NATA News

"In the last year, Wichita and surrounding counties have experienced more than 14,000 layoffs — 82 percent of those layoffs have come from aircraft manufacturers and small suppliers due to the downturn in the economy," Tiahrt said.

"American businesses are the real force behind economic stimulus, and we need to use every available tool to help workers and businesses succeed," commented Tiahrt. "With the aviation sector taking such a hard hit in recent months in South-central Kansas, Congress should pass this market-driven approach to stimulate our economy in Kansas."

Tiahrt has been a leading advocate for using bonus depreciation as a tool to help stimulate the economy. He was successful in getting accelerated depreciation language signed into law following the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks that ravaged the economy, particularly the Kansas aircraft industry. Without action by Congress, the current accelerated timeframe for the depreciation tax provision will expire at the end of the year.

NATA staff are currently reviewing an FAA draft Compliance Guidance Letter to Airport Compliance Office staff, Regional and Airports District Managers and Compliance Specialists that addresses through-the-fence (TTF) operations at federally obligated airports. In the letter, the FAA stated, "As a general principle, FAA does not support agreements that grant (through-the-fence) access." The draft letter divides possible TTF operations into three categories and addresses each individually.

• Non-Residential Compatible TTF Access - This type of access would include activities for which space requirements surpass the airport's ability to offer an on-airport site or the need would absorb so much airport property that it would limit future development for aeronautical activities. The FAA does not encourage this type of access, but a properly structured agreement may be acceptable.
• FBO or other Aeronautical Service Providers TTF Access - The FAA does not support this type of agreement.
• Residential TTF Access - "There are no acceptable forms of residential TTF agreements."

The draft guidance letter also strongly encourages airport sponsors to submit any TTF agreement to their Airports District or Regional Office prior to approval to ensure compliance with federal grant assurances. The draft includes a list of TTF access agreements the FAA will not approve and general procedures for establishing TTF access. Upon completion of its review, NATA will submit comments to the FAA on the contents of the letter.

NATA's Safety & Security Committee added three new operational best practices (OBP) on cell phone/media device usage in work areas, motorized mobile equipment and adverse weather monitoring. These will provide additional guidance to the original OBPs on safety committees, safety management systems, 50/10 stoppage procedures, proper propeller handling, safe securing of aircraft, foreign object damage prevention and the safe towing of aircraft.

The operational best practices were developed by industry experts on NATA's Safety & Security Committee who bring together many years of aviation experience and knowledge. The recommendations contained in the OBPs provide best practice guidance with which each fixed base operator can develop procedures applicable to its own operation and associated risks.

NATA's OBPs provide an introduction that guides you through the process of tailoring the OBPs to your operation and a record of revisions as well as the best practices. The Safety & Security Committee encourages you to evaluate your practices with NATA's OBPs to ensure safety on your ramps.

Click here to view NATA's OBPs

To view NATA's Action Call and to learn how to contact your U.S. Senators, please click here.

To view the Dear Colleague letter sent to all members of the U.S. Senate, please click here.

"As you may know, the Airport Improvement Program (AIP) provides funding for the planning and development of public-use airports listed in the National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems (NPIAS). Airports eligible for AIP funding must be included in the NPIAS which is determined by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Such airports are considered to be significant to national air transportation," the letter states.

In addition, the letter clarifies the distinct difference in AIP funding for large and small airports. Large airports that are eligible for AIP funding can receive a maximum of $22 million annually, whereas small airports receive a maximum of $150,000. AIP funding is a necessity for large and urban airports as well as small and rural airports throughout the country.

To read NATA's response to the USA Today article, please click here.

Earlier this month, Representatives John Mica (R-FL), Thomas Petri (R-WI), Vernon Ehlers (R-MI), Sam Graves (R-MO) and Allen Boyd (D-FL) introduced legislation, H.R. 3678, to modify the authority of the Transportation Security Administration assistant secretary to issue regulations and security directives using emergency procedures.

H.R. 3678 was introduced in response to Security Directive (SD) 1542-04-08G (SD-8G) issued last year that required pilots based at airports serving commercial air carriers to get a badge in order to have unescorted access to the airport. While SD-8G has been troublesome for many airports throughout the country, one of the major concerns was the use of an SD to promulgate regulations where no imminent threat existed.

NATA is pleased that this legislation was introduced as a stand-alone piece of legislation. It's imperative that additional Members of Congress co-sign the legislation for the bill to move forward. Please write to your Members of Congress today and seek their support on this important legislation.

To view NATA's Action Call, please click here.

To view NATA's Legislative Report on H.R. 3678, please click here.

Please contact Kristen Moore, kmoore@nata.aero, for more information.

On September 30, Senator John Kerry (D-MA), Chairman of the Committee on Senate Foreign Affairs, and Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA), chairwoman of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works, released a draft version of legislation designed to curb the effects of climate change by capping greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions nationwide. The draft legislation is similar to the American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009 (ACESA), passed by the U.S. House of Representatives in June. The official draft omits sections, contained in prerelease versions, which would require the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) administrator to regulate GHG emissions from aircraft and aircraft engines by 2012, but does contain more broad provisions that would allow the EPA to regulate those emissions "to the extent the Administrator determines appropriate." The following titles are contained in the draft:

• Greenhouse Gas Reduction Programs
• Research
• Transition and Adaptation
• Reducing Global Warming Pollution
• Program Allocations

Much like the ACESA, this draft would create a "cap-and-trade" program that would institute a cap on GHG emissions and require emitters to purchase or trade emission credits. The draft is over 800 pages in length and is available for download here.

NATA staff have reviewed the draft legislation and prepared a legislative report that is available to members for download here.

In early October, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) that would require large emitters of greenhouse gasses (GHGs) to obtain permits and employ the best available technology to reduce emissions. These proposed rules would come into effect when entities such as power plants, factories and oil refineries are built or when existing facilities are substantially modified. The rules would only apply to facilities emitting more than 25,000 tons of GHGs annually. While the provisions would not affect aircraft operators, FBOs or airports, aviation fuel producers could face substantially increased cost when building new production facilities or upgrading current facilities.

The full text of the NPRM is available from the EPA website.

NATA and the Aircraft Electronics Association (AEA) 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 is 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. 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 European Aviation Safety Agency (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.

NBAA's Schedulers & Dispatchers Conference is the industry's leading annual event for providing timely and valuable information on the topics, trends and challenges facing the professionals responsible for coordinating the use of business aircraft. The conference includes hundreds of exhibits from aviation products and services providers. The event draws a large number of NATA's FBO and airports members. 

NATA's FBO Leadership Conference was developed for leading executives and managers of fixed base operations, and features nationally recognized experts who provide the latest intelligence, tactics and strategies to maximize NATA members' FBOs' business success.

The synchronization of these two events in a single city, with complimentary dates, will provide business leaders with a premiere opportunity for meeting with customers, learning about the latest products, and gathering the most up-to-date business intelligence and tactics. Under the plan, attendees will still be required to register for each event separately, through the traditional NBAA and NATA avenues.

"NBAA's Schedulers & Dispatchers Conference will be a great opportunity to provide increased value for one of our core membership constituencies, and to enhance the educational offerings offered by NBAA with business and industry briefings geared to FBO leaders," said NATA President James K. Coyne.

"Jim is right," said NBAA President and CEO Ed Bolen. "In this turbulent economic climate, this plan will allow us to provide our associations' members the networking, marketing and educational opportunities they have come to expect, in one place, at one time."  

Coyne concluded, "NATA members know that the association has been pursuing alliances like this one, and we will continue to do so to fulfill our mission to help ensure the long-term economic success of our members."

Click here for more information or to register.

As the voice of business aviation, NATA is committed to keeping our members armed with the most current information on issues that affect their businesses. We have joined many other industry professionals in providing this information in the quickest way possible - through social media. NATA is making use of our Twitter and Facebook accounts to provide you with up-to-the-minute safety, regulatory and legislative resources. Stay informed on recent developments and NATA's latest actions to help ensure a secure future.

If you haven't already, we encourage you to follow NATAaero on Twitter and become a fan of the National Air Transportation Association on Facebook for an immediate pulse on association news and events, and access to special offers and resources as well as information about product and service launches, member news and other news of interest.

Reaching out to our members in a new way, James K. Coyne and Eric R. Byer are now hosting 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.

For more information on NATA's Social Media Sources, please click here or contact NATA at (703) 845-9000.