-time air traffic activity.
In addition, Coyne praised the NTSB and the FAA for developing a task force and expeditiously releasing several recommendations to improve the safety of the Class B airspace near the Hudson River.
To view a NATA’s Press Release on the hearings, please click here.
To view NATA’s Senate testimony, please click here.
To view NATA’s House testimony, please click here. | |
|
| FAA Releases Proposed Rule Modifying The Hudson River Airspace |
|
| Last week, the FAA released a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) that would modify the Hudson River and East River Class B airspace Exclusions and the surrounding Class B airspace. The proposed rule would implement the proposals presented by the task force established by the FAA to look into safety in the Hudson River airspace following the August 8, 2009 mid-air collision of two aircraft. The proposed rule would create a uniform floor to the Class B airspace and make the currently voluntary operational procedures in the exclusion mandatory.
NATA has created a regulatory report that can be downloaded here and details the airspace and procedural changes. This NPRM is open for public comment until October 16, 2009. | |
|
| Senate Approves FY10 Transportation Appropriations Bill |
|
| Last Thursday, the U.S. Senate passed an amended version of H.R. 3288, the Fiscal Year (FY) 2010 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development appropriations bill that passed the House in July. The measure provides $122 billion for the U.S. Department of Transportation, including the FAA, along with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. The legislation provides $4 billion for an infrastructure bank or fund, established by President Obama earlier this year, called the National Infrastructure Bank (NIB). NIB is intended to support transportation-related investments, creating more financial support for the improvement of current transportation structure. NATA, along with other general aviation associations, signed a joint letter requesting that Congress consider NextGen equipage to be an eligible investment for an infrastructure bank or fund. While there are many details to work out about how the fund or bank is to operate, the letter highlights the opportunity to gain congressional recognition for the importance of NextGen funding and eventual implementation.
Next week, the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate plan to convene a conference to work out any differences between the House and Senate passed version of the transportation appropriations bill.
To view a copy of the NIB letter, please click here.
To view the legislative report on H.R. 3288, please click here.
NATA will provide a legislative report on the final conference version of the FY10 Transportation Appropriations Bill once complete. | |
|
| FAA Releases Consistency And Standardization Initiative |
|
| Last week, the FAA renamed its Customer Service Initiative (CSI) the Consistency and Standardization Initiative (CSI) to give those affected by agency decisions a process they can use to ask for review at increasingly higher levels of the FAA with no fear of retribution. The Customer Service Initiative was created in 2004 and has processed over 350 cases. The FAA claims the decision to rename the program the Consistency and Standardization Initiative “emphasizes the original intent to ensure consistent interpretation and implementation of agency regulation and policies.” CSI defines what the aviation community can expect from the FAA when doing business with any Aviation Safety office, and what we expect from the community in return,” the FAA said.
Over the last two years, NATA has worked with Congress to find ways to minimize the lack of standardization and inconsistent regulations that increasingly have plagued association members. Last year, Congress requested that the Government Accountability Office (GAO) study lack of standardization and inconsistent regulations within the FAA and its affect on the general aviation industry. The report is just getting under way and once completed will shed light on how costly lack of standardization has been for the general aviation industry and how inconsistencies can be minimized within the agency.
To view the program in more detail, click here to read the FAA’s press release. | |
|
| TSA Releases Interim Final Rule On Air Cargo Screening |
|
| On September 16, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) released an Interim Final Rule (IFR) titled “Air Cargo Screening” to meet the requirements of section 1602 of the Implementing the Recommendations of the 9/11 Commission Act of 2007. The act requires that by February 3, 2009, at least 50% of cargo carried on commercial passenger aircraft must be screened and by August 3, 2010, 100% of cargo carried on commercial passenger aircraft must be screened.
The TSA has determined that the affected air carriers do not have the facilities to be able to meet these requirements without inflicting significant delays and backlogs of unscreened cargo. Therefore, this IFR creates the Certified Cargo Screening Program (CCSP) to allow firms, such as shippers, manufacturers, warehousing entities, distributors, third party logistics companies, and Indirect Air Carriers (IACs), to become Certified Cargo Screening Facilities (CCSF).
Once certified, the CCSF must—
- Implement the certified cargo screening standard security program that the TSA develops and any amendments to it;
- Appoint security coordinators at the corporate and facility levels and alternates to be available 24 hours per day, 7 days per week;
- Ensure that the following individuals successfully undergo a TSA-conducted Security Threat Assessment:
- Each employee and authorized representative who screens cargo or has unescorted access to screened cargo, and
- each security coordinator and alternate, senior manager of the facility, and other individual who implements the cargo screening program;
- Adhere to strict physical and access control measures for the storage, handling, and screening of cargo;
- Screen cargo using TSA-approved methods;
- Implement chain of custody requirements, including the use of tamper evident technology, which must begin when the cargo is screened and remain intact until the cargo is tendered to the aircraft operator for transport on a passenger aircraft; and
- Apply for recertification, including a new examination by a TSA-approved validator, every 36 months
NATA staff have evaluated this IFR and produced a regulatory report that is available to members here. This IFR becomes effective on November 16, 2009, and is also open for public comment until November 16, 2009. | |
|
| GA Serves America Campaign Rolls To Oxford, CT, On October 1 And Napa, CA, On October 6 |
|
| The General Aviation Serves America campaign will make stops at Waterbury-Oxford Airport on October 1 and at Napa County Airport on October 6 for Town Hall meetings featuring NATA President James K. Coyne and AOPA President Craig Fuller. The Oxford, CT meeting will be hosted by NATA member company Key Air and the Napa, CA town hall meeting will be hosted by Bridgeford Flying Services and is being sponsored by the Napa Airport Pilots Association, the local EAA Chapter 167 and the Napa County Airport.
To learn more about the Oxford, CT event, including how to RSVP, please click here.
To learn more about the Napa, CA event, including how to RSVP, please click here.
For more information, please contact Eric R. Byer. | |
|
| Up-to-date Issue Database Available On NATA Web Site |
|
| As the voice of business aviation, NATA provides you the latest information on issues that affect your business. Through the www.nata.aero Web site, you have member-only access to a comprehensive, up-to-the-minute issue database of safety, regulatory and legislative resources. To view these resources, select the “Issues” button on the left-side navigation of the home page. The resource pages are organized by topic and contain issue background, historical information, releases on the latest developments, links to other resources and NATA’s key staff contact. If you prefer to view the issue resources by release type and date, visit the Legislative and Regulatory Information tab on the Government Affairs page. Either way, you can stay informed on recent developments and NATA’s latest actions to help ensure a secure future for our members.
The Government & Industry Affairs staff is always available to answer questions or address concerns, please feel free to contact us at (800) 808-NATA. | |
|
| NATA's Mike France To Host Environmental Policy Update Webinar |
|
On September 29, NATA Manager of Regulatory Affairs Mike France will host a webinar titled "Environmental Policy Update." This webinar is free to NATA members and will provide a brief overview of the following environmental issues facing general aviation:
- European Union Emissions Trading Scheme
- Proposed Effluent Guideline Limitations for De-icing Activity
- SPCC Update
- Future Regulation/Legislation
- American Clean Energy & Security Act of 2009
- Green House Gas Regulation
- Clean Air Act - Future Regulation Of Lead In Avgas
A question and answer period will follow.
Space is limited. Reserve your Webinar seat now by clicking here or contact NATA at (800) 808-NATA for more information. | |
|
| Top Reasons To Attend This Week’s Commercial Operators Tax Seminar |
| September 23-24 in San Antonio, TX |
| #1. Charter operators have to work with aircraft owners to navigate the convoluted maze of Federal Aviation Regulations (FARs), and federal, state and local tax issues.
#2. This is the only air charter operator-focused tax seminar addressing the current, and at times confusing, world of tax issues affecting aircraft charter and management.
#3. The release of amended OpSpec A008 has created a myriad of issues not only for certificate holders but also for owners. The impact of operational control requirements on tax planning will also be addressed.
#4. Get answers to your complex questions regarding federal excise taxes, state taxes, international fees, FAR and IRS regulations.
#5. Expert instructors will deliver the information and tools necessary to enable seminar attendees to determine where taxes and fees apply and how best to manage tax compliance and the impact on company cash flow.
These are questions for which simple answers are hard to find, so NATA and Conklin & de Decker have put together this informative two-day seminar to cover it all. Register for the Commercial Operator Tax Seminar, September 23-24, San Antonio, TX, today!
Click here to register! | |
|
|
| NATA Weekly Survey |
|
| NATA’s weekly surveys are part of an effort to obtain more information from our members to serve their daily needs better. These surveys range from specific policy topics to programs, products and services that the association provides or should provide. The association strongly encourages members to take a few moments to review and complete this online survey in each week’s edition of NATA News.
Question:
Should USA Today and The Today Show provide an opportunity for the general aviation industry to rebut their stories that were publicized on September 17th?
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.
NATA has developed an Environmental Compliance Checklist, available here, to assist members with achieving compliance with federal environmental rules and regulations. This checklist was developed based on U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulations. Many states have additional requirements, so each facility should check their own state regulations. This checklist is intended to assist facilities with compliance with the most common environmental rules affecting aviation facilities and is not intended to be an extensive review of all environmental regulations.
The checklist is divided into four parts: Storm Water, Spill Prevention Control and Countermeasures (SPCC), Waste Issues, and Underground Storage Tanks (USTs). Specific compliance items are identified under each heading.
To use this checklist, review each item and determine if that item applies to your facility. If the item is not applicable, note “NA” in the comments section. If the section does apply to your facility, please circle “Yes” if you properly comply with that item. If you do not comply, please circle “No.” “No” responses indicate the need to develop a program to bring your facility into proper compliance. If you are not in compliance with a requirement and are unsure about how to develop a program to comply, please contact Mike France on the NATA staff, at mfrance@nata.aero, for further information. | |
| | |
|