NATA News

In the NPRM the FAA stated that Part 135 carriers should expect rules similar to, if not identical to, the final rules issued for Part 121 because the FAA views Part 135 operations to be “substantially similar” to those under Part 121. NATA strongly objects to this assertion and recommends that the agency follow the recommendations from the Part 125/135 Aviation Rulemaking Committee when it considers new rules for Part 135.

Although the comment period on the NPRM officially closes today, the FAA will accept late filed comments to the extent possible. Click here to view NATA’s comments.

More information on the rule, including a link to the NPRM is available in NATA’s Regulatory Report.

NATA concluded its 2010 NATA Aviation Business Roundtable last week after two days of high-level presentations from aviation industry leaders and top government officials.   

More than 70 aviation business leaders met with key political, policy and financial experts to discuss a number of critical issues affecting the aviation community, including the results of the 2010 mid-term elections, the economy, jobs, taxes, safety and security. An exclusive tour of the 89th Airlift Wing at Andrews Air Force Base concluded the event.

“It is clear from this year’s rise in attendance that the NATA Aviation Business Roundtable continues to provide real value to our participants,” stated NATA President James K. Coyne. “From leaders on Capitol Hill and at the Transportation Security Administration to those within our own industry, this year’s Roundtable provided a robust platform for our attendees to learn the latest economic, security and legislative issues that will affect their businesses in 2011 and beyond.”

Highlights from this year’s event included:

• An industry overview from NetJets Chairman and CEO David L. Sokol, including his thoughts on NetJets’ recent purchase of Marquis Jet and of 125 Embraer Phenom 300s.
• A post-2010 mid-term election analysis by acclaimed political analyst Stuart Rothenberg. During this review, Rothenberg highlighted that Republicans won 36 of the 48 seats in the U.S. House of Representatives held by Democrats that were carried by Senator John McCain (R-AZ) during the 2008 presidential election.
• TSA Administrator John Pistole’s overview of the latest security developments affecting the general aviation community.
• Hawker Beechcraft Chairman & CEO Bill Boisture’s review of the challenging economic and political climate that the general aviation manufacturing industry has faced over the last three years as well as this community’s outlook for the future.
• Congressman Sam Graves’ (R-MO) outlook as to what legislative issues Republicans will undertake once they take over the majority in the U.S. House of Representatives in 2011. It is anticipated that Graves, as the lead Republican on the House Committee on Small Business, will become chairman in 2011.
• U.S. Senate Subcommittee on Aviation Operations, Safety and Security Chairman Byron Dorgan’s (D-ND) review of the challenges in passing a long-term FAA reauthorization bill.
• Pharmaceutical Research & Manufacturers of America President John Castellani’s analysis of the challenges America’s businesses have seen since the economic recession.

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has published new security requirements, in the form of a Security Directive (SD) that all Twelve-Five Standard Security Program (TFSSP) operators must follow. The new provisions were released in response to the recent incidents involving explosive devices hidden in printer toner cartridges.

As announced by Homeland Security Department Secretary Janet Napolitano, additional security measures are being applied to all internationally-originating cargo bound for the United States. In particular, enhanced screening will apply to cargo designated as high risk. Additionally, there are new restrictions on toner and ink cartridges being brought on aircraft by passengers.

All holders of the TFSSP program should review the SD, located on the TSA’s secure Webboard, and ensure compliance.

The 2011 revision of NATA’s popular publication Refueling and Quality Control Procedures for Airport Service and Support Operations is now available for pre-order for NATA members. The 2011 revision is a complete rewrite that includes full-color photographs and a new easy-to-read format. Refueling and Quality Control Procedures for Airport Service and Support Operations is referenced in FAA Advisory Circular (AC) 150/5230-4A, Aircraft Fuel Storage, Handling and Dispensing on Airports as an authoritative source for “information about fuel safety, types of aviation fuels, fueling vehicle safety, facility inspection procedures, fueling procedures, and methods for handling fuel spills.”

The goal of this guide is to provide airport fuel service providers a comprehensive review of the many complex standards and requirements for the handling of aviation fuel in way that is easy to understand. The incorporation of full-color photographs adds to the usefulness of the 2011 revision as a teaching tool for new and seasoned fuel handling technicians alike.

The 2011 revision is expected to be available for delivery in mid-December. The regular price for the guide is $150 for NATA members and $250 for non-members. However, NATA members placing a pre-order on or before December 3, 2010 can receive this invaluable guide book for only $130.  Don’t miss your opportunity to get this industry leading guide book for a pre-publication price! Click the link below to order now!

Pre-Order your Copy of NATA’s Refueling and Quality Control Procedures for Airport Service and Support Operation now!

The Bermuda Department of Civil Aviation has announced mandatory Safety Management Systems (SMS) for private aircraft operators. A notice from the Department of Civil Aviation states that all private aircraft, to include Part 91 or 125 aircraft, arriving in Bermuda must comply with various ICAO standards, including having an SMS in place.

The notice lists several SMS programs/audits that are deemed acceptable, including the Air Charter Safety Foundation’s Industry Audit Standard.

The FAA has confirmed that enforcement of the SMS mandate does not apply to commercial operations such as those conducted under Part 135. 

NATA encourages all operators with pending or possible trips to Bermuda, particularly those operations that will occur under Part 91, to review the announcement and respond accordingly. Click here to download the notice from Bermuda.

The FAA describes an SMS as “a comprehensive, process-oriented approach to managing safety throughout an organization [that] includes an organization-wide safety policy; formal methods for identifying hazards, controlling, and continually assessing risk; and promotion of a safety culture.” The NPRM would require that Part 121 certificated air carrier’s develop an SMS program that consists of the four components outlined in the ICAO requirements:

• Safety Policy
• Safety Risk Management
• Safety Assurance
• Safety Promotion

In this NPRM, the FAA proposes an implementation time frame that would require all currently certificated Part 121 air carriers to submit an implementation plan within six months of the effective date of a final published rule. This implementation plan would be required to “ensure the certificate holder’s SMS would be fully operational within three years of the effective date (of a final rule)”. The NPRM preamble specifically requests public comment on the time frame for submission of an implementation plan.

The NPRM has been published in the Federal Register and will be open for public comment until February 2, 2011. Click here to download the NPRM.

In the current list of requirements, the FAA states that an applicant must have been “actively involved” in maintaining aircraft certificated and maintained in accordance with FAA regulations. However, it lacks the necessary clarification on what qualifies as “actively engaged,” leading to a substantial amount of confusion. In the newly proposed policy amendment, the FAA addresses the issue by adding language intended to help clarify the requirement. The new policy language, if adopted, will assist aviation safety inspectors (ASI) in making the appropriate determination when assessing IA applications, as well as prevent applicants’ confusion. Under the new language, those holding supervisory positions and as such are not actively engaged in maintenance activities, would not be permitted to retain their IA. The FAA intends for the new policy to go in effect for the next IA renewal cycle in March 2011.

Comments on the proposed policy must be submitted by December 6, 2010.  NATA is concerned with the proposed language and intends to provide its own comments later this week.

A copy of the notice of proposed policy can be found here.

A new rule that would require digital photos on all U.S. pilots’ certificates has cleared review by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). According to www.reginfo.gov, this rule “is necessary to update regulations about pilot plastic certificates [and] the intended effect of this action is to meet all requirements of the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act.”

This rule is not yet publicly available, but NATA expects publication of a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) in the Federal Register before the end of the year.

The following is an excerpt from a Policy Playbook blog post on this webinar called "Are We There Yet?" by NATA's Michael France: 

"Those of us who have ever been brave enough to drive a long distance with children in the car have undoubtedly heard the question “Are we there yet?” uttered over and over again. A child asking that question is usually just tired and bored with being in the car. As adults, we occasionally find ourselves asking the same question on long flights or in seemingly never-ending meetings (though we usually don’t shout it out repetitively). As business owners or managers, we may even sometimes feel that way about the future of our businesses." To read the full Policy Playbook blog post by Michael France on the upcoming Strategic Business Plan webinar, please click here.

To register for “The Strategic Business Plan – A Critical Tool for Developing, Operating, Managing, and Marketing an Aviation Business” webinar scheduled for Tuesday, November 16, 1:00 PM (EST), click here. Don't miss this FREE E-learn webinar!

The NATA 2011 Spring Training Week brochure will arrive in your mailbox over the next few weeks. In the meantime, visit www.nata.aero/springtraining for a preview and links to register for one or more of the following seminars. All seminars are held in conjunction with the Cygnus Aviation Expo in Las Vegas on February 21-24:

- Line Service Supervisor Training Seminar (February 21-22)
- NATA Safety 1st Trainer Seminar (February 23)
- NATA Environmental Compliance Seminar (February 24)