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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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| Senate Approves TSA Nominee Southers |
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| Last week, the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation voted in favor of Erroll G. Southers as the nominee to be assistant secretary of the Transportation Security Administration (TSA).
In August, the Obama administration chose Southers to be the fifth administrator of the TSA. Southers, a former agent with the Federal Bureau of Investigation, was most recently an assistant chief for the Los Angeles World Airports Police Department's Office of Homeland Security and Intelligence. He also served as the associate director of the Center for Risk and Economic Analysis of Terrorism Events at the University of Southern California, where he was previously an adjunct professor of terrorism, homeland security and public policy.
The committee action clears the way for a confirmation vote by the full Senate.
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| Legislative Report On Bonus Depreciation Extension |
| Bill Introduced to Boost General Aviation |
| Last month, U.S. Congressman Todd Tiahrt (R-KS) introduced legislation to help boost general aviation aircraft sales. H.R. 3844, titled “The General Aviation Jobs Act” would extend the current bonus depreciation allowance for another two years and shorten the recovery period for non-commercial aircraft property from five to three years.
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.
Click here to view NATA’s Legislative Report on H.R. 3844.
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| House Committee Reviews RTCA Report On NextGen |
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| Last Wednesday, members of the U.S House of Representatives Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure’s Subcommittee on Aviation heard testimony from industry leaders on “NextGen: A Review of the RTCA Mid-Term Implementation Task Force Report.” Radio Technical Commission for Aeronautics or RTCA, Inc. is a private, not-for-profit corporation developed by the FAA to provide consensus-based recommendations regarding issues such as surveillance, navigation and air traffic management. At the request of the FAA, a task force was implemented for aviation safety and produced a report on September 9, 2009, that forged a consensus on NextGen improvements to be implemented between now and 2018 that will maximize NextGen benefits and create an industry investment.
The task force report stressed the benefit of implementing “operational capabilities” at key hubs and large metropolitan areas where congestion at larger airports can cause bottlenecks at smaller airports. These interim stop-gap measures are already in place in today’s system but will help to create a smooth transition towards NextGen implementation. Such capabilities include surface and runway traffic awareness, metroplex capacity and efficiency, cruise efficiency, low-altitude and non-radar airspace access, data communication and integrated air traffic flow management. Following these recommendations will advance important national objectives, including further reducing the industry’s environmental footprint, reducing long-term costs for the FAA, enhancing safety, expanding system capacity, and providing other benefits.
Aviation Subcommittee Chairman Jerry Costello (D-IL) praised the RTCA task force on recommendations made in the report. “I believe that the RTCA task force’s report is a positive step forward and represents a significant breakthrough for the NextGen effort.” He assured the industry that the subcommittee will continue to provide oversight of near-term NextGen implementation while keeping the long-term goals of NextGen in mind. Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman James Oberstar (D-MN) agreed, stating that the report provides “clear, actionable and achievable recommendations that will help shape the FAA’s vision and mission for the mid-term.”
NATA is pleased with the implementation of the task force and the recommendations that were made to help improve the collaboration between the government and industry. Despite the economic downturn that has rattled the industry, general aviation remains confident that more progress will soon be made to the modernization of the air traffic control system.
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| NTSB Makes Safety Recommendations To The American Hospital Association |
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| The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has provided several safety recommendations to the FAA and the American Hospital Association after its investigation into the June 4, 2007 aircraft accident in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The aircraft impacted Lake Michigan shortly after departure from the General Mitchell International Airport, killing the two pilots and four passengers. The flight was operated by Marlin Air as a Part 135 charter to the University of Michigan (UM) Health System.
The investigation by the NTSB revealed that UM personnel became concerned about the safety of flight operations by Marlin Air; however, none of these concerns were relayed to the FAA before the accident. It was found that personnel were not aware of the procedures and methods by which they could have alerted the FAA to their concerns.
Therefore, the NTSB recommended that the American Hospital Association inform its members via Web site, newsletters, and conferences of the FAA’s role in aviation safety with respect to medical/air ambulance services and provide FAA contact information. Further, the American Hospital Association should urge its members to communicate any safety concerns related to medical/air ambulance services to the FAA.
The NTSB also recommended that the FAA require all 14 CFR Part 135 and 91K operators to provide their customers with information on the FAA’s role in aviation safety and how to relay safety concerns to the FAA upon entering a business agreement or contract.
Click here for the full recommendation letter.
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| Free GA Security Update Webinar Tomorrow |
| It's not too late to register! |
| On Tuesday, November 3, at 12:00 noon (Eastern), NATA Government Affairs staff will provide a free webinar highlighting the various security initiatives affecting NATA member companies. This webinar will include the latest developments with the Large Aircraft Security Program Proposed Rule, the soon-to-be issued Repair Station Security Proposed Rule and commercial airport security measures affecting general aviation operations. A question-and-answer period will follow. The webinar will be hosted by Eric R. Byer, vice president, government and industry affairs, Jacqueline Rosser, director, regulatory affairs, and Mike France, manager, regulatory affairs.
Reserve your Webinar seat now at: https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/378140450. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the Webinar.
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| NATA Promotes GA And Safety 1st To AOPA Crowd |
| Visit Us At The Summit In Tampa, November 5-7 |
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NATA President James K. Coyne will be part of an aviation leadership panel during the summit's opening forum at 9:00 a.m. on Thursday, November 5. The focus of the panel will be on what's ahead for general aviation and addresses topics such as user fees, security mandates and airspace issues. He is also master of ceremonies at a political-style rally at noon that same day.
NATA will also be represented in booth 518 and during a safety forum on Saturday. Amy Koranda, director, safety management and Shannon Chambers, director, marketing and membership will promote the importance of Safety 1st in the selection of ground services, how to find a Safety 1st certified operator, the benefits of flight crew briefings and other valuable Safety 1st tools to summit attendees at the booth.
Koranda will also lead NATA's forum titled "Enhance Your Safety in the Air and on the Ground," Saturday, November 7, from 2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. in room 21. Participants will learn about free NATA tools available for preflight planning that can greatly improve the safety of their flight and ground experience and how to incorporate them. Please remember to add NATA to your summit schedule.
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| Byer’s Blog: GA Industry Coming Together |
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| This past year has seen a number of aviation organizations, groups and individuals banding together to weather the economic, political and media storms that formed into a hurricane and settled on our industry. Among those alliances is NATA's partnership with AOPA in the General Aviation Serves America initiative. Through this combined effort, NATA and AOPA have visited a half dozen cities so far and plan to visit twice as many in the coming year to increase public awareness of the importance of general aviation to countless numbers of Americans. Find out more about how NATA plans to utilize partnerships in the future to further our members' prosperity in Byer's latest blog post.
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| NATA’s Safety 1st Flight Crew Briefings |
| Set a great example in your community |
| It is the pilot-in-command’s responsibility before each flight to become familiar with all available information regarding all airports of intended use. What if you could give pilots flying to your airport for the first time – or the fiftieth time – the benefit of talking with the veteran pilots of your airport? The complex airspace surrounding airports and the high volume of traffic during peak hours demand that flight crews be thoroughly familiar with the air traffic procedures for the area and the airport layout before arriving and departing. The Flight Crew Briefing is a customized online training tool that gives pilots and other flight crew members flying into and out of an airport access to critical safety information about the airport, including its location, layout, operations, regulations, and safety and security procedures. The briefing allows pilots to hear advice and guidance from airport management, based pilots, and other flight crew members who are familiar with your airport.
Why should my airport invest in an airport Flight Crew Briefing module?
- Avoid negative media coverage and protect your airport’s reputation.
- Demonstrate that you are proactive in the prevention of incidents and accidents.
- Help create positive connections in aviation and local communities by promoting good neighbor noise and security policies.
- Prove your safety and security commitment.
- Be the #1 authority for local airport safety information.
Click here for a pdf about NATA’s Safety 1st Flight Crew Briefings or contact Russ Lawton for more information. Visit http://www.airportflightcrewbriefing.com/teterboro/ to view the Teterboro Flight Crew Briefing module.
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| Prepare Your Team For A Winning Season |
| NATA’s 2010 Spring Training Week |
| We are pleased to host our second annual Spring Training Week in conjunction with the Aviation Industry Expo on March 15-17, 2010, in Las Vegas. NATA’s Spring Training consists of several major league seminars designed to answer questions about the business climate, advance the skills of FBO owners, general managers, line service specialists and supervisors, and enhance the success of their operation in any economic environment.
The 2010 Line Up:
- FBO Success Seminar
- NATA Safety 1st Trainer Seminar (Train the Trainer)
- Environmental Compliance Seminar
- Line Service Supervisor Training Seminar (LSST)
For more information and to register for the seminars, please go to www.nata.aero/springtraining, www.twitter.com/nataaero, or search for National Air Transportation Association on Facebook.
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| 2010 FBO Leadership Conference – Preliminary Schedule, January 25-26 |
| Preceding NBAA’s Schedulers & Dispatchers Conference in San Antonio |
| The 2010 FBO Leadership Conference sessions focus on change and relationships. Change isn’t necessarily bad, it can lead to different or new, but with change comes questions and fresh approaches to just about everything familiar to us within the business world. Change is not just external, it is also internal to your company.
What are the long-term implications for the industry, in general, and your business, specifically? How will you do business in this new environment? Who will tomorrow’s customers be and how will you reach them? What is the value of relationship-building in a recession? How can you foster those relationships? How much more change can you expect? The 2010 FBO Leadership Conference will address these questions, and more!
Monday, January 25, 2010
12:00 noon - 1:45 p.m. – Welcome Luncheon & Keynote Address
2:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. – The Future of Health Care & Impact on Small Businesses
3:15 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. – Building Business Partnerships in a Recession
5:30 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. – President’s Reception & Party
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
8:00 a.m. - 9:15 a.m. – Leadership Breakfast
9:30 a.m. - 10:30 a.m. – Airport & Community Relations
10:45 a.m. - 11:45 a.m. – How To Market Your Business At NBAA’s Schedulers & Dispatchers Conference
Register today at www.nata.aero/fbolc.
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| Plan To Attend – 2010 Air Charter Safety Symposium |
| March 2-3, Westfields Marriott, Chantilly, VA |
| The Air Charter Safety Foundation (ACSF) will hold its annual Air Charter Safety Symposium on March 2-3, 2010, at the Westfields Marriott in Chantilly, VA.
The following topics will be covered:
- Strengthen your corporate culture
- Learn practical techniques to improve safety and security
- Discover how safety systems can benefit your bottom line
- Understand implementation hurdles before beginning a new safety initiative
- Find out how to use safety audits as a tool to improve your operations
Visit www.acsf.aero/symposium for more information or to register.
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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 the online survey in each week’s edition of NATA News.
Question:
Should Congress approve the General Aviation Jobs Act?
Participate in survey.
Click here to learn more.
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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.
Last week, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Science Advisory Board (SAB) announced the creation of the Clean Air Scientific Advisory Committee (CASAC) Lead Review Panel and began accepting public nominations for committee members.
The CASAC lead review panel will provide advice, information and recommendations on the scientific and technical aspects of air quality criteria and National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for EPA’s fiscal year 2010 lead NAAQS review. In the announcement the EPA has asked for nominations of subject matter experts to serve on the CASAC lead review panel. The EPA is asking that nominations be made for nationally recognized experts with expertise in one or more of the following areas:
- Atmospheric sciences
- Fate and transport
- Exposure assessment
- Toxicology
- Biokinetic modeling
- Epidemiology
- Risk assessment
- Biostatistics
- Ecology
- Air quality
Nominations will be accepted through November 18, 2009.
Aviation remains one of the leading sources for lead emissions in the United States due to its use of 100 low lead aviation gasoline (100LL). As reported in previous versions of NATA News, the EPA has begun looking at regulatory means for eliminating the use of lead in aviation activities. The 2010 NAAQS lead review may well result in the issuance of regulations designed to reduce lead emissions at airports where ambient lead levels do not meet the NAAQS.
At the present time, no suitable alternative for 100LL exists that meets the requirements of the entire general aviation fleet. NATA is partnering with the General Aviation Manufacturer’s Association’s Future Avgas Strategy & Transition team to identify possible alternatives to 100LL and explore the obstacles and challenges that would be faced in transitioning away from 100LL.
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