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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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ACTION CALL - Urge Congress To Support The Freedom From Government Competition Act |
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| NATA members are being asked to contact their Members of Congress to request they co-sponsor the Freedom from Government Competition Act. This may be easily done by accessing NATA’s legislative action center. It’s imperative to have as many co-sponsors of the bill as possible in order for Congress to consider the legislation.
U.S. Representative John Duncan (R-TN) and U.S. Senator John Thune (R-SD) introduced the Freedom from Government Competition Act (and H.R. 1474 and S. 785, respectively) to reduce unfair government competition with the private sector, including small business. The legislation seeks to end government monopolies and benefit the taxpayer by subjecting commercial activities being performed by federal employees within government agencies to market competition. Not only do federal agencies duplicate the services performed by private business, but many also engage in unfair government competition with the private sector. Many aviation businesses have been affected by unfair government competition.
H.R. 1474 and S. 785 have been referred to their respective committees of jurisdiction for further review. | |
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| Bill To Provide Relief For California Flight Training To Be Heard Today |
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Senate Bill 619 (SB 619) will be heard in the California Senate Committee on Business, Professions and Economic Development today. This bill includes language that would provide an exemption to any California flight training facility or flight instructor who does not require upfront payment of “tuition” or fees and does not require students to enter into a contact of indebtedness. Under current law, all flight training facilities and flight instructors will become subject to regulations issued by the California Bureau of Private Postsecondary Education on July 1, 2011.
NATA has asked its California members, via an Action Call, to contact the Members of the Committee on Business, Professions and Economic Development in support of SB 619. | |
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| Connecticut General Assembly Withdraws Personal Property Tax On Aircraft |
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On April 21, the Connecticut General Assembly’s Committee on Finance, Revenue and Bonding passed a budget proposal, House Bill 6387, excluding property tax on aircraft. In February, Connecticut Governor Dan Malloy released a budget proposal that sought to repeal the current tax exemption for aircraft parts and maintenance on aircraft under 6,000 pounds and assessed personal property tax on aircraft.
NATA is pleased that the committee ultimately decided to exclude personal property taxes on aircraft in the state. However, the tax for labor on aircraft under 6,000 pounds was included in a separate bill, House Bill 1007. The committee chairman did suggest further discussion on the repeal of the tax exemption on labor as they work on HB 1007. NATA will continue to work with the Connecticut General Assembly as they proceed on HB 1007. | |
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| NTSB Announces 2010 Aviation Accident Statistics |
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The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), in a press release, announced the Annual Aviation Statistics for 2010.
The data shows that Part 135 on-demand operations experienced 31 accidents, including 6 fatal accidents with 17 total fatalities.
A review of the data shows of the 31 total accidents,
- Piston-engine airplanes accounted for 19 accidents
- Turbo-prop-powered airplanes were involved in 5 accidents
- Helicopters represent 7 of the accidents
- No turbo-jet airplanes were involved in accidents
Regarding the six fatal accidents, piston-engine airplanes were involved in four of the accidents. A helicopter and turbo-prop airplane accounted for the remaining two fatal accidents.
Additionally, two medical transport-related flights accounted for nearly half the total number of fatalities. One accident involved a patient transport; the other was a practice flight where the operator was simulating an emergency medical transport. Combined, those two accidents represent eight fatalities.
Overall, the industry accident rate for 2010 was 1.05 accidents per 100,000 flight hours, a decrease from 2009. However, the fatal accident rate rose from .07 to .20 accidents per 100,000 flight hours. | |
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| Governor Sam Brownback Declares April General Aviation Month In Kansas |
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Today, Kansas Governor Sam Brownback declared April as General Aviation Month in the state. Governor Brownback also issued a proclamation highlighting general aviation’s vast importance to Kansas. The proclamation signifies the 140 airports serving 12,339 pilots and 6,421 general aviation aircraft in the state. Kansas is home to three general aviation aircraft manufacturers, Cessna, Hawker Beechcraft and Bombardier, which produce over half of all general aviation aircraft. The total economic impact of general aviation is $7.1 billion.
Kansas has a vast number of aviation businesses in the state, such as 91 fixed base operators, 24 charter flight companies, 110 repair stations, and 5 flight schools operating 52 aircraft and providing 115 jobs. | |
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| Sign-Up To Receive NATA’s Weekly Political Update |
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| NATA offers its members a political update on specific items that the U.S. House of Representatives, the U.S. Senate and the White House are working on each week. This weekly update provides detailed information on hearings, legislation that was introduced or debated in committee, and any issue that NATA is following within Congress or the White House. The update’s purpose is to provide members a more comprehensive view of the legislative matters on which the association is working. The Weekly Political Update is sent out via email only to NATA members who request to receive it. To view past weekly updates, please click here. If you wish to receive these updates, please click here. | |
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| Don’t Miss NATA’s 2011 Day On The Hill |
Today Is The Deadline To Make An Appointment With Your Member Of Congress
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| NATA’s Day on the Hill event provides member company representatives with a great opportunity to bring critical issues affecting our industry before key congressional policy makers and their staff. This year’s NATA Day on the Hill is May 5, 2011, and NATA encourages all members of the general aviation community to join us to have our voice heard on the wide array of issues affecting our industry. In addition, this community must keep educating Members of Congress and their staff on the immense value and economic impact the general aviation industry provides to this great country. And, the best way to remind our congressional leaders of this is to bring the local message to the federal level here in D.C.
To complement our Day on the Hill event, NATA will also recognize outstanding leaders from our industry during the association’s annual Industry Excellence Awards Dinner on the evening of May 4.
Please register today to make your voice heard! Today is the deadline to make an appointment with your Member of Congress, don’t miss out! Visit http://www.nata.aero/Events/2011-Day-On-The-Hill-and-Committee-Meetings.aspx to register, and contact Diane Gleason at dgleason@nata.aero to make housing arrangements. | |
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| FAA Regulatory Review Featured At Air Charter Summit |
| Register Today For June 6-8 Summit At The Marriott Westfields Near Dulles |
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John Allen, director, flight standards service, FAA, will provide Air Charter Summit attendees with updates on the agency’s current initiatives, including flight and duty time requirements, actions to publish the Part 135 ARC proposals, safety management system implementation and much more.
Allen leads an organization of over 5,000 regulators whose mission is to assure safety, while enabling the adventure, commerce and service of aviation. The FAA Flight Standards Service is responsible for setting regulations and promoting standards of operations and maintenance for air carriers, air agencies, general aviation, airmen and designees. Allen has been involved with aviation for over 30 years, not only as a regulator but also as a pilot. He has over 4,800 civilian and military hours, mostly in large transport category aircraft, as an instructor and examiner pilot.
This session is sponsored by Jet Solutions, LLC. Visit www.nata.aero/acs for more details on the Air Charter Summit agenda and to find out how you can help NATA and McFarren Aviation Consulting raise funds for the Veterans Airlift Command. | |
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| NATA President’s Capitol View Blog |
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NATA President James K. Coyne addresses the recent events regarding air traffic controllers, and the truth behind who is actually in control. Click here to read the blog post, “Wake Me I Must Be Dreaming” in its entirety. | |
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| Fact Of The Week – Industry News |
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According to an article on avweb.com, the Minnesota Court of Appeals has overturned a 2009 lower court ruling that found Cirrus Design Corp. liable for failing to provide “proficiency training” to new Cirrus aircraft owners. The lower court ruling had extended provisions in state law requiring manufacturers to notify customers of dangers resulting from product use to find liability if an aircraft manufacturer does not provide proficiency training to the purchaser of a new aircraft. The lower court ruling was based upon a crash in which the pilot and passenger will killed
The appeals court ruling stated that although aircraft manufacturers are required, under state law, to provide information on safe operation of the aircraft, that requirement does not create a requirement that manufacturers train pilots in the aircraft.
Click here to read the full article on businessweek.com | |
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