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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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139 Fire Safety Training Online |
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This training not only meets and exceeds the requirements of 14 CFR 139.321 but also allows you to interact with other students in a group learning environment, receive the very latest NFPA news, watch live training presentations and much more. |
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Pre-Employment Screening Exam |
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NATA is offering the first pre-employment screening exam specifically for line service technicians and FBO customer service specialists.
With predecessor exams already in use at more than 900 companies worldwide, NATA has adapted the most cost effective and revealing pre-employment testing and post employment testing available for FBO use. |
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| House Passes Economic Stimulus Legislation |
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| Last week, the United States House of Representatives passed legislation, H.R. 1 The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, containing $819 billion to help stimulate our nation’s ailing economy. Specific funding includes $365 billion for energy, transportation and education projects, $180 billion for jobless benefits and Medicaid, $275 billion in tax relief, including a $500 payroll-tax holiday, and $69 billion to exempt millions of Americans from the alternative minimum tax in 2009. The legislation included infrastructure funding designed to aid highway, bridge, railroad and aviation projects that have been put on hold due to lack of federal and state funding. While $3 billion is provided in the bill for Airport Improvement Programs (AIP) projects, the local matching requirement remains in place for these funds where it has been waived for highway, rail and other projects.
Also, last week the U.S. Senate Committee on Appropriations passed its version of the economic stimulus package out of committee despite concerns raised by Republicans about whether the measure will quickly jump-start the economy. Senate Appropriations Chairman Daniel Inouye (D-HI) said the government must "use all means available to address the economic crisis because of the increase in job losses. Failure to act could lead to much greater deficits and economic problems for our nation for years to come.”
The Appropriations portion of the stimulus consists of $365 billion in discretionary spending under the committee's jurisdiction, which is $7 billion more than the House package. In addition, $1.1 billion is included for AIP which provides 100% federal funding, waiving the local match requirement. The U.S. Senate is expected to vote on the legislation in the next two weeks. | |
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| Four Weeks Left Until LASP Comment Deadline; Members Encouraged To Utilize NATA LASP Membership Tool Today To Submit Comments |
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| Members are strongly encouraged to submit comments on the Large Aircraft Security Program (LASP). With the February 27, 2009 comment deadline quickly approaching, NATA urges its members to utilize its LASP Membership Comment Tool that is available for download from the association’s LASP Issue Page.
Members having questions about this document or the LASP should contact Eric Byer. | |
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| NFPA 409 UPDATE: Association To Discuss Petition Development Process With NFPA Officials This Week |
| Members Will Be Asked For Input And Expertise In Development Of New Building Fire Code For GA Aircraft Hangars |
| The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), which develops building fire codes including requirements for aircraft hangars, recently proposed new technical changes (see link to Report on Proposals below) that will affect the development of new aircraft hangars.
The NFPA is widely recognized as the authority for the development and implementation of building fire codes. For the general aviation industry, NFPA 409 provides building fire codes for all aircraft hangars in most jurisdictions throughout the United States. Specifically, general aviation entities adhere to fire code requirements for Group II hangars (hangars that are over 12,000 square feet with hangar doors 28 feet high or less) and Group III hangars (hangars that are less than 12,000 square feet) under NFPA 409.
To view the Report on Proposals for NFPA 409: Standard on Aircraft Hangars, please click here.
To learn more about NFPA 409: Standards on Aircraft Hangars, please click here.
NFPA 409 currently mandates that aircraft hangar owners incorporate foam fire suppression systems that require an enormous amount of water in addition to foam in the development of new aircraft hangars and that water be collected in a cistern or other safe containment device. These two requirements already place a huge financial burden on aircraft owners, equaling the cost of the aircraft hangar itself by some estimates. New technical changes to this mandate make these requirements even more onerous to small businesses that have aircraft hangars. The NFPA 409 code is also incredibly complicated according to experts and is interpreted differently throughout the country.
NATA quickly launched an aggressive grassroots campaign requesting that the NFPA extend the comment deadline (March 6, 2009) for these new technical changes so the general aviation industry would have ample time to review, prepare and submit its concerns.
Shortly after launching this grassroots campaign, NATA received confirmation from the NFPA that it has agreed to work with association staff to learn more about the petition development process. After this meeting, NATA will work with its members and industry partners to develop a comprehensive petition requesting that a new building fire code for general aviation aircraft hangars be developed. Many of those members who have contacted the association or sent letters requesting an extension may be contacted for their input and expertise in the development of this petition.
Once a petition has been developed, the association will submit it to the NFPA. NATA member companies will then be asked to contact NFPA in support of the petition.
At this time, no meeting will take place at NFPA Headquarters in Quincy, MA, as most of the discussions can be conducted on the phone. NATA greatly appreciates the outpouring of support on this issue, including offers to participate in a meeting at NFPA Headquarters. The association will continue to update its members regularly on this important issue.
Members who have questions on NFPA 409 may contact Eric Byer. | |
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| NTSB Cites Poor Decisions, Lack Of SMS In 2007 NASCAR Accident |
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| The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) last week determined that the July 2007 accident involving a Cessna 310R, part of the fleet operated by the NASCAR corporate aviation division, was caused by a series of poor decisions, both by corporate flight department management and by the pilots who flew the accident aircraft. The two pilots onboard the airplane and three people on the ground were killed, while four others were seriously injured as a result of the accident that occurred in Sanford, FL.
The Cessna 310R crashed into a residential area, destroying two homes, while performing an emergency diversion to the Orlando Sanford International Airport (SFB) after reporting an in-flight fire. In its final report, the NTSB said that the accident was due to: “(1) the NASCAR corporate aviation division's decision to allow the accident airplane to be released for flight with a known and unresolved electrical system problem, and (2) the accident pilots' decision to operate the airplane with full knowledge of the maintenance discrepancy.”
The day before the accident, another NASCAR pilot flew the accident aircraft and reported a "burning smell" while in flight. The pilot turned off the weather radar and manually pulled the associated circuit breaker, after which the odor dissipated. He recorded this event in the aircraft's maintenance discrepancy binder and reported it to senior staff in the NASCAR corporate flight department.
Despite being aware of this unresolved issue involving the aircraft's electrical system, the flight department released the aircraft for flight, and the two pilots, one of whom was employed by NASCAR and was aware of the unresolved electrical problem, accepted the aircraft for their planned flight between Daytona Beach and Lakeland. At some point prior to or during the accident flight, it is likely that one of the pilots reset the circuit breaker that had been pulled on the previous flight, re-energizing related components in the electrical system, which likely led to the in-flight fire.
"From the time the plane landed the night before the accident with a known maintenance issue to the time it was airborne the next morning, there were numerous opportunities that should have been taken to stop the chain of events that led to this terrible loss," said NTSB Acting Chairman Mark V. Rosenker.
Additionally, in its findings that the NASCAR flight department had inadequate policies and procedures to prevent an aircraft with a known maintenance issue from being released for flight, the NTSB determined that had a Safety Management System (SMS) been in place, which would have provided a formal system of risk management and internal oversight, the accident might have been avoided. Rosenker remarked that "given how effective SMS would likely have been in this accident, those corporate flight departments without one should study the lessons of this accident and ask themselves how they can justify operating without the substantial safety improvements such a program provides."
As a result of the investigation, the NTSB issued five recommendations to the FAA. One of those recommendations was for the FAA to “develop a safety alert to encourage all FAR Part 91 business operators to adopt a Safety Management System that includes sound risk management practices.”
A synopsis of the NTSB's report, including the probable cause and recommendations, is available on the NTSB Web site at http://www.ntsb.gov/Publictn/2009/AAR0901.htm. | |
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| ACSF Announces Availability Of New Audit Standard |
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| The Air Charter Safety Foundation (ACSF) has announced the availability of the foundation’s highly-anticipated Industry Audit Standard. Beginning today, air charter operators and shared aircraft program managers may commence the process to achieve status as an ACSF Industry Audit Standard registered operator.
The ACSF Industry Audit Standard (IAS) is a revolutionary program built from the ground up to set the standard for the independent evaluation of an air charter operator’s and/or shared ownership company’s safety and regulatory compliance, and incorporates Safety Management System (SMS) evaluation.
The IAS was developed to bring the various interests - operators, consumers, auditors and even regulators - together to create a measurement tool that applies a consistent, high-quality standard to the industry.
Several industry leading firms have already agreed to accept the ACSF IAS.
The largest purchaser of charter in the United States, NetJets Aviation, Inc., has announced it will accept an IAS registration for its supplemental lift purchases and that it will also schedule an IAS review for its fractional program. “NetJets Aviation, Inc. looks forward to completing the ACSF’s Industry Audit Standard,” commented James C. Christiansen, president, NetJets Aviation, Inc. “Our industry needed to coalesce around one comprehensive audit standard and the Air Charter Safety Foundation has provided the community with the model standard.”
Jim Betlyon, CEO, CharterX Wyvern, stated, "Wyvern shares the vision of the Air Charter Safety Foundation. Safety is more than words, and the ACSF has stepped up to fill an industry requirement. Wyvern is excited to support the ACSF both in providing audit services and the online data systems for the ongoing monitoring of the audited operators."
"I am pleased to see that ACSF has taken the initiative to develop a universal audit standard for charter operators and shared aircraft management companies, similar to what has been in place for years with the scheduled airlines,” stated William R. Voss, president & CEO of Flight Safety Foundation. “ICAO and international regulators will be counting on industry codes of practice to help them regulate general aviation around the world. This new standard fills that void for the charter community.”
“Jet Solutions is proud to be one of the first operators to demonstrate our commitment to the Air Charter Safety Foundation and the Industry Audit Standard,” stated Dennis Keith, president, Jet Solutions, LLC. “Jet Solutions recently had an ACSF IAS team conduct a thorough audit of our operations. I can personally attest to the integrity of the audit and appreciate the thoughtful feedback provided by the audit team.”
Customers should look for the ACSF IAS registered logo and encourage their preferred charter provider to participate in the program. Any consumer will be able quickly and easily to validate the status of an operator through the ACSF audit Web site.
Operators wishing to learn more, or who want to initiate the audit process, can obtain the necessary materials at www.acsf.aero/audit. | |
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| NATA Members Encouraged To Attend ACSF Safety Symposium |
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| Presented by the Air Charter Safety Foundation (ACSF), the annual Air Charter Safety Symposium is a must-attend event for aircraft operators and managers. During the two-day event, attendees will gain specific knowledge to identify coming safety initiatives and the capability to improve the safety of their operation and educate their business’ leaders on the value of safety programs.
Register now to attend the Air Charter Safety Symposium March 3-4, 2009!
The 2009 Air Charter Safety Symposium, on March 3-4, 2009, at the NTSB Training Center in Ashburn, Virginia, will feature several industry experts who will brief attendees on the emerging safety issues confronting air charter operators and fractional ownership program. Among the scheduled sessions are:
- Selling SMS To Corporate
NTSB Member and well-known safety expert Robert Sumwalt will draw on his prior experience to give attendees the information necessary to gain support for development of a Safety Management System from their businesses executives.
- State of Safety 2008 was a challenging year for safety in the Part 135 industry. NTSB Member Deborah Hersman will review the industry’s overall safety record, highlight the key trends being tracked by the NTSB and provide insight into the challenges ahead.
- Beyond the Hype – Addressing Real Security Threats
Separating theory and speculation from fact, this session will highlight the true security threats facing operators and explain practical measures that businesses of any size can adopt to mitigate security concerns.
- ASAP Implementation
NetJets Aviation has successfully implemented an Aviation Safety Action Program (ASAP). Learn from their experience in starting an ASAP, from implementation to the successful results of the program, to help you develop your own program.
- Family Disaster Assistance Planning
Learn the fundamentals of why and how to prepare your own family disaster assistance program. Following the loss of TWA Flight 800 in 1996, legislation requiring airlines to develop a robust program to ensure proper treatment of victims and their families was passed. While these plans are not required for air charter and managed aircraft, the need to prepare for such events is critical.
- Announcement of ACSF Top 10 Safety Action Items, including briefings on:
- SMS Implementation
- Risk Assessment Tools
- Safety Consequences of Unstable Approaches
Visit the ACSF Safety Symposium Web site for more information.
Early Bird registration rates are still available!
Register now to secure your seat at the premier safety event for the air charter industry. www.acsf.aero/symposium
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| Nominate An Industry Colleague Today For One Of NATA’s Industry Excellence Awards |
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| NATA recently announced a 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 Award recognizes an airport manager for outstanding efforts to nurture the relationships between aviation businesses and airport operators.
The Aviation Journalism Award identifies 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 Award recognizes 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 Award recognizes a Federal Aviation Administration (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 – Ray Bishop, airport director, Jackson Hole Airport
- Aviation Journalism Award – Matt Thurber, senior editor, Aviation International News
- Excellence In Pilot Training Award – Susan Parson, special assistant, General Aviation and Commercial Division, FAA
- FAA Customer Service Excellence Award – Portland, Maine Flight Standards District
- ATP/NATA General Aviation Service Technician Award – Greg Coile, avionics technician, Business Jet Access
All nominations for these five awards must be received by NATA no later than April 1, 2009. The complete nomination package is available by clicking here. Members may also obtain a nomination package by calling the NATA headquarters at 800-808-6282 or by e-mailing Celeste Clark.
The awards will be distributed during the 2009 NATA Air Charter Summit to be held in the Washington, DC area this June. | |
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| Five Opportunities To Give Your Business A Boost Appearing In Vegas, One Week Only! |
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| Legal compliance, technology, excellent customer service, financial management tools, and safety and health risk management are all vitally important to the safe, efficient and successful management of aviation businesses. Don’t miss out on the following training sessions to be held just once in 2009 during NATA’s Education Week at the Aviation Industry Expo in Las Vegas:
Aviation Legal Compliance Workshop – March 9
Complying with aviation regulatory law is not optional. Having a firm understanding of the laws that affect your business is critical in order to avoid costly fines, substantial penalties and possible lawsuits.
During this 4-hour workshop, Leonard Kirsch, Esq. from McBreen & Kopko will discuss the following issues as they relate to aviation legal compliance: airport leases and agreements, facility leases and subleases, construction, engineering, ground handling, general business matters, mergers, acquisitions, marketing, fueling, handling insurance claims, property claims, personal injury claims and regulatory compliance, rulemaking and enforcement matters.
Aviation Management – Innovation Through Technology – March 10
Managing an aviation business is no simple task. Discover the role that technology plays in today’s aviation business and how effectively managing information through technology can have a positive impact on everything from customer and employee satisfaction to profit. In today’s economy, technology is more important than ever to communicate cost effectively with customers and employees.
Aviation professionals will discuss how to improve operational efficiency through new technology trends, the evolving use of ultra-portable wireless devices, reducing churn and extending customer life cycles through technology, aviation management software solutions and integrating business software with the Internet.
Service Excellence Customer Satisfaction Workshop – March 10
The very rules and regulations that ensure safe and secure air travel are often the source of customer complaints. You must get to know your customers so you can meet and exceed all of their service needs, including but not limited to safety and security. During this informative and entertaining workshop, you will come to a clear understanding of what customers really want and how to provide it. The interactive role play, scenarios and group exercises will help you transform challenging customers into loyal ones. Learn various customer service strategies to increase value without increasing your company’s operating costs.
Financial Management Tools and Techniques for Aviation – March 11 & 12
Identifying, analyzing and reporting information about economic events is the key to maximizing your profitability. Clearly understanding management accounting – as distinct from financial accounting – will lead you to business strategies that significantly improve your company’s performance. The bottom line in business comes down to numbers. Accountants may provide these numbers, but interpreting them is left up to you. NATA’s Financial Management Tools and Techniques for Aviation Service Businesses Seminar will empower you with the knowledge and confidence you need to make sound financial decisions based on these numbers. You will be better equipped to formulate strategies, optimize the use of resources, plan business activities, make financial decisions, and safeguard assets. This comprehensive seminar has the proven ability to increase the bottom line of even the most successful businesses. Thoroughly understanding what your financial statements are really telling you and knowing what to do with this information will allow you to reach and possibly exceed your financial goals.
Mark Chambers, Aviation Resource Group, and Phil Botana, Tampa International Jet Center, will provide tips on handling negotiations and improve your financial management skills by increasing your understanding of financial reporting, business flows, key ratios, metrics, business planning, budgeting, and operating and capital plans.
Safety & Health Training for Ground Operations (OSHA 10-Hour Course) – March 11 & 12
NATA’s Safety & Health Training for Ground Operations (OSHA 10 HR) Seminar has been specifically designed for all employees with safety and health responsibilities. Attendees will be introduced to OSHA and general industry policies, procedures and standards, as well as gain a working knowledge of OSHA regulations. Instructors will provide real-world OSHA guidance specific to aviation. Attendees will be provided audit and checklist templates as well as the knowledge to implement and improve their facility compliance programs. Attendees will receive a course completion certificate from NATA as well as a course completion card from OSHA.
Daniel Souders, CSP will lead practical discussions to increase your ability to perform your daily duties safely as well as increase your awareness of safety and health programs. Health and safety topics to be discussed include: egress and fire protection, walking/working surfaces, bloodborne pathogens, electrical, lockout/tagout, powered industrial equipment, hazardous communication, flammable and combustible liquids and personnel protective equipment.
To maximize your educational opportunities and minimize your expenses further, NATA will also hold these additional seminars during the same week: LSST, Environmental Compliance for Aviation Facilities and NATA Safety 1st Trainer. Visit www.nata.aero for more information and www.aviationindustryexpo.com to register.
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| Build Career Knowledge, Confidence and Success |
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| Energized, interactive, inspirational – just a few words describing NATA’s 2009 seminar and training lineup. Among the offerings is the popular Line Service Supervisor Training (LSST) Seminar, now presented in a new format. The revamped program features new topics, learning methods, and experts for the training you need to become more proficient in supervising staff, motivating others, communicating, coaching a team and strategic planning.
Todd Dewett, Ph.D. will join the 2009 training team to motivate LSST participants to new levels of success. He is dedicated to developing and inspiring people in organizations by combining a massive dose of energy with world class knowledge to deliver a message that brings leadership to life.
Dr. Dewett shares some of his message in a blog at www.drdewett.com. In a recent post, he illustrated several leadership lessons he learned from watching his son’s school play. The first lesson begins with the old saying “If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again.” He was reminded by the students that bold new ideas or efforts rarely work flawlessly the first time; therefore, they have to be adjusted, realigned and sometimes scrapped in order to move ahead productively.
The next lesson came from the teachers and the audience members. In order to motivate, you have to remember to appreciate hard work, not just great outcomes. Hard work doesn’t always result in great outcomes, but failing to appreciate the effort expended will lessen the number of future great outcomes.
Another lesson was discovered in the children’s practice sessions and the costumes they donned for the production. If you want to lead, you must take your job seriously. This may be accomplished by practicing to be a leader as well as looking and feeling like one.
He sums up the entire learning experience by saying that the children, the smallest ones in the room, taught the audience of adults not to fear, to express themselves with gusto, to work well with others to achieve their goals and to celebrate their hard work and achievements. Visit www.drdewett.com to read this entertaining and thought provoking post in its entirety.
Experience him in action at NATA’s 2009 Line Service Supervisor Training Seminars. View the seminar schedule and register by clicking on the events calendar at www.nata.aero. The next LSST Seminar will be held February 17-18 in Durham, NC.
Craig Robichaux, Line Service Manager at Odyssey Aviation, had the following to say about the January LSST, “I have never attended a seminar that was so enjoyable and informative. Managing people is a dynamic and often challenging occupation. I have always believed that a positive work environment is the best way for employees to excel and reach their full potential. This seminar reinforced my belief in this system. I have found it especially challenging to keep employees motivated and for them to believe in our company philosophy of promoting a safety culture as well as promoting and encouraging superior customer service. This seminar addressed these issues in explicit detail and even taught me some new employee communication techniques.”
Bio
Todd Dewett, Ph.D., is a tenured Management professor and Assistant Dean with degrees in business from the University of Memphis (Bachelors), the University of Tennessee (MBA), and Texas A&M University (Ph.D. in Management). He has been quoted in the New York Times, Business Week, CNN, the Chicago Tribune, MSNBC, the Christian Science Monitor and hundreds of other outlets and has published papers in leading academic journals and conferences. He worked for Fortune 500 firms and startups, product companies and service companies, private companies and government agencies, as well as stints at Andersen Consulting (now Accenture) and Ernst & Young. Currently, he is settled in Dayton, Ohio, where he continues his quest to improve our capacity to lead.
Dr. Dewett’s main areas of expertise:
• Leadership Competencies
• Creativity and Innovation
• Change Management
• Interpersonal Communication
• Leadership Development
• High Performing Teams
• Motivating Others
• Conflict in Organizations
• Effective Training
• Personal Improvement
• Problem Solving and Decision Making
• Power and Social Dynamics at Work | |
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| NATA Weekly Survey |
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Week #10:
Should the National Fire Protection Association craft a new building fire code that is more appropriate for general aviation aircraft hangars instead of the costly standards currently in place?
Participate in survey. | |
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| Aviation's Effect On The Environment - Did You Know? |
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| NATA’s quick facts on the aviation industry's effect on the environment are designed to ensure that members take every step necessary to minimize the effect aviation has on the environment while recognizing the initiatives the industry has taken to reduce global warming.
Fact:
Could chicken fat be a key component in alternative mixtures making up jet fuel in the future? According to a recent USA Today article, chicken fat could be.
Click here to read the recent USA Today article on this subject. | |
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