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 NATA Announces Two Key Staff Changes |
Last week, NATA announced two key staff changes. Jim Coon, currently chief of staff for the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, will join NATA as executive vice president in January. Coon has nearly three decades of experience on Capitol Hill as well as significant private sector experience in the aviation industry where he served as director of government affairs for The Boeing Company and for the Air Transport Association (now Airlines for America). Coon will lead NATA’s policy, strategy and advocacy efforts. NATA was also pleased to announce the promotion of Amy B. Koranda to vice president. Koranda will add several major association programs to her current responsibilities as head of NATA’s highly regarded Safety 1st Program.
Click here to read NATA’s official press release.
Click here to read a POLITICO article on Jim Coon.
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NATA President, Tom Hendricks, shares updates and announcements in his latest blog post, NATA Trajectory on Course.
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| FAA Proposes New Maintenance Rules For Larger Part 135 Aircraft |
The FAA has published a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) that seeks to enhance the oversight standards for contract aircraft maintenance for air carrier aircraft. The NPRM, Air Carrier Contract Maintenance Requirements, proposes new requirements for all Part 121 air carriers and any Part 135 air carrier that operates aircraft type certificated for 10 or more passenger seats.
The proposed rules would require operators to develop policies, procedures, methods, and instructions for performing contract maintenance that are acceptable to the FAA and to include them in their maintenance manuals. The rules would also require the operators to provide a list to the FAA of all persons with whom they contract their maintenance.
The NPRM is in response to a congressional mandate to impose such rules on Part 121 air carriers, but the FAA is electing to include so-called “10 or more” Part 135 carriers in the rulemaking as well.
NATA will review the NPRM in consultation with the association’s Aircraft Maintenance and Air Charter Committees and provide the FAA with comments. All impacted members are encouraged to comment as well. The FAA will accept comments through February 11, 2013.
Click here to download the NPRM.
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On November 13, the U.S. House of Representatives approved legislation to ensure that the United States will not participate in the European Union (EU) Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) set to tax U.S., among other nations’, aircraft operations and air carriers for their emissions output when flying into and out of the EU. Senate Bill 1956, the European Union Emissions Trading Scheme Prohibition Act of 2011, has now been agreed upon by both chambers of Congress and is awaiting President Obama’s signature. In garnering support for passage of the bill, NATA signed on to a letter to House Members reiterating the importance of America’s exclusion in a unilaterally imposed EU system. Click here to read a press release from the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
Also this week, the European Commission proposed to halt EU-ETS implementation for aviation until after next year’s International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Assembly, set to take place September 24 through October 4, 2013. The purpose of the halt is to allow time for a global agreement to be reached through ICAO. “The Commission’s pragmatic decision clearly recognizes the progress that has been made towards a global solution for managing aviation’s carbon emissions by ICAO,” stated International Air Transport Association Director General and CEO Tony Tyler in a press release.
NATA looks forward to working with Congress and national and international organizations to ensure that the halt of the EU-ETS tax on U.S. aviation is permanent, and to show that the aviation industry is working together to decrease fuel consumption and emissions.
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| National Transportation Safety Board Releases 2013 Most Wanted List |
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) released its 2013 Most Wanted List on November 14. Among the list of top 10 safety improvements were recommendations to “Improve Safety of Airport Surface Operations” and “Improve General Aviation Safety.” The NTSB cited runway overruns, wrong runway departures and collisions between aircraft and ground equipment as the most crucial factors to airport surface operations. A pilot’s lack of knowledge, skills and training especially in unpredictable weather conditions were all common factors contributing to fatal general aviation accidents. In both safety improvements, the NTSB is calling for more thorough pilot training, emphasizing the use of flight training devices to simulate extreme operating conditions.
Every year, the NTSB releases a top ten list of “Most Wanted” safety improvements that includes all modes of transportation that are influenced by major disasters and fatal events. To read the NTSB press release and for more information on the most wanted list, click here.
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| FAA General Aviation Survey Closes On November 30 |
The FAA will finish collecting data for its annual General Aviation and Part 135 Activity Survey at the end of this month. This survey collects data on general aviation and Part 135 fleets, number of hours flown and the reasons people fly. The study will enable the FAA to measure aviation safety, assess the effectiveness of regulatory changes, and determine funding for infrastructure and service needs. The survey is sent out by invitation only, and those who receive the form are asked to complete it as soon as possible. The survey can also be completed online at http://www.aviationsurvey.org, using the N-number as the login.
The survey is being administered by an independent contractor on behalf of the FAA, all data submitted will be used for statistical purposes, and individual aircraft operations data will not be published.
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| Workers' Compensation Insurance Program™ Fact Of The Week |
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Beginning January 1, 2013, Beacon Aviation Insurance Services will begin administrating the new NATA Workers’ Compensation Insurance Program™. Your agent should get a quote for you.
Not sure if your agent is getting you a quote from the new NATA Workers’ Compensation Insurance Program™ for your Workers’ Compensation Insurance renewal? Call your insurance agent and ask.
Click here for more information on the new NATA Workers’ Compensation Insurance Program™. Please have your insurance agent send in your submission today!
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Relevant updates from the FAA, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the 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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| 2012 Indiana Airports Economic Impact Study Released |
The Aviation Association of Indiana, along with the Indiana Department of Transportation and Conexus Indiana, released the state’s 2012 Indiana Airports Economic Impact Study. The report outlines the economic benefits of Indiana’s 69 public-use airports to the state and includes details of how each airport impacts local communities and economies around the Hoosier State.
Indiana’s airports serve the transportation needs of more than 6.5 million Hoosiers and contribute $14.1 billion in economic output. In addition to sustaining more than 69,000 jobs in communities across the state, Indiana airports provide those communities with support for air cargo and logistics operations, emergency medical transportation, law enforcement and search and rescue efforts, aerial agricultural operations, flight training and education, land surveying and entertainment.
The report “paints a clear picture of the value of Indiana’s airports not only to residents who rely on air travel for business and pleasure, but to the thousands of businesses that rely on airport services to move people and products,” stated Bart Giesler, executive director of the Aviation Association of Indiana. David Holt, Conexus Indiana vice president of operations and business development echoed the importance of aviation to Indiana, stating that aviation’s contributions to Indiana’s economy and competitiveness are vital to the state’s efforts in maintaining its position as the “Crossroads of America.”
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2013 Air Charter Safety Symposium
February 26-27, NTSB Training Center |
Register to attend the 2013 Air Charter Safety Symposium to be held at the NTSB Training Center on February 26-27. To be effective, a true culture of safety must be integrated throughout an organization, continuously improved, and regularly audited and accessed. Operators that make this level of safety commitment instill confidence in their employees and customers. The 2013 Air Charter Safety Symposium will address topics that build the case for viewing safety as an investment – an investment that produces tangible results for your company.
Join us to explore the value of safety through leadership, a proactive approach to risk management, effective implementation and execution of safety programs, and best practices that create a high performance safety culture. Visit www.acsf.aero/symposium for more details on this event and to register today.
The ACSF will also hold an Auditor Workshop on February 27-28 at the NTSB Training Center. To register for this workshop, visit www.acsf.aero.
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| NATA Spring Training Lineup Announced |
NATA is pleased to host our 5th Annual Spring Training Week, March 11-14, 2013, in Las Vegas, Nevada. Spring Training Week is a line service camp featuring all-star seminars designed to enhance safety practices, provide major league knowledge and help you coach your team to a winning season.
Why Attend Spring Training Week? NATA’s Spring Training Week provides the business skills and conditioning necessary for improved performance in 2012 and for years to come.
You’re Safe…The skills and techniques learned at NATA’s Spring Training Week help to ensure safer operations for your team. Don’t miss the opportunity to complete FAA-required 14 CFR 139.321 Fire Safety Training.
Cover Your Bases…Attend all seminars for full coverage of safety, environmental, and training issues.
Hit a Home-run…Apply the skills and tactics you have learned at NATA Spring Training Week right away.
Seminars at Spring Training include Line Service Supervisor Training, FBO Success, NATA Safety 1st Trainer, and Environmental Compliance.
Click here for more information or to register.
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| November Edition Of eToolkit Available Online |
In this edition of eToolkit:
- Managing Fatigue: A Systematic Approach
- OSHA Fact Sheet – Hazard Communications Standard Final
- OSHA Quick Card – Hazard Communications Safety Data Sheet
- FAA Releases Interim Policy Guidance On Land Use In An RPZ
- FAA Revised RTTF Policy
- PLST Online Frequently Asked Questions
Click here to view eToolkit.
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| Elliott Aviation Joins Air Charter Safety Foundation |
The Air Charter Safety Foundation (ACSF) is pleased to announce that Elliott Aviation of Eden Prairie, MN, is the newest charter operator to join the ACSF. Along with 95 other companies, Elliott Aviation now supports the mission of the ACSF to raise the safety bar in the on-demand charter and fractional industry.
“Our membership heightens the validity of our company philosophy. We are very pleased to have the support of the ACSF in our commitment to safety,” stated Elliott Aviation Vice President/General Manager of FCM Joe Smith.
Click here to read the full press release.
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| NATA Offices Closed For Thanksgiving Holiday |
NATA’s office will be closed Thursday, November 22, and Friday, November 23, for the Thanksgiving holiday. Normal office hours will resume on Monday, November 26.
The NATA Board of Directors and staff extend best wishes for a Happy Thanksgiving!
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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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