NATA News

Almost nine years after 9/11, general aviation access to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) is still limited to less than three flights a day. Signature Flight Support President and CEO Michael Scheeringa, who was also in attendance at the meeting, stated that while progress has been made such as the implementation of the DCA Access Standard Security Program much more still needs to be done to allow general aviation aircraft to access this vitally important airport.

Last week, Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officials announced changes to the process of obtaining waivers for general aviation aircraft conducting international operations.

Previously, general aviation flights were required to obtain a waiver from the TSA and also submit manifest information to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP). The information required for both was nearly identical, creating a duplicative and overly cumbersome process, especially considering both agencies are part of the DHS.

The DHS has stated it expects the new streamlined process to be in place by September 1. Under the new process, operators will only submit their manifest data, through the eAPIS interface, to the CBP. This will then fulfill both CBP manifest and TSA international waiver requirements.

NATA President James K. Coyne met with FAA Administrator Randy Babbitt last week during the Experimental Aircraft Association’s AirVenture in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss the avgas transition plan the General Aviation Avgas Coalition has developed and to secure the administrator’s support of a public-private partnership. The following day, Administrator Babbitt spoke before a few hundred people at AirVenture, and in his remarks Babbitt stated, “We are committed to working together, the FAA, along with EPA and industry to find a solution to the long-term future of aviation gasoline and to ensure that there is no interruption in the fuel supply before our goal is reached.”

To view NATA’s press release on General Aviation Avgas Coalition activities at EAA, please click here.

Congress has passed legislation extending federal aviation taxes and spending authority for the FAA for a disturbing fifteenth time. The 60-day extension will expire at the end of the fiscal year on September 30, 2010.

H.R. 5900 also included several provisions enacting new aviation safety reforms similar to H.R. 3371, the Airline Safety and Pilot Improvement Act, which passed the U.S. House of Representatives last October as a result of the Colgan Air crash outside of Buffalo, New York. Some of the provisions include requiring the FAA to ensure that pilots are trained on stall recovery and upset recovery and that airlines provide remedial training. In addition, the bill requires airline pilots to hold an FAA airline transport pilot license (1,500 minimum flight hours required). Under current law, first officers need a commercial pilot license, which requires 250 flight hours. The bill also includes the creation of a Pilot Records Database to provide airlines with electronic access to a pilot’s comprehensive record. Information will include a pilot’s licenses, aircraft ratings, check rides, notices of disapproval and other flight proficiency tests. Further, the bill establishes a rulemaking on training programs consisting of an expert panel to review Part 121 and Part 135 training hours to assess the optimal time needed for flight crewmembers to master aircraft systems, maneuvers, procedures, and take offs and landings.

Last week, it appeared that the bill’s conference negotiations would enable FAA reauthorization legislation to make it to passage; however, a few remaining contentious provisions caused the bill ultimately not to meet the deadline before the congressional August recess.

To view H.R. 5900, please click here.

NATA joined with other aviation industry groups last week in support of passage of a long-term bill. To read this letter, please click here.

Recently, NATA joined with other aviation industry groups in support of President Obama’s nominee to head the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), Duane Woerth. Currently, there is no permanent U.S. representative serving on ICAO. An excerpt from this letter follows:

We believe the U.S. has been disadvantaged by the lack of a Permanent Representative at ICAO over the past 18 months. During that time ICAO has hosted a number of high level events in aviation safety, security, and environmental matters, and the absence of a U.S. Permanent Representative has made it difficult to secure multi-lateral agreements on positions favorable to our interest. In addition, there are ongoing efforts by both the European Union and other regional blocks to advance their priorities for ICAO prior to the Assembly. We share a growing concern that the U.S. ability to impact those outcomes will be compromised, especially as they affect votes within ICAO, on the budget, or other issues that impact international aviation.

President Obama nominated Woerth for this position on July 1, 2010.To read the complete letter in support of Woerth, please click here.

The Senate has scheduled a confirmation hearing for August 5th to consider Woerth’s nomination.

The TSA’s DASSP allows general aviation flights to land at DCA after they have been pre-screened at one of the over 27 gateway airports and have complied with other provisions of the program.

At FRG, the DASSP-participating FBO is NATA member SheltAir Aviation Services. At MBS, NATA member Signature Flight Support is the participating FBO.

Additional information on the DASSP, including a complete list of approved gateway airports, is available from the TSA Web site.

To visit NATA’s DASSP issue page, please click here.

"Persons illegally conducting commercial flights adversely affect the entire air charter industry. Now more than ever, it is critical that aircraft operators maintain the high standards required of a Part 135 certificate holder,” said NATA President James K. Coyne.

Any employee or agent of a Part 135 on-demand certificate holder can call a special toll-free number, 888-759-3581, to file a report of suspected illegal commercial flights, where an aircraft operator without an FAA Part 135 certificate is accepting compensation for transportation in violation of both FAA and Department of Transportation regulations. Questionable marketing practices, including advertisements and Web sites, may also be reported on this line.

NATA has contracted with an independent third party individual who has knowledge of the air charter industry. Reports can be filed anonymously if desired, and all reporters will be provided with a case code for follow-up. Callers are encouraged to leave a message to permit follow-up if the contractor is unable to take the call immediately.

Operators are encouraged to compile as much factual data as possible regarding the suspected illegal activity. The more detail and facts or evidence that are supplied, the better the chances are that the FAA can conduct a meaningful review and investigation. The FAA will be provided with those details, and NATA will regularly contact the agency to ensure that appropriate action is being taken.

"By providing NATA with the funding to establish and support this reporting program, the FAA has demonstrated its willingness to address long-standing industry concerns with so-called ‘Part 134 and 1/2’ operators – those aircraft operators who sell transportation without the appropriate certification. This reporting service is an important step to ensuring a fair environment for properly certificated air carriers and a safe charter experience for the flight public," Coyne continued.

In addition to providing meaningful, actionable information to the FAA, this service will also permit NATA to collect data that may help quantify the scope of the illegal charter problem.

To learn more about NATA’s Illegal Charter Hotline, please click here.

The U.S. House of Representatives passed the fiscal year 2011 (FY11) funding bill for the Department of Transportation, which includes the FAA. H.R. 5850, provides $67.4 billion in discretionary spending, $1.3 billion below the President’s request and $500 million below FY10 levels. For aviation safety programs, $1.3 billion was provided, $70.42 million above FY10 and $10.5 million above the President’s request for FAA safety enforcement efforts. The legislation also includes $17 million to hire 122 additional safety inspectors to assist with NextGen development and the oversight of foreign repair stations. This additional funding is intended to help the FAA meet the safety goals established in the FAA’s administrator’s Call to Action in the aftermath of the tragic Colgan air crash.

NATA will provide a legislative report on H.R. 5850 this week.

Last week, Wisconsin Governor Jim Doyle declared July 26-August 1, 2010, “Wisconsin Aviation Week” and issued a proclamation promoting the value of general aviation. The proclamation recognizes the 132 public use airports around the state and the $3 billion economic contribution of and the 41,000 jobs across the state generated by general aviation. More specifically, the proclamation states that 85 percent of new or expanded manufacturing in Wisconsin occurred within 15 miles of a jet-capable airport.

To view the Wisconsin proclamation, please click here.

Also recognizing general aviation’s contributions to their state, Governor Steven Beshear declared July “General Aviation Appreciation Month” for the state of Kentucky. In addition, Governor Beshear issued a proclamation highlighting general aviation’s contributions to the state economy — $1.75 billion in economic activity that includes jobs in the industry. Communities throughout the state depend on general aviation aircraft and public use airports for important resources such as medical care, law enforcement and tourism.

To view the Kentucky proclamation, please click here.

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.