NATA News

The EPA has finalized this decision with a notice in the Federal Register, available here.

The letter from NATA, ATA, ACI-NA, AAAE and RAA is available to view here.

The draft guide letter explains that the FAA does not generally support or encourage TTF agreements as they often can lead to grant assurance violations by airport sponsors. For the few situations where the FAA feels that TTF agreements are acceptable, the guide letter provides a detailed list of provisions that should be included in the agreement.

NATA’s comments generally support the FAA position, but ask the agency to cooperate closely with industry stakeholders to ensure that the prohibition of residential TTF agreements does not harm certain federally obligated airports.

A copy of the draft Compliance Guide Letter can be viewed here.

A copy of NATA’s comments is available here.

Because the current FAA funding extension expires at the end of March, the taxes will lapse unless a reauthorization bill or additional funding extension is passed by Congress.

The commercial FET rates subject to inflationary adjustment are the Domestic Segment Fee, International Facilities Fee and the fee for flights to Alaska and Hawaii. Other rates (e.g. noncommercial fuel taxes, 7.5% for commercial passenger transportation and 6.25% for cargo) remain in effect unchanged and are not subject to inflationary adjustments.

The FET rates for 2010 are:

• Domestic Transportation of Persons Segment Fee : $3.70 (up from $3.60 in 2009)
• International Facilities Fee: $16.10 (unchanged from 2009)
• Fee for Flights to Alaska and Hawaii: $8.10 (up from $8.00 in 2009)

The Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR) establishes a 10 NM inner ring and 30 NM outer ring where various operations are restricted or prohibited. Within the 10 NM ring, flight operations are severely limited. Only security authorized, regularly scheduled and certain all-cargo flights are permitted.

In the area between the 10 and 30 NM rings, nonscheduled commercial flights and other operations are permitted if on an active VFR or IFR flight plan, squawking an assigned transponder code and if two-way communications with ATC are maintained.

Various types of flying are generally prohibited for the duration of the TFR within the 30 NM ring, including flight training, glider and parachute operations and banner towing. For a complete list of prohibited operations, consult the NOTAM. However, a special exclusion area has been created around Dillingham Airport. Within this 4 NM area only, flight training, parachute jumping and glider operations will be allowed.

Anyone planning flights in Hawaii during the TFR period is encouraged to consult the NOTAMS regularly to check for revisions and to ensure compliance.

Visit the FAA TFR Web site to view the current NOTAMS.

This NPRM would require any repair station, foreign or domestic, certificated under 14 CFR Part 145 to carry out a standard security program consisting of:

• Access controls for the facility, aircraft and/or aircraft components
• Measures for identifying individuals with access to the facility, aircraft and/or aircraft components
• Procedures for challenging unauthorized individuals
• Security awareness training for employees
• The name of the facility’s designated security coordinator
• A contingency plan
• The means to verify employee background information

NATA and the Aircraft Electronics Association (AEA) have partnered to produce a comment tool to assist their members in preparing and submitting comments on the NPRM to the TSA. The comment tool provides instructions on formatting and submitting official comments to the TSA along with a detailed review of specific areas of the NPRM on which members may want to comment.

The member comment tool is an invaluable resource for repair stations wishing to provide input to the TSA on the content and effects of this rulemaking. The tool is available for download here.

NATA and AEA have also tentatively scheduled a webinar on developing and submitting comments on the NPRM for January 5, 2010. More details and a registration page for the webinar will be available later this week.

• Access controls for the facility, aircraft and/or aircraft components
• Measures for identifying individuals with access to the facility, aircraft and/or aircraft components
• Procedures for challenging unauthorized individuals
• Security awareness training for employees
• The name of the facility’s designated security coordinator
• A contingency plan
• The means to verify employee background information

The NPRM will be open for public comment until January 19, 2010. NATA, in partnership with the Aircraft Electronics Association, has released a member comment tool (available here) to assist their members in drafting comments to the TSA on this proposed rule.

The webinar will cover:

• A review of the Proposed Repair Station Rule
• A review of the development and submittal process for commenting on the proposed rule
• A review of specific areas on which members may wish to provide comments
• Question and answer session

The hosts for this webinar are:
-Eric Byer, Vice President, Government and Industry Affairs, NATA
-Ric Peri, Vice President, Government and Industry Affairs, AEA
-Michael France, Director Regulatory Affairs, NATA

Click here to register for the January 5th webinar on the Repair Station Security NPRM.

A copy of the NPRM is available here.

New speakers have been added to the event schedule. Visit www.nata.aero/fbolc to view these program updates and more! 

The 2010 FBO Leadership Conference will address these questions:

• 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 for the FBO Leadership Conference on NATA's Web site.

Click here for a PDF of the registration form.

Happy Holidays
USA Today: Why So Supportive Of The Powerful Airline Lobby?
The Second Coming Is Here
Mending Fences: FAA Proposes Guidance On Through-The-Fence Operations
FAA Reauthorization – The Slow Grind
Security Issues Remain High Concern For GA Community
FAA Got It Right In Burbank
Can’t We All Just Get Along? Well, We Are In The GA Community!
When Charter Safety Becomes Politicized
Want To Solidify GA Support In Congress?
Survey Says, Regulatory Consistency, Now!
User Fee Battle – Take Two
Light At The End Of The Tarmac

Participate in survey.

FAA’s online interactive map, NextGen Technologies in the National Airspace System, gives users a graphical depiction of the status of:

• Satellite-Based Navigation
• ADS-B
• NextGen Demos
• NextGen Technologies
• Wake Turbulence Mitigation

The map is available by visiting www.faa.gov or by clicking here.

NATA's Board of Directors and staff extend best wishes for a happy and prosperous New Year!