NATA News

NATA is seeking support for the inclusion of legislative language in H.R. 7, the American Energy and Infrastructure Jobs Act of 2012 (the Highway Bill) to repeal the "fuel fraud" provision.

The fuel fraud provision, which was included in the 2005 Highway Bill, changed the collection of taxes for non-commercial aviation jet fuel and required the funds to be deposited into the Highway Trust Fund. This diversion of aviation fuel tax revenue has cost the Airport and Airway Trust Fund approximately $50 million annually since the bill’s enactment and is anticipated to cost another $500 million over the next ten years. This policy has increased Highway Trust Fund revenues at the expense of the Airport and Airway Trust Fund. In addition, the burdensome process of filing for the 2.5-cent-per-gallon refund with the IRS has put an undue burden on aviation businesses although there is no substantial evidence to prove that fuel fraud is taking place.

Contact your Members of Congress in both the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate today encouraging them to support a repeal of the onerous fuel fraud tax.

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Late yesterday, President Obama signed the final version of the long-delayed FAA reauthorization bill, H.R. 658, the FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012.

The legislation provides nearly $16 billion per year to the FAA through fiscal year 2015 (FY 15), and authorizes $3.35 billion annually for the Airport Improvement Program through FY 15.

To view NATA’s Legislative Report on the bill, please click here.  

To learn more about this bill’s impact on aviation businesses, please read the webinar story below by clicking here.

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NATA Vice President of Government and Industry Affairs Eric R. Byer today issued a blog, in David Letterman fashion, citing the reasons why the President’s FY 2013 budget is dead on arrival and should be considered fish wrap.

Click here to read this blog post in its entirety.

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Congress recently passed legislation, H.R. 658 the FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012, to reauthorize the FAA for four years, the first bill since the expiration of the previous long-term bill in September 2007. H.R. 658 includes a number of provisions important to NATA members. Join us on Tuesday, February 21, 2012, as NATA staff run through the aspects of the bill that impact the membership. This one-hour webinar is FREE for NATA members.

Speakers:
Eric Byer, NATA Vice President, Government and Industry Affairs
Jacqueline Rosser, NATA Director, Regulatory Affairs
Kristen Moore, NATA Director, Legislative Affairs
Date/Time: Tuesday, February 21, 2012, at 12:00 EST

Visit www.nata.aero/webinars to register.

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The federal government is looking to fine collection as a revenue source, and it is becoming increasingly difficult to negotiate down fines. This webinar will discuss how to analyze violations, how to defend and/or mitigate violations and, most importantly, what steps you can take to ensure that you are prepared so the next time you are violation-proof.

Speaker: Lisa Harig, Esq., McBreen & Kopko
Date/Time: February 23, 2012, at 12:00 EST
Price: $49.95 per location
Click here to register.

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Colin Bane submitted the following blog post (which also recently appeared in the NATA’s Q4 2011 ABJ) about the upcoming FBO Finance Fundamentals Seminar to be held at NATA’s Spring Training Week March 5-8 in Las Vegas.

"One of the great things about our industry is that we frequently see people work their way up through the ranks from the line to management positions," said Phil Botana, president of Tampa International Jet Center. "It's the American dream writ large across the general aviation industry, but it also presents a challenge: These are good, hard-working people who deserve to be promoted, but they are frequently also people with no real financial management training. How do you give them opportunities to learn about the business side of things and give them the tools to empower them to be better managers? I made the mistake one day a few years ago of saying I might have some answers to that question, and here we are."

Botana and Mark Chambers, managing partner at Aviation Resource Group International (ARGI) in Colorado, will present their FBO Finance Fundamentals seminar March 6-7, 2012, during NATA's Spring Training in Las Vegas. The seminar places emphasis on understanding financial reporting, business flows, key ratios, and metrics, as well as business planning, budgeting and accounting, allocating costs, negotiating, and developing operating and capital plans.

Click here to read this blog post in its entirety.

Visit www.nata.aero/springtraining for more details on this and other Spring Training seminars and events.

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Don’t Miss A Capital Week For Aviation Business -- March 27-30, 2012, in Washington, DC Housing Deadline is March 5th – Book Your Room Today

More than 150 industry leaders will come together one week in Washington for a variety of events, including the FBO Leadership Conference and new FBO Managers Workshop. All events will be held at the Hyatt Regency Washington on Capitol Hill.

Other NATA Capital Week for Aviation Business Events:

• NATA Annual Meeting and Election of NATA Officers
• Day on the Hill Luncheon and Congressional Visits
• NATA Committee Meetings

FBO Leadership Conference table-top displays as well as sponsorship opportunities for various Capital Week events are available. Contact Diane Gleason at dgleason@nata.aero to inquire.

Visit www.nata.aero/events to learn more about these events and for links to register today.

Please note: To guarantee the $279/per night room rate, you must book your hotel by March 5th.

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The first quarter of NATA’s Aviation Business Journal is in the mail and now available at www.nata.aero or by clicking here.

In This Issue:

• Rebranding your FBO: How to Make A New Name Make Marketing Sense
  
• Fargo Jet Center: A North Star Shining
  
• Finally - A Safety Rating for FBOs
  
• The ABCs of PEOs
  
• NATA Maintenance Perspectives
  
• And much more.

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