NATA News

H.R. 4217 provides $2 billion in contract authority for the Airport Improvement Program through the end of March to enable airports to move forward with safety and capacity projects. When legislation to authorize the FAA is annualized, this amount is usually close to $4 billion. In addition, H.R. 4217 extends the aviation excise taxes that are necessary to support the Airport and Airways Trust Fund, a substantial portion of the FAA’s budget. 

The U.S. House of Representatives passed a re-authorization bill in May, but the Senate did not complete its version of the bill due to a full calendar consisting mainly of health care reform legislation.

Conferees agreed on $77 billion for the DOT, including $15.992 billion for the FAA, a 3.4 percent increase over FY 09. The FAA’s largest account is the operations budget, which includes the Airport and Airways Trust Fund reduced from $5.238 billion to $4 billion. An increase was given to the general fund share of the FAA’s budget, $5.3 billion.

For the fifth year in a row, the Airport Improvement Program was funded at the same level of $3.515 billion. 

A detailed legislative report on this bill will be available at www.nata.aero shortly.

White House officials have said the money to fund infrastructure investments could come from savings from the financial rescue program, which cost less than anticipated. Earlier this year, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act set aside $48 billion for the Department of Transportation (DOT) to spend. Most of the funds went into highway and bridge projects, airport repairs, yet-to-be-awarded funds for high-speed passenger rail, and grants for projects of special importance. The DOT has to date paid out less than $7 billion but has obligated over $31 billion.

Speaking about his new proposals, Obama said, “We’re proposing a boost in investment in the nation’s infrastructure beyond what was included in the Recovery Act, to continue modernizing our transportation and communications networks. These are needed public works that engage private sector companies, spurring hiring across the country.” White House aides said the project spending would again include highways, transit, rail, aviation and water transport systems. One said it would also set aside “a significant amount” for “merit-based” construction such as intermodal projects that draw in investments from other parties as well.

To read Byer’s blog please click here.

The proposed de-icing effluent limitation guideline would mandate that certain technological solutions be employed at regulated airports.

To view NATA’s de-ice effluent limitation guideline regulatory report, click here.

A copy of the letter sent to the EPA requesting the comment period extension may be viewed here.

A new video will be released every few weeks and will focus on “hot topics” and important current events affecting the association’s membership and the general aviation industry at-large.

“These video briefings allow me to speak directly to our members on current political and financial issues affecting their companies,” Coyne stated. “I will also be able to provide some candid perspective as to how these issues impact the bottom line of aviation businesses and what actions our members can take to ensure that their companies are protected from new taxes and unnecessary regulations.”  

To view “FLY,” please click here.

To view the catalog of Coyne’s Video Briefings, please click here.

• AIP Program and Federal Grant Assurances
• General Contents of Minimum Standards
• Enforcement
• Review and Update of Minimum Standards
• Airport Rules and Regulations

There will be a question-and-answer period at the end of the webinar. FBO managers, airport sponsors and anyone interested in understanding the importance of airport minimum standards should plan now to attend! To register for NATA’s Airport Minimum Standards Webinar, please click here.

For more information, please contact Michael France, NATA director of regulatory affairs, mfrance@nata.aero.

In conducting the review, the ACSF analyzed each Part 135 on-demand event reported in the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) database and identified non-revenue flights flown under Part 91 that were under the control of a certificate holder. These include maintenance, ferry, positioning and instructional flights among others. Events on Part 91 flights under the operational control of an aircraft owner were not included.

Several interesting data-points emerged in the review:

• Approximately 65% of all revenue flight accidents, and 62% of non-revenue, occurred in visual meteorological conditions.
• Non-revenue (i.e. Part 91) fatal accidents accounted for 28% of all non-revenue accidents while 25% of all revenue accident flights were fatal accidents.
• Revenue accident flights involving transportation to/from oil rigs represent, on average for the five-year period, 18% of all accidents.

The ACSF refrains from drawing specific conclusions about these figures as the means to place them into proper context is dependent upon an accurate reporting of flight hours in each category. Such data is not collected by either the FAA or NTSB.

"The ACSF believes that our study provides an insight into the areas of our industry that deserve deeper evaluation to identify where higher risks actually lie. Without better data on how many hours are flown by aircraft type and mission, both government and industry are unable to make informed choices regarding interventions," explained ACSF Executive Director Jacqueline Rosser.

For example, during the five-year period examined, cargo flights accounted for 112 accidents and there were 128 passenger flight accidents. Without having accurate flight hours for each type of mission, it is impossible to determine whether these accidents represent a frequency proportional or disproportional to their actual exposure. Commenting on the inclusion of non-revenue flights in the review, Rosser explained, "Early on we made the decision to include Part 91 flights that were under the certificate holder's control. ACSF members have stated that the safety impact and risks for these flights are not well known within the industry. The charter operator is just as responsible for the safety of these flights as for those operated for-hire. It is imperative that we better understand the frequency and severity of these types of accidents so we can endeavor to improve operational safety overall, not just when passengers or cargo are onboard."

The Part 135 Incident/Accident Review will be updated annually as new information becomes available. Copies of the report are being delivered to every ACSF member. Non-members may order a copy of the publication for $25. Call ACSF at 888-723-3135 to place an order.

"Sun Air Jets is pleased to have successfully met the standards of the Air Charter Safety Foundation audit. The ACSF has raised the bar for safety in our industry and Sun Air is proud to be one of the first to comply with that high standard," said Stephen Lassetter, president & COO, Sun Air Jets, LLC.

The ACSF IAS is a revolutionary audit program developed by the foundation to set the standard for the independent evaluation of an air charter or shared ownership company's business systems, safety and regulatory compliance.

The IAS is the only audit program on the market today that comprehensively evaluates both an operator's Safety Management System (SMS) and its Part 135 regulatory compliance. The IAS consists of a rigorous review of an operator's processes and procedures, and regulatory compliance, as well as the business' implementation of, and adherence to, an SMS.

"I am very proud of our employees at Million Air Dallas who worked hard to earn the ACSF Registry. Our efforts in meeting the new higher standards show that safety is our number one priority for our clientele and owners," said Robert Schmidt, director of operations for Million Air Dallas.

Operators and charter consumers are enthusiastic about this independent evaluation, and industry support for the program continues to grow. Twenty-four audits were completed this year, and approximately thirty more are scheduled for 2010.

"Executive Fliteways is proud to have received ACSF certification of its Safety Management System (SMS). We have long recognized the value of an SMS as a means to improve the quality of the services we provide as well as to establish a method to evaluate our safety procedures continuously. We look forward to the time when all Part 135 operators have joined the ACSF Registry," stated Kenneth S. Gray, director of operations, Executive Fliteways, Inc.

With the deployment of the ACSF IAS, the charter consumer can be assured that audited and registered operators are compliant with the highest standards of safety and compliance. Customers should look for the ACSF IAS-registered logo and encourage their preferred charter provider to participate in the program. 

The ACSF makes its operator registry and key company details available at no charge, so verification of IAS registration is quick and easy. Charter consumers can view the registry at www.acsf.aero/registry. 

In his current role, Owen oversees Avfuel Corporation’s global supply chain supporting a network of over 600 branded aviation fuel dealers and hundreds of additional fuel locations accessible to general and commercial operators worldwide. Owen holds a Bachelor of Science in Aviation Business Administration from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Daytona Beach, Florida, and a Masters of Business Administration from the Ross School of Business at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, Michigan. He is currently based at Avfuel’s corporate headquarters in Michigan.

“Under Owen’s leadership we expect that the Environmental Committee will continue to provide direction to the association on environmental affairs, including finding innovative ways for our members to be industry leaders in environmental responsibility” said NATA Director of Regulatory Affairs Michael France.

The entire press release is available here.

The 2010 FBO Leadership Conference will address these questions, and more:

• What are the long-term implications of change for the industry, in general, and your business, specifically?
• How will you conduct 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?

New For Next Year 
The FBO Leadership Conference will be held at the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center in San Antonio immediately preceding NBAA's Schedulers & Dispatchers Conference. The close proximity of these two events will enable business leaders to meet with their customers and learn about the latest challenges and opportunities facing the industry.

Click here for a PDF of the brochure.

Click here to register on NATA's Web site.


Click here for a PDF of the registration form.