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 Reminder: Act Today On Fuel Fraud Tax Repeal By Contacting Key Members of Congress |
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 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.
NATA strongly encourages all member companies to utilize the association’s recent Action Call to reach out to these conference committee members today and encourage them to support a repeal of the onerous fuel fraud tax.
To review NATA’s Action Call, please click here.
To review NATA’s comprehensive issues Web page on the fuel fraud tax, please click here.
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Last week, the FAA published a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) that would make significant changes to the rules governing certificated repair stations. These changes to Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations, part 145, would modify repair station certification requirements, the system of repair station ratings and the rules affecting repair stations that provide maintenance to air carriers. The FAA has proposed a 24 month transition period, where existing repair stations would be able to continue operating under the current rules while also applying for recertification under the new rules.
NATA plans to work closely with its Aircraft Maintenance and Systems Technology Committee and repair station membership to evaluate and comment on this proposed rule. The NPRM is open for public comment until August 20.
Click here to read the full NPRM.
Click here to read NATA’s regulatory report on the proposed rule changes.
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| NATA Participates In TSA Aviation Security Advisory Committee Meeting |
NATA Director of Regulatory Affairs Michael France represented the association last week as a member of the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) Aviation Security Advisory Committee (ASAC). The ASAC, which was chartered by the Department of Homeland Security late last year, is tasked with examining areas of civil aviation security with the aim of developing recommendations for the improvement of civil aviation security methods, equipment, and procedures.
After a welcome from TSA Administrator John Pistole the committee got to work on establishing the various subcommittees that would address specific security-related topics. France will be representing NATA members on both the general aviation and air cargo subcommittee.
Click here for more information on the TSA ASAC.
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NATA recently signed on to a letter asking U.S. Senate Committee on Armed Services Chairman Carl Levin (D-MI) and Ranking Member John McCain (R-AZ) to support initiatives by the Department of Defense (DOD) to conduct research, testing and ultimate implementation of biofuels in the aviation sector.
Biofuels are an alternative energy source that will allow the United States to become more energy independent and environmentally friendly, and will assist in cost reduction and reliance on foreign oil. Current language in the U.S. House of Representatives DOD Authorization Bill calls for purchase prices of alternative fuels that could prevent the United States from being globally independent and achieving its energy security goals.
NATA is working with the other industry associations that signed the letter to gather support from members of the U.S. Senate Committee on Armed Services and will work with Members of Congress to make sure they understand the importance of this initiative.
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| TSA Increases Security Threat Assessment Fee |
The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has announced the decision to raise the Security Threat Assessment (STA) fee to $41 for all employees applying for unescorted access to handle transported cargo as defined in §1540.201(a). According to the notice published by the TSA, the 46% fee increase reflects the need to recover the costs of the STA services due to a decreasing applicant population. A five-year cost estimate shows that the STA services will increase by $4.2 million and the number of applicants will decrease by 551,000.
The TSA is mandated to assess its imposed fees every two years. The increased fee will be effective on June 22, 2012.
Click here to read the official notice published by the TSA.
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| NATA’s New Weekly Regulatory Update |
NATA’s addition of a weekly regulatory update provides members with an up-to-date account of the most recent changes taking place in Washington D.C. Relevant updates from the FAA, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Department of Homeland Security are compiled each day from the Federal Register. The latest notices, rules and proposed rules can now be found in a single source by clicking here.
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| Aviation Tax Exemption Passes In Pennsylvania House |
On May 22, the Pennsylvania House of Representatives passed a bill, by a vote of 179-19, exempting the 6% state sales and use tax on aircraft purchases and maintenance. Passage of House Bill 1100 means an open door for the aviation industry to service aircraft and provide jobs to the previously “closed-for-business” state.
Representative Peter Daley (D-District 49), sponsor of the legislation, emphasized the bill’s success in a recent press conference, stating that critics who believe that this is merely a tax break for corporate types who buy big airplanes are missing the point. “Planes cannot fly without routine maintenance and without a crew, and Pennsylvania businesses that need planes can make money and support jobs.”
Representative Daley emphasized the importance of general aviation in Pennsylvania, encouraging critics to focus on nurturing the industry and “help this industry be competitive,” much like Ohio, New York and Maine have done with similar bills. He stated that aviation and aerospace industries in the state have largely been ignored and unappreciated for what they are, engines for economic growth and job creation.
NATA has supported the bill from the beginning, and will continue to monitor its progress as it travels to the state Senate for review and approval.
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Last Wednesday, NATA Director of Regulatory Affairs Michael France addressed attendees at the Illinois Aviation Trades Association annual conference in Chicago, briefing them on NATA’s 2012 policy priorities, including the fuel fraud tax, the freedom from government competition act and FAA standardization. France also addressed NATA’s recently created State Advocacy Network and highlighted the importance of IATA’s participation in the network.
Click here for more information on the Illinois Aviation Trades Association.
Click here for more information on the NATA State Advocacy Network.
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Participate In The Summit BBQ Raffle In Support Of The VAC
Donate a Raffle Item, Purchase Raffle Tickets or Make an Online Contribution |
NATA will hold a raffle at its 2012 Air Charter Summit barbeque to raise funds for the Veterans Airlift Command (VAC) mission to support our combat wounded. The VAC is a charitable organization that provides free air transportation to wounded warriors, veterans, and their families for medical and other compassionate purposes. When wounded warriors return from the battlefield, they are often in need of ongoing medical treatment far from their homes, loved ones, and comrades. VAC coordinates the transportation of wounded veterans and their families all over the country, utilizing a network of volunteer aircraft owners and pilots who have generously donated their time and equipment to support the activities of the VAC.
To date, these companies have generously donated the following items to the raffle:
NATA – Third Generation iPad with Cover, 2013 Air Charter Summit Registration
Signature Flight Support – Gift Card
Atlantic Aviation – GPS Unit
NATA Compliance Services – Pilot Records Improvement Act (PRIA) Package
Jet Solutions – Bose Headset
ARAMARK Uniform Services – iPod Nano
What can you do to help?
- Participate in the 2012 Air Charter Summit BBQ raffle. Special items will be raffled at the 2012 Air Charter Summit BBQ on Tuesday night, including a brand new third generation iPad! Raffle tickets will be available for purchase on-site during the summit. If you are interested in donating items for the raffle, please contact Daniel Gurley at dgurley@nata.aero.
- Make a personal or corporate contribution to the NATA Wings for Warriors fund by clicking here.
- Share the VAC mission with aircraft owners, fractional share owners and card program members. Ask them to donate flight hours to the VAC.
The VAC will also have a booth at the NATA 2012 Air Charter Summit to be held June 11-13 in Dulles, Virginia. Click here for more information on this event.
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June Webinars
Back-to-Back on June 28 |
On June 28, find out the most important question to ask a customer and get your questions about the Commercial Operators Tax Seminar answered in back-to-back webinars.
The Most Important Question to Ask a Customer
During this webinar, we'll discuss ways to determine your SQ (Service Quotient) score. Similar to what an IQ score reveals about a person, an SQ score can reveal a lot about your FBO and how well you are meeting the needs of your customers. We'll discuss ways to benchmark your customer service efforts and reveal to you the secret question you should always ask a customer.
Speakers: Ron Jackson, The Jackson Group
John Enticknap, Aviation Business Strategies Group
Date/Time: June 28, 2012 at 12:00pm EDT
Click here to register. Registration for this webinar is $49.95 per location and includes a copy of presentation materials and link to a recording of the webinar.
Tax Webinar – Free
During this webinar, we'll discuss the Commercial Operators Tax Seminar (August 7-8, 2012, at Scottsdale Plaza Resort in Scottsdale, Arizona), which covers taxes that commercial operators face every day in their operations, such as federal excise taxes, fuel taxes, sales and use taxes, personal property taxes, income taxes, international fees and more. For a closer look at this popular seminar, NATA's Jacqueline Rosser and Conklin & de Decker's Nel Stubbs will host a preview one-hour webinar on June 28 to go over the benefits and give the audience a chance to ask questions about the agenda and speakers.
Speakers: Jacqueline Rosser, NATA
Nel Stubbs, Conklin & de Decker
Eileen Gleimer, Crowell & Moring, LLP
Date/Time: June 28, 2012 at 1:00pm EDT
Click here to register.
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| Purchase Popular 2012 Compensation Report Today |
NATA has published the results of its 2012 survey of general aviation service employee compensation. The 2012 Compensation Report includes salaries and benefits for pilots, line-service personnel and maintenance technicians.
Employee compensation is broken down by geographic region of the country, by the company's gross sales, by size of the town or city in which the company is located and by the number of employees in the company. In addition to pilots and maintenance technicians, the report includes compensation for inspectors and line service and customer service representatives, among others.
Association Research Inc., a leading economic research firm based in Rockville, Maryland, conducted the salary study. For privacy reasons, none of the individual responses are provided to NATA.
The 2012 Compensation Report is provided at no cost to NATA members who participated in the study. For non-participating members, the charge is $130 and $310 for non-NATA members.
A copy of the 2012 Compensation Report may be purchased on the NATA Web site under Products and Services by clicking on Publications.
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| Q2 Aviation Business Journal Now Available |
The second quarter Aviation Business Journal is in the mail and is also now available by clicking here.
In This Issue:
- Member Profile: Key Air
- The Broker Issue – Brokers Tell Their Side
- Part 145 Repair Station Consumer Guide
- Air Charter Operators Gear Up for Summit
- Capital Week for Aviation Business Huge Success
- New Column: NATA Maintenance Perspectives
- And much more.
The new issue will arrive in your mailbox soon. In the meantime, please flip through online. You may also click here to take a look at past editions.
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| M&N Aviation Renews ACSF Industry Audit Standard |
The Air Charter Safety Foundation (ACSF) is pleased to announce that M & N Aviation of Casper, Wyoming has renewed its status on the ACSF Industry Audit Standard Registry. M & N recently completed an IAS audit and maintains “Registered” status with the ACSF.
“By renewing its status on the IAS Registry, M & N Aviation has demonstrated its commitment to high standards,” said ACSF president Bryan Burns. “We congratulate them on their continued dedication.” To read the full ACSF Press Release, click here.
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| NATA Headquarters Closed In Observance Of Memorial Day Holiday |
NATA Headquarters will be closed today, May 28, 2012, in observance of Memorial Day. The association thanks all of our men and women serving in the U.S. military, past and present, and wishes everyone a safe and enjoyable holiday weekend.
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NATA E-Learn Webinars
Click here to view a listing of archived webinar recordings.
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.
National Air Transportation Association
4226 King Street
Alexandria, VA 22302
Phone: 800-808-6282
Fax: 703-845-8176
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