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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. |
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Professional Line Service Training |
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 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 |
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139 Fire Safety Training Online |
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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. |
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| Congress Passes FAA Extension |
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| Last week, the United States House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate passed legislation, H.R. 3607, to extend funding authority for the FAA through December 31, 2009. This short-term extension provides essential funding for the FAA to continue operations, extends excise taxes on aviation users and provides $1 billion for the Airport Improvement Program (AIP). This comes after the previous extension approaches its deadline of September 30. The House passed H.R. 915, the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2009 on May 21, 2009, but the hold-up comes from the U.S. Senate Committee on Finance that has been delayed from working through the tax portions of the Senate bill because of its current work on the Health Care Reform Bill.
Concerns remain with the continued short extensions and Congress’ failure to approve a long-term reauthorization bill. These short extensions allow the FAA to operate, but the lack of bill completion forces the stall of critical modernization and implementation aspects that would otherwise be applied with the reauthorization bill, such as the Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B).
Without FAA Reauthorization legislation, the Obama Administration will likely implement a “funding mechanism” incorporated in the Fiscal Year 2011 budget to support the Airport and Airways Trust Fund. NATA objects to any user fee and supports a reasonable increase in the fuel tax to help ease the burden on the Airport and Airways Trust Fund.
While NATA is pleased with the passing of a short-term extension, the association remains hopeful that the Senate will complete S. 1451, the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2009 before December 31, 2009. | |
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| Aviation Stakeholders Send Letter to U.S. Senate Urging Passage of Long-Term FAA Reauthorization Legislation |
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| As Congress works this week to finalize a three-month extension of federal programs at the FAA, NATA joined over 25 associations in a coalition letter. The coalition letter, which is being sent to all members of the United States Senate, requests comprehensive legislation to reauthorize the FAA and to provide desperately needed funding for the airport and airway system improvements that will help make aviation safer and more efficient, while creating or maintaining tens of thousands of U.S. jobs. “Investments in our national airspace infrastructure will enable the U.S. aviation system to improve its already enviable safety record as well as increase capacity. Such investment can only be made through a comprehensive authorization package, which has been hamstrung by a series of extensions dating back to September 30, 2007,” the letter states.
The letter reiterates that the strength of our aviation system and its ability to meet future demands is dependent upon the federal government's success in meeting its obligations to provide adequate infrastructure. A critical step in meeting those obligations is for the Senate to advance a long-term bill.
To view the coalition letter, please click here. | |
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| AEA Joins NATA On Action Call Opposing Foreign Repair Station Language |
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| NATA and the Aircraft Electronics Association are seeking member participation in contacting Members of Congress in opposition to the foreign repair station provisions in both the U.S. House of Representatives and U.S. Senate versions of FAA Reauthorization legislation.
Conference negotiations between the House and the Senate on H.R. 915/S.1451, the Federal Aviation Administration Reauthorization Act of 2009 are likely before the end of the year. Each bill contains a provision requiring additional FAA oversight of foreign repair stations. More specifically, H.R. 915, which passed the House on May 21, 2009, includes a provision requiring the FAA to certify that all Part 145 certificated foreign repair stations are inspected at least twice a year and requires those organizations to introduce mandatory drug and alcohol testing if they maintain aircraft operated by U.S. airlines. Further, S. 1451, which has not yet been voted on in the Senate, contains similar language regarding repair station inspections but makes an exception if "a bilateral aviation safety agreement is in place that allows for comparable inspection by local authorities."
The proposed regulation would eliminate a reciprocal audit provision of the U.S.-European Community Bilateral Aviation Safety Agreement, or “BASA,” and would unnecessarily raise costs for EU-based repair stations. The potential job loss to U.S. repair stations is high if the companies that hold a U.S.-based EASA Part 145 repair station certificate lose the reciprocal audit capabilities between the FAA and EASA.
Contact your Members of Congress by visiting NATA’s Legislative Action Center. NATA’s Legislative Action Center provides association members with a quick and easy way to email letters directly to Members of Congress in their state.
Click here to view a form letter that may be used to contact Members of Congress or their staff. | |
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| Bersin Nominated As CBP Commissioner |
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| President Obama last week announced Alan Bersin as his nominee to become Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Bersin currently serves as the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s secretary for international affairs and special representative for border affairs.
Before joining the Obama administration, Bersin was board chairman of the San Diego County Regional Airport Authority and California’s secretary of education under Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger.
To view the press release on Bersin’s nomination, please click here. | |
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| GA Serves America Campaign Stops In Oxford, CT, October 1 And Napa, CA, On October 6 |
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| The General Aviation Serves America campaign will make stops at Waterbury-Oxford Airport this Thursday, 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 NATA member company Bridgeford Flying Services and 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. | |
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| Insider Views: Coyne And Byer Launch New Blogs |
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| Reaching out to our members in a new way, James K. Coyne and Eric R. Byer will host new blogs. Coyne's monthly blog, NATA President's Capitol View, provides commentary on the current state and future prospects for the aviation business industry. View the inaugural post, "Can't We All Just Get Along?," regarding the USA Today article attacking general aviation and the fundamental change of strategy on the part of the airlines that this article represents. Byer's weekly Inside Washington View blog explores the latest aviation business developments in Washington and provides guidance to help navigate the rocky political landscape. The first post, "Light At The End Of The Tarmac?," tackles the brutal effect the economy has had on our members, but offers a ray of hope for the future...maybe nearer than we dared hope.
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| NATA's Mike France To Host Environmental Policy Update Webinar |
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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
- Greenhouse 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. | |
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| Want To Highlight Your Company And Its Achievements? |
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| NATA offers numerous opportunities to connect NATA members to more than 5,000 industry executives — the Classifieds-Member Posts section of www.nata.aero, member company or employee spotlights in NATA's electronic newsletters, member highlights in the quarterly Aviation Business Journal (ABJ), and advertising and sponsorship opportunities.
The classifieds section is designed to allow members to post their own press releases and classified ads. Press releases can be posted real time, and check boxes in the press release area provide the ability to target specific audiences. The classifieds are divided into three sections: RFPs, jobs and buy/sell, which can be marketed to all members, or to specific member groups.
NATA members can spotlight company achievements and recognize special employees in several of NATA's electronic newsletters, and the quarterly ABJ provides space for member press releases and news items. Company descriptions and photos can be submitted for possible inclusion in ABJ.
Advertising and sponsorship with NATA offers high visibility, optimum value, and direct access to aviation business leaders throughout the world. You can place an ad on the www.nata.aero homepage, or advertise in one of NATA’s newsletters or in the Aviation Business Journal.
For more information on the options available, visit the NATA Classifieds-Member Posts page or the Advertising & Sponsorship Opportunities page, view the Aviation Business Journal 2009-2010 Media Planner, or contact Linda Pylant. | |
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| NATA Weekly Survey |
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| 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.
Do you believe long-term growth is being affected by the continued series of short-term extensions for FAA funding by Congress?
Participate in survey. | |
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| Environmental Fact Of The Week |
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| 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.
According to a recent U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) press release, the EPA will begin a program requiring certain, large scale, greenhouse gas (GHG) producers to report their emissions:
WASHINGTON – On January 1, 2010, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency will, for the first time, require large emitters of heat-trapping emissions (including aircraft engine manufactures) to begin collecting greenhouse gas (GHG) data under a new reporting system. This new program will cover approximately 85 percent of the nation’s GHG emissions and apply to roughly 10,000 facilities.
“This is a major step forward in our effort to address the greenhouse gases polluting our skies,” said EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson. “For the first time, we begin collecting data from the largest facilities in this country, ones that account for approximately 85 percent of the total U.S. emissions. The American public, and industry itself, will finally gain critically important knowledge and with this information we can determine how best to reduce those emissions.”
Emissions data for the 2010 calendar year will be required to be submitted to the EPA in 2011. While this program does not regulate emissions of GHGs, when viewed in conjunction with the EPA’s recent proposed endangerment finding on GHGs it is clear that the EPA is serious about reducing the U.S.’s GHG emissions.
For more information on the EPA’s GHG reporting program, visit:
http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/emissions/ghgrulemaking.html | |
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