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NATA is the National Air Transportation Association
Founded in 1940, NATA aggressively promotes safety and the success of aviation service businesses through its advocacy efforts before government, the media and the public as well as by providing valuable programs and forums to further its members’ prosperity. |
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Professional Line Service Training |
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PLST Online provides the most up-to-date training available for line service specialists – 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Line service supervisors can conduct the new PLST Online training anytime and from anywhere there is access to the Web. continued |
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| Senate Finalizes Two-Year FAA Reauthorization Bill |
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| Last month, the U.S. Senate approved S. 223, FAA Air Transportation Modernization and Safety Improvement Act. The bill authorizes the FAA through September 2013, among other provisions. In addition, the legislation authorizes the Airport and Airway Trust Fund and the extension of various aviation taxes, including the 14-cents-per-gallon increase on jet fuel that has been incorporated into previous legislation. No general aviation "user fee" provisions were included in the bill.
A major topic of debate while the bill was being considered on the floor of the Senate was the controversial issue of allowing additional long-distance flights into Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA). Currently, 12 long-distance flights are allowed into and out of DCA daily. A compromise amendment doubles the number of flights with the potential for eight more after a thorough FAA study.
"NATA is pleased that the Senate has worked so diligently to pass such an important bill for the aviation industry," stated NATA President James K. Coyne. "We thank Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation Chairman John Rockefeller and Ranking Member Kay Bailey Hutchison for shepherding this bi-partisan legislation through the Senate."
With the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure marking up its version of long-term legislation earlier this week, there is optimism that the full House will soon approve the bill so a House-Senate conference committee can meet to resolve remaining differences between the bills and then send to the President. "As the March 31st deadline looms, we encourage leaders in both the House and Senate to continue building on this progress so a long-term bill can reach the President's desk without having to do another short-term extension," Coyne concluded.
To view NATA's Legislative Report on S. 223, please click here. | |
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| House General Aviation Caucus Gathering New Members |
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U.S. Representatives Sam Graves (R-MO) and John Barrow (D-GA) re-established the General Aviation Caucus in the U.S. House of Representatives for the 112th Congress. The caucus is open to all House Members despite party affiliation and committee assignments. In the previous Congress, the caucus had over 125 members. It is the goal of Reps. Graves and Barrow, the caucus co-chairmen, along with general aviation industry groups including the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association, Experimental Aircraft Association, General Aviation Manufacturers Association, National Air Transportation Association, National Business Aviation Association, Alliance for Aviation Across America, Air Care Alliance, Commemorative Air Force, Recreational Aviation Foundation, Antique Aircraft Association, and International Council of Air Shows, to ensure that the caucus has a large membership to draw upon to highlight important issues facing the general aviation industry.
In just a few short weeks of being re-established, the general aviation caucus is garnering attention among Members of Congress and their staff. Currently, there are 45 members of the caucus. The ultimate goal is to exceed 150 members, which is why we're asking NATA members to call upon their Member of Congress in the U.S. House of Representatives and request that they join the General Aviation Caucus.
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| Federal Appeals Court Denies Santa Monica Appeal Of FAA Ruling |
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The City of Santa Monica's efforts to ban certain types of aircraft from using the city-owned airport has once again received a judicial rebuke. On January 21, the Ninth District Court of Appeals in Washington, DC, denied a request from the City of Santa Monica appealing a lower court ruling that upheld the FAA's decision that the ban would violate federal law.
"The FAA's final agency decision, which concluded that [Santa Monica's] ban on Category C and D aircraft from [using the] airport was inconsistent with [the city's] contractual obligations to the federal government, was not arbitrary, capricious, an abuse of discretion or otherwise not in accordance with the law," wrote Chief Justice David Sentelle. "The petition for review is denied."
The City of Santa Monica has long contended that category C and D aircraft, aircraft with approach speeds greater than 121 knots, pose a safety concern due to the location of residential areas near the airport. Despite its vocal concerns over safety, the city has repeatedly refused solutions proposed by the FAA, instead favoring a complete ban on certain aircraft activity.
"The FAA remains ready, willing and able to help Santa Monica pay for installing an Engineered Material Arresting System at the airport to address the city's safety concerns," said Ian Gregor, an FAA spokesman.
The city's options, relating to instating the ban, now include petitioning the court for a rehearing, allowing the decision to stand or attempting to appeal the decision to the Supreme Court.
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| NATA Concludes Successful FBO Leadership Conference |
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| More than 100 FBO and airport professionals gathered at NATA's annual FBO Leadership Conference (FBOLC) in Savannah, Georgia. The successful two-day event began on February 7 with a general aviation leadership lunch and ended on February 8 with a session to segue into the NBAA Schedulers and Dispatchers Conference, February 9-11, at the Savannah Convention Center.
"The 2011 NATA FBO Leadership Conference provided a robust lineup of issues important to the association's member companies," concluded NATA President James K. Coyne. "I was thrilled with the participation level and involvement by attendees at each of our sessions."
Click here to read the press release on the 2011 NATA FBO Leadership Conference.
Visit www.nata.aero/fbolc to learn more about the 2011 NATA FBO Leadership Conference. | |
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| NATA Environmental Compliance Minute |
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| In this month's Environmental Compliance Minute, presenter George Gamble, of 2G Environmental, discusses Tier II reporting requirements. If your facility stores aviation fuel, you are most likely covered under the Community Right to Know Act and are required to submit Tier II information annually by February 28. Click on the link below to view this month's Environmental Compliance Minute.
Click Here To View
(Please be patient while video loads. Runtime: 3-5 min.) | |
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| President Offers FY 2012 Budget Proposal |
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Last month, President Obama offered his administration's Fiscal Year (FY) 2012 budget proposal. The proposal, like last year's, did not include any "user fee" proposals for the general aviation community and provides for a $370 million increase in funding for NextGen air traffic control modernization projects. The President's budget also slashes Airport Improvement Project funding from $3.5 billion for FY 2011 to $2.4 billion in FY 2012.
"We believe that the President's FY 2012 Budget proposal clearly identifies the need to modernize our nation's air traffic control system," stated NATA President James K. Coyne. "The President's proposal is the first step in an important process to ensure the necessary funding to support NextGen, airport infrastructure development and a number of other critical safety programs.
Commenting on the recent letter sent to President Obama in opposition to the inclusion of user fees within his FY 2012 budget proposal, Coyne stated, "We also thank those House members who joined the letter to the President opposing new user fees for general aviation. We believe this letter helped provide the impetus for a budget proposal void of new user fee taxes on the general aviation community."
To view NATA's Legislative Report on the President's FY 2012 budget proposal, please click here.
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| FAA Proposes New Rules For Part 139 Airports |
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Last month, the FAA issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) affecting airports certificated under Part 139. The NPRM, titled Safety Enhancements Part 139, Certification of Airports, would require affected airports to:
- Provide training for all individuals with unescorted access to non-movement areas (ramps, aprons, etc).
- Institute a runway friction monitoring program that utilizes calibrated continuous friction measuring equipment with a self-wetting system.
- Provide appropriate low-visibility surface enhancements and ground movement procedures if the airport is FAA approved for takeoff or landing operations below 1,200 feet RVR.
Additionally, the NPRM proposes a new rule that prohibits the making of any fraudulent or intentionally false statement on an application for a Part 139 certificate.
The training required under this proposed rule would have to address airport familiarization, including airport marking, signs and lighting, and procedures for access to and operation in the non-movement area. The FAA cited the facts that “[m]ost fatal [non-movement area] accidents involve ramp workers” and “[according to the Government Accountability Office] there are no federal or industry wide standards for ramp operations” as reasons for proposing this training requirement.
NATA staff will analyze the effects of this NPRM on the association’s membership as well as the industry in general and submit comments on the proposed rule to the FAA. This NPRM is open for public comment until April 4.
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| Coyne Addresses President Obama’s Executive Order For Regulatory Review |
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In a recent update to association members, NATA President James K. Coyne addressed President Obama’s recently signed Executive Oder aimed at reducing the burden of federal regulations.
“NATA intends to present the various federal agencies that regulate our industry a list of regulations and issues that we feel need to be addressed under the President's new Executive Order. I would like to ask you to help. Please let us know what your concerns are regarding federal regulations. NATA has established a dedicated email account to enable you to submit examples of regulations that prevent your business from growing or hiring more employees. I would ask you to take a few minutes and let us know what regulations concern you,” said Coyne.
Click here to view the full member update.
Your suggestions for regulations in need of change can be submitted to badregulations@nata.aero.
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| FAA Administrator Signs ARC Charter To Address Transition To Unleaded Avgas |
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FAA Administrator Randy Babbitt has signed a charter for an aviation rulemaking committee (ARC) that would address the issue of transitioning the industry to an unleaded aviation gasoline. The ARC has been tasked with:
- Investigating, prioritizing, and summarizing the current issues relating to the transition to an unleaded aviation gasoline.
- Providing recommendations for collaborative industry-government initiatives to facilitate the development and deployment of an unleaded aviation gasoline with the least impact on the existing piston-engine aircraft fleet.
During its investigation, the ARC is required to consider the following factors relating to unleaded avgas:
- Aircraft and engine performance requirements
- Properties and composition
- Airworthiness approval
- Environmental impacts
- Distribution infrastructure requirements
- Production issues
- Economic issues
This ARC has been created in response to a request from the General Aviation Coalition for the FAA to take a leadership role in industry efforts to develop and deploy an unleaded aviation gasoline. The General Aviation Coalition is an industry stakeholder group, comprising NATA, the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association, the Experimental Aircraft Association, the National Business Aviation Association, the General Aviation Manufacturers Association and the American Petroleum Institute, that has been working to identify the path to an unleaded future for general aviation.
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| 2010 NATA Industry Excellence Awards Call For Nominations |
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| NATA has published its annual call for nominations to acknowledge the individuals, offices, and organizations demonstrating excellence in their field and the highest level of customer service to the general aviation community.
Each year, NATA presents seven awards to the exceptional individuals and companies that have helped to improve the general aviation community. The recipients of five of these awards are chosen based upon NATA member-submitted nominations.
These awards cover five categories:
The Airport Executive Partnership Awardrecognizes an airport manager for outstanding efforts to nurture the relationships between aviation businesses and airport operators.
The Aviation Journalism Awardidentifies a journalist, writer, or publication that excels in consumer education or editorial support that is beneficial to the general aviation industry.
The Excellence In Pilot Training Awardrecognizes an individual or organization that has made outstanding contributions in safety, professionalism, leadership, and excellence in the field of pilot training.
The FAA Customer Service Excellence Awardrecognizes an FAA facility or facility staff member who represents the highest degree of customer service and elevates the quality of interaction between the FAA and aircraft maintenance and repair facilities, Part 135 certificate holders, airport service organizations, and flight schools.
The ATP/NATA General Aviation Service Technician Award acknowledges the exceptional performance of a licensed airframe and power plant mechanic or radio repairman who has practiced his or her craft for a period of 20 or more years.
Last year’s winners were:
- Airport Executive Partnership Award – Eric Frankl, executive director, Blue Grass Airport
- Aviation Journalism Award – AINalerts
- Excellence In Pilot Training Award – Arlynn McMahon, director of training and marketing, Aero-Tech Aviation
- FAA Customer Service Excellence Award – South Florida Flight Standards District Office
- ATP/NATA General Aviation Service Technician Award – Pat James, field service engineer, Cessna Aircraft Company
All nominations for these five awards must be received by NATA no later than March 18, 2011. The nomination form is available by clicking here. Members may also obtain a nomination form by calling the NATA headquarters at 800-808-6282 or by e-mailing Celeste Clark.
The awards will be presented during the 2011 NATA Day on the Hill and Spring Committee Meetings to be held in the Washington, DC area. | |
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| TSA Announces Two New Gateways |
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Indianapolis International Airport (IND) and Morristown Municipal Airport (MMU) are the newest gateway airports for Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA). Approval as a gateway allows operators with the DCA Access Standard Security Program (DASSP) to fly directly to DCA from Indianapolis, Indiana, or Morristown, New Jersey.
The Transportation Security Administration's (TSA) DASSP allows general aviation flights to land at DCA after they have been pre-screened at one of the nearly thirty gateway airports and have complied with other provisions of the program.
NATA member Signature Flight Support is the DASSP-participating fixed base operator at both locations.
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.
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| Concerns Raised Over Replacement Of Incandescent Bulbs With LEDs At Airports |
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The FAA is alerting all users of advanced vision systems to be aware that airports are replacing traditional incandescent bulbs with LED lights and that the LEDs can be significantly less visible. LED lights are also being used to light obstacles.
Certain systems, including Enhanced Flight Vision System (EFVS) and Enhanced Vision Systems (EVS), rely on a thermal imaging process for vision enhancement, and the ability of those devices to image LEDs is greatly diminished due to the light wave length and heat signature of LED lights when compared to incandescent bulbs. As a result, LEDs are not sensed by EFVS and EVS.
Users of Night Vision Goggles (NVG) are also notified of issues with LEDs. NVGs rely upon light amplification, but some LEDs fall outside the spectrum of NVG.
The FAA summarized its caution to users of EFVS, EVS and NVG equipment by stating, "Dramatic image changes may occur when maneuvering from a surface marked with incandescent lights to a surface marked with LED lights, additionally, LED obstacle beacons may be more difficult to identify."
The FAA is currently working to arrive at solutions that will permit full interoperability between LEDs and advanced vision systems.
EFVS, EVS and NVG users are encouraged to review the FAA Information Document on this subject.
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