NATA News

Last week, Representatives Sam Graves (R-MO) and John Barrow (D-GA) spearheaded a letter to Representative Dave Camp (R-MI), chairman of the U. S. House of Representatives Committee on Ways and Means, requesting his support in repealing a provision known as "fuel fraud" that is part of the final highway reauthorization bill. The letter was signed by 32 members of the U.S. House of Representatives.

"Since October 1, 2005, the Airport and Airway Trust Fund has been deprived of critical funding because the fuel fraud provision allowed non commercial jet fuel taxes to be deposited into the Highway Trust Fund," explained NATA President and CEO James K. Coyne. "The IRS process for fuel vendors is voluntary, allowing taxes intended for the Airport and Airways Trust Fund to remain in the Highway Trust Fund.

In addition to Reps. Graves and Barrow, the letter was signed by several members of the House General Aviation Caucus, including Reps. Leonard Boswell (D-IA), Richard Hanna (R-NY), Randy Hultgren (R-IL), Andy Harris (R-MD), Laura Richardson (D-CA), Howard Coble (R-NC), Collin Peterson (D-MN), Jerry Costello (D-IL), Lynn Westmoreland (R-GA), Paul Gosar (R-AZ), John Carter (R-TX), Scott Tipton (R-CO), Billy Long (R-MO), Brad Sherman (D-CA), Bill Flores (R-TX), Chip Cravaack (R-MN), Bob Filner (D-CA), Mike Pompeo (R-KS), Jaime Herrera Beutler (R-WA), Dave Loebsack (D-IA), Russ Carnahan (D-MO), Hank Johnson (D-GA), Todd Rokita (R-IN), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Gene Green (D-TX), Loretta Sanchez (D-CA), Ron Paul (R-TX), Daniel Lungren (R-CA), Tom Latham (R-IA) and Lou Barletta (R-PA).

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NATA is requesting its members to contact Members of Congress serving on the conference committee established to resolve differences between the U. S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate versions of the Highway Bill and urge them to support repeal of the onerous fuel fraud tax.

The conference committee is one of the last steps in the legislative process before an agreement is finalized on the Highway Bill and it is approved by both the House and Senate and then signed into law by the President. 

To view NATA’s action call with the conference committee roster complete with contact information as well as talking points, click here.

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One hundred ninety-five members of the U.S. House of Representatives sent a bipartisan letter to President Obama in opposition to the $100 user-fee proposal in his budget request.

In response to that letter, the Office of Management and Budget sent a letter to cosigners detailing the reason for the administration’s proposed $100 per flight user fee, which would generate an estimated $10 billion over 10 years. The letter states that this fee is essential to reducing the federal deficit and ensuring a more equitable share of costs for air traffic services across the aviation community. In addition, the letter explains the inequity between a commercial flight and a corporate jet flying the same route and using the same FAA air traffic services, highlighting the need to establish a surcharge for air traffic services.

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NATA and NATA Compliance Services (NATACS) continue to work with the Transportation Security Administration on badging delays that have been created by a recent fingerprint collection upgrade. Last week, a number of exemptions were provided to Twelve-Five Standard Security Program-, Private Charter Standard Security Program-, and DCA Access Standard Security Program-participating operators who submitted badge requests. 

NATA and NATACS encourage participating operators to review the 12-5 web board to review the latest exemption to determine its applicability to your badge submittals. Materials posted on the 12-5 web board are strictly Sensitive Security Information.

Questions about these delays can sent to Eric Byer on the NATA staff.

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The U.S. Senate Committee on Appropriations approved a $106.4 billion spending bill (S. 2322) funding the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) and other agencies through fiscal year 2013. 

The bill allows $18.24 billion for DOT, an increase of $299 million over last year’s enacted level. For the FAA, the bill provides $15.96 billion, an increase of $186 million over last year’s level. Notable funding levels are $140.4 million for the contract tower program, and $3.35 million for the Airport Improvement Program (same as the last seven years).

The U.S. House of Representatives has not finalized a funding bill for the DOT.

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On April 20, 2012, NATA joined the aviation community in submitting a letter to U.S. Representatives Sam Graves (R-MO) and Dan Lipinski (D-IL) commending them on introducing HR 3816: the Pilot’s Bill of Rights. The purpose of the bill is to address fundamental issues affecting general aviation pilots and businesses and the relationships they have with the FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB).

Issues discussed in the bill include more access to information during FAA investigations for pilots, an improvement program to revise Notices to Airmen (NOTAM), more availability of Flight Service Station Briefings and other air traffic services performed by government contractors, and a required review of the FAA’s medical certification process that will provide more clarity to reduce misinterpretation.

The legislation has been referred to the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure’s Subcommittee on Aviation for review.

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The New England Air Museum is the perfect venue for line service supervisors and managers to attend NATA’s popular Line Service Supervisor Training (LSST) seminar in Windsor Locks, CT, and build on career knowledge, confidence and success.

Class begins with Dr. Todd Dewett’s dynamic leadership stories that poignantly illustrate both the ingenious and dismal state of those in command. After lunch, attendees will listen to a comprehensive and entertaining technical review given by World Fuel Service’s Reed Fuller, and a fact-filled presentation by Epic Aviation’s Walter Chartrand on creating a healthy safety culture and ensuring dynamite customer service. Day two continues with leadership and supervisor essentials, employee engagement and coaching skills taught by ServiceElement’s Christine Hill and a fire safety review by Mike France to complement NATA’s Safety 1st 14 CFR Part 139 Section 321 online fire safety training.

Attendees will also take advantage of team building activities after lunch to spark flying know-how and camaraderie among the group. Participants will fly balsa wood flyers and attempt to beat others by flying higher and further than their competitors. They will also get to view three hangars of aircraft and complete a scavenger hunt of challenging questions about the vintage aircraft throughout the museum.

Don’t miss out on this educational and team building experience. Additional seminar details and registration may be found online.

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The preliminary program for the 2012 NATA Air Charter Summit, on June 11-13, 2012, is now available online. This year’s program highlights sessions covering a range of topics faced by Part 135 operators, including:

• FAA Regulations;
• Emergency Response and Family Assistance Programs;
• Part 135 Training Program Concerns;
• Credit Card Challenges;
• International Operations; and more.

The Air Charter Summit is the ideal event for Part 135 operators. There are various opportunities to network with other charter operators, including a casual BBQ on Tuesday night, with a raffle benefitting the Veterans Airlift Command. The 2012 Air Charter Summit will also feature an optional excursion to the National Air and Space Museum’s Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center – home to hundreds of fascinating aviation artifacts and the new home of the Space Shuttle Discovery.

To view the full preliminary program, click here.

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NATA, along with ExcelAire and Jet Aviation, will hold Town Hall meetings on May 2, at Long Island MacArthur Airport (ISP), and May 11, at Palm Beach International Airport (PBI). The meetings will feature NATA President and CEO James K. Coyne, who will discuss the critical issues in Washington and across the country that America’s aviation businesses and airports face.

Wednesday, May 2, 2012, 11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.
ExcelAire, Inc.
Long Island MacArthur Airport (ISP)
2221 Smithtown Road
Ronkonkoma, NY 11779
*lunch will be provided*

Friday, May 11, 2012 (time TBD)
Jet Aviation
Palm Beach International Airport (PBI)
1515 Perimeter Road
West Palm Beach, FL 33406

For more information and to RSVP to either event, contact Rebecca Mulholland at (703) 647-6407 or rmulholland@nata.aero.

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The NATA Presidents Council provides executives of member companies with the opportunities, knowledge and connections to excel as leaders, while developing a closer affiliation with their peers and NATA’s leadership.

The NATA Presidents Council promotes significant professional growth. As a Council member, you will receive executive governmental updates and exclusive opportunities to develop key relationships with industry leaders. The opportunities to connect with Council members and high-ranking officials benefit your personal business portfolio and advance the success of your operation.

For more information and to join, click here.

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Last week, Collin Smith joined the association as manager, regulatory affairs. Smith’s responsibilities will focus on flight operations and staffing the NATA Flight Training Committee.

Smith, also an accomplished pilot, is a graduate of Embry Riddle University and interned for the association during the summer of 2011. 

“We are thrilled to have Collin on the NATA staff,” stated NATA Vice President of Government and Industry Affairs Eric R. Byer. “Collin will boost our efforts on a number of regulatory initiatives affecting the Part 135 on-demand air charter and flight training communities.”

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Click here to view a listing of archived webinar recordings.