NATA News

NATA is closely monitoring the situation on Capitol Hill and will update the membership with the latest developments.

To learn more about the Senate and House FAA reauthorization bills, please visit the links below:

House FAA Reauthorization Bill

Senate FAA Reauthorization Bill

Recently, NATA, along with representatives from Signature Flight Support, the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association, the General Aviation Manufacturers Association, the National Business Aviation Association and several operators that utilize Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA), met with Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officials to discuss operational activity into DCA as well as review the DCA Access Standard Security Program. The all-day meeting, which was announced by TSA General Manager for General Aviation Brian Delauter last month during NATA’s 2010 Air Charter Summit, provided the general aviation industry an outstanding opportunity to highlight with TSA officials a number of concerns on ways to expand access into and out of DCA while addressing the continuing concerns of U.S. Department of Homeland Security officials.

“My hat goes off to Brian and his staff for coordinating this productive meeting and exploring avenues to truly ‘re-open’ DCA,” stated NATA Vice President of Government & Industry Affairs Eric R. Byer. “I am confident that over the next few months we will see a higher number of operations thanks to the TSA’s willingness to sit down with industry and listen to our concerns.”

To review NATA’s DCA Access Standard Security Program Issue Page, please click here.

For additional questions about this meeting, please contact Eric R. Byer.

The General Aviation Avgas Coalition announced at the Experimental Aircraft Association’s 2010 AirVenture in Oshkosh, WI, a strategy for the future of aviation gasoline (avgas). The General Aviation Avgas Coalition, which includes the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association, American Petroleum Institute, Experimental Aircraft Association, General Aviation Manufacturers Association, National Air Transportation Association, National Business Aviation Association, and National Petrochemical and Refiners Association, is calling for the Federal Aviation Association (FAA) to implement a comprehensive program to develop aircraft engine emissions and airworthiness regulatory standards to reduce or remove lead from the fuel used in piston-engine aircraft.

Based on an Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (ANPR) from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regarding lead content in aviation gasoline, the coalition was created to ensure the long-term viability and safety of general aviation as the industry seeks to reduce or remove lead from avgas. The EPA’s ANPR initiates a regulatory process to move toward the removal of lead in avgas in the future even though no known replacement is available for high-octane fuel at this time. More importantly, there is NO date set by which the EPA will ban 100LL.

The coalition’s goals are to ensure the continued availability of 100LL until a replacement solution is implemented, minimize the EPA’s actions on general aviation, and facilitate the FAA’s leadership role in ensuring the safety and establishment of appropriate airworthiness and lead emissions standards. The process being undertaken by the coalition will allow for all proposed alternatives to be equally evaluated and considered.

On Monday, the EPA informed the General Aviation Avgas Coalition that it will work with the general aviation industry and the FAA as the government and the industry seek a safe, viable alternative to the current formulation for aviation gasoline, which uses a lead additive. The commitment to work with industry came in a written response to several questions submitted to the agency by the avgas coalition.

In a letter from Margo Tsirigotis Oge, director of the EPA’s Office of Transportation and Air Quality, the agency told the coalition, “EPA has not established or proposed any date by which lead emissions from aircraft operating on leaded avgas would need to be reduced. In fact, EPA does not have authority to control aviation fuels.”

The EPA, she notes, is responsible for determining which chemical or physical properties of a fuel or fuel additive endangers the public health. But only the FAA has the authority to regulate which fuels aircraft may burn. “[H]ence,” Oge continued, “the EPA is coordinating closely with FAA as we evaluate emissions of lead from piston-engine aircraft.”

“Finding a safe, viable alternative that works all the way from the refining process to aircraft operation remains an enormous challenge,” said Eric R. Byer, NATA’s vice president of government & industry affairs. “Two decades of research has failed to identify a simple ‘drop-in’ solution. Thus, the coalition is now working to establish a process for evaluating fuels from a production, distribution, economic, operational, and environmental standpoint.”

Finally, the EPA assured the coalition that it recognizes the value of general aviation, especially piston-powered general aviation, to the nation and the national economy.

”EPA recognizes the value of piston-engine general aviation throughout the United States and specifically in remote regions,” wrote Ms. Oge. “Any EPA action to require piston-engine aircraft to reduce emissions of lead in the future will involve a thorough public process of identifying options and will consider safety, economic impacts and other impacts. The EPA is committed to working with these stakeholders to keep piston-engine aircraft flying in an environmentally acceptable and safe manner throughout the United States.”

“The General Aviation Avgas Coalition and the EPA have worked closely to understand the issues involved in finding a solution ever since it issued its Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking earlier this year,” concluded Byer. “We look forward to continuing our work with the EPA.”

In his letter, Senator Begich, who serves as the GA Caucus Co-Chairman in the Senate, outlined the value of general aviation to Alaska:

“Most of Alaska’s rural communities are served by shorter gravel airstrips which cannot accommodate larger jet aircraft. Because of these logistical limitations, general aviation and air taxis are a critical component of commerce and are the prevalent method of transporting people, goods, and mail to Alaska’s roadless communities. The EP states “lead is not used in jet fuel, the fuel utilized by most commercial aircraft.” While this statement may hold true for the lower 48 states, the vast majority of commercial aircraft in Alaska are smaller piston-driven aircraft, which use avgas.”

The Senator has also asked that the comment period for the ANPR be delayed by an additional two months, until October 31, 2010. The General Aviation Avgas Coalition, comprising NATA, the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association, the Experimental Aircraft Association, the National Business Aircraft Association, the American Petroleum Institute and the National Petrochemical Refiners Association, had originally requested an extension of the comment period to late October but were only granted a 60-day extension until August 27, 2010.

Click here to read Senator Begich’s letter to the EPA.

For aviation programs, the bill includes $1.3 billion, $70.42 million above FY10 and $10.5 million above the president’s request, for the FAA’s safety enforcement efforts, including $17 million to hire 122 additional safety inspectors to assist with NextGen development and the oversight of foreign repair stations. This additional funding was included to help meet the safety goals established in the FAA administrator’s Call to Action in the aftermath of the Colgan air crash. In addition, the bill includes $2 million for aviation gasoline for a potentially viable fuel to replace 100LL in the future.

The U.S. Senate Committee on Appropriations held a subcommittee mark-up on Transportation, Housing and Urban Development to approve their FY11 spending bill. The $67.9 billion bill funds transportation and housing programs, $800 million below President Obama's budget request, the same level as last year. The bill provides total resources for FY11 of $122.5 billion, $700 million below the president's request and $400 million above the FY10 level. For aviation safety, $15 million is provided to hire an additional 150 aviation safety inspectors. $3.5 billion is included for the Airport Improvement Program for capital investments at airports across the country.

NATA is pleased to announce that Phillips 66 Aviation will provide its branded aviation dealers with NATA’s Safety 1st PLST Online line service training. Phillips branded dealers will have access to this popular training program through a proprietary Phillips 66/NATA Web portal.

“The ConocoPhillips Company takes safety seriously. We are excited to be able to provide this industry-recognized professional line service training program to our branded dealers,” said Rod Palmer, manager of general aviation for Phillips 66 Aviation. “Our dealers and their staff can now become Safety 1st Certified at little or no cost to them.”

Dealers will be allocated a number of training courses depending on their size. More can be purchased at a special subsidized rate, if needed.

“Phillips 66 Aviation is making a phenomenal investment in a large number of their branded FBOs’ employees by providing the training,” said NATA President James K. Coyne. “This endeavor is just one demonstration of the strong commitment to safety that is such an admirable quality of Phillips 66 Aviation.”

NATA and Phillips 66 expect to begin offering access to training before the end of the summer.

Ohio Governor Ted Strickland issued a proclamation declaring July 16, 2010 "Aviation Industry Awareness Day." The proclamation highlights the $5.5 billion in economic impact and 17,352 jobs general aviation provides to Ohio as well as the importance of these airports and aircraft for communities and businesses across the state.

"I am proud to declare July 16, 2010 'Aviation Industry Awareness Day,'" said Governor Strickland. "As the 'Birthplace of Aviation,' it is fitting that we celebrate those who love to fly and recognize the critical importance of this form of transportation to our livelihood and our economy. Whether it's aerospace, aircraft manufacturing, educational institutions or our vast network of over 160 community airports statewide, aviation is a crucial part of our state and country's infrastructure, and we need to continue to support and encourage the growth of this vital industry."

Ohio is home to 60 charter flight companies, 131 airport stations, two fractional providers, and 13 flight schools operating 95 aircraft and providing 251 jobs. In addition, there are 124 fixed base operators in the state.

You can view the proclamation by clicking here.

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 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 that 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.

To learn more about NATA’s Safety 1st Flight Crew Briefings, please click here.

The U.S. Senate approved by unanimous consent the nominations of Dr. Earl Weener and Dr. Mark Rosekind to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). Weener is a fellow at the Flight Safety Foundation and retired from Boeing as a chief engineer in the company’s commercial airplane division. During his confirmation hearings in March, Weener told the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, "I have been actively involved in advancing safety, more specifically aviation safety, for more than four decades as a private citizen, as a participant and technically trained professional in the commercial or private sector and as an active professional and consultant, educator and advocate in the not-for-profit sector. As an individual, at the beginning of my aviation career, I flew as an air taxi pilot and endeavored to teach people to fly airplanes safely. I continued as a flight instructor throughout my college days to the present." The White House nominated Weener to the NTSB in January 2010.

Rosekind was involved in investigative work early in his career on flight crew fatigue while working for the National Aeronautics Space Administration. During his confirmation hearings in November, Rosekind stated, "My own passion has been to study human fatigue and apply scientific knowledge to improve performance and safety in diverse settings, including all modes of transportation. Fatigue has been on the NTSB's Most Wanted List since its inception in 1990. Clearly, over the years the NTSB's findings and my professional endeavors have led us to the same conclusion: that effectively managing fatigue is a critical factor in human performance and transportation safety.” Rosekind was nominated to the NTSB in October 2009.

Backcountry airstrips provide significant benefits to the general public that are often unknown such as search and rescue, fire management, research, disaster relief and wildlife management. Unfortunately, these airstrips are repeatedly the target for closure by the federal government or special interest groups. H. Res 1473 was introduced to bring awareness to the importance of backcountry airstrips and recreational aviation.

The resolution sponsors sent a letter to their colleagues in the U.S. House of Representatives to garner support for the resolution. Once they gain the desired support, H. Res 1473 will be on the calendar for a vote in the House.

The U. S. Congress is due to adjourn this week for a six-week August recess. This lengthy adjournment will allow Members of Congress to spend time in their districts and states prior to the mid-term elections on November 2. With advance notice, Members of Congress welcome the opportunity to visit constituents and local businesses in their community. NATA encourages you to host a congressional tour to showcase your business, airport or facility and educate your Members of Congress and their staff about the importance of your aviation business to the community and to our nation’s economy.

For more information on hosting a congressional tour, please click here to view NATA’s Congressional Tour Webpage.