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April 28, 2014 – Volume 13 Issue 17
 NATA Encourages Participation in Annual FAA GA Survey
The FAA’s annual General Aviation Part 135 Activity Survey for the calendar year 2013 is now underway. Critical data on the general aviation and Part 135 fleets, the number of hours flown and the reasons people fly are collected via this survey. The study results assist the FAA in measuring aviation safety and assessing the effectiveness of regulatory changes as well as determining funding for infrastructure and service needs.
Survey participants are selected by the FAA’s independent contractor and those selected will receive an invitation. Responses can be submitted in writing or online following the directions contained in the invitation. NATA strongly encourages participation in the survey by invitation recipients. The survey is administered by an independent firm, all data will be used for statistical purposes only, and responses will remain confidential.
Maintenance Committee Tackles Conformity Inspection Inconsistency
NATA’s Aircraft Systems and Maintenance Technology Committee formed a working group to address the long-standing issue of a lack of consistency between FAA FSDOs with regard to aircraft conformity inspections when adding an aircraft to a part 135 operating certificate.
It is not uncommon for an aircraft operating on a part 135 certificate in one part of the country to have to undergo significant inspection when that aircraft is moved to a new FAA FSDO. The Committee has gathered conformity checklists used by operators and even some used by the FAA, and is in the process of establishing one clear and consistent check list that will also take into account the rapid changes in technology and new aircraft equipage requirements. The FAA has agreed to support this effort from headquarters and will work with the group to finalize the checklist, ultimately resulting in the FAA posting it as a job aid for inspectors and industry. This should significantly improve the conformity process for all operators. The Committee expects to complete its work this summer and then work with the FAA on final coordination publishing.
Reminder for NATA Regular Members to Participate in Compensation Survey
NATA and Association Research Inc., sent an email invitation to NATA’s regular members asking for participation in NATA’s popular Compensation Survey. It is a unique and valuable reference used year after year by members as well as nonmembers in our industry. The results of the report will only be as good as the quality of the data submitted and the number of companies that respond, so please make every effort to participate. If you have questions or need a link to the survey, please contact Amy Koranda at akoranda@nata.aero.
Have You Visited the New Safety 1st Blog?
Late last year, NATA Safety 1st launched its first blog, The Safety Net, as a means of communicating the latest safety information to members and the industry at large. Have you taken a moment to visit the blog yet? In the Safety Net you will find great content from the Safety 1st team as well as a number of posts from guest bloggers. Take a moment to check it out at natasafetynet.wordpress.com and don’t forget to register to follow the blog.
Weekly Regulatory Update
NATA compiles relevant updates from the FAA, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Homeland Security each day from the Federal Register. You may view the latest notices, rules and proposed rules in a single source by clicking here.
2014 NATA Air Charter Summit Supports Veterans Airlift Command
NATA’s annual Air Charter Summit will take place June 16-18, 2014, at the Washington Dulles Marriott in Dulles, VA. Online registration, session descriptions and housing reservations are now available at http://www.nata.aero/acs. NATA will once again host a raffle and auction in support of the Veterans Airlift Command (VAC) at the Summit's BBQ Dinner on Tuesday night. Please contact Amy Hornaday at ahornaday@nata.aero to donate items for the VAC raffle and auction.
The 2014 Air Charter Summit Topics Include:
• Meet Your Regulators
• Security Issues Affecting Charter Operators
• Complying with New EASA TCO Requirements
• What's Next with NextGen
• TFSSP Compliance Session
• Taking Control of Your Reputation and Relationships
• Pilot Employment Concerns
• Working with CBP
• Safety, Security & Operations Solutions for Air Charter Operators
Regional Advanced Line Service Workshop Takes Place at St. Louis Downtown Airport
NATA Safety 1st is pleased to present the 2014 Regional Advanced Line Service Workshop, a two-day training event designed to provide the knowledge and skills needed to make your team succeed and become leaders within your company. The workshop takes place May 14-15, 2014 at the St. Louis Downtown Airport and includes hands-on fire extinguisher training (a 14 CFR 139.321 certificate requirement). Click here to register today.
Corporate Angel Network Transports its 45,000th Patient
Corporate Angel Network (CAN), the 33-year-old organization that arranges free flights to treatment for cancer patients in empty seats of corporate aircraft, recently transported its 45,000th patient. The milestone flight, operated by Bank of New York/Mellon Bank, carried 22-year-old patient Todd Blake and his mother home to Central Florida after he received treatment for Hodgkin’s lymphoma at Columbia University in New York City. Mellon’s Falcon 900 also carried eight company employees on the trip from Westchester County Airport in White Plains, NY, to Orlando (FL) Executive Airport for a scheduled meeting. CAN arranges approximately 3,000 flights per year for cancer patients.
Landmark Aviation Appoints Chief Financial Officer
Patrick “Pat” McGuiness has been appointed Landmark Aviation’s Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer (CFO). As CFO, Pat will oversee Landmark Aviation’s strategy and corporate development, tax, accounting, treasury and fuel processing divisions. Click here to read further.
West Star Aviation Opens New Maintenance Facility In East Alton, IL (ALN)
West Star Aviation is nearing completion of their brand new 47,000 square foot maintenance facility at their East Alton, IL (ALN) location. In addition to the new maintenance facility, the multimillion dollar expansion includes a 14,000 square foot wood shop and 6,000 square foot accessory repair shop, bringing the East Alton facilities from 250,000 to 317,300 square feet with approximately 300 employees. Click here to read more.
Landmark Aviation Signs Agreement to Acquire Ross Aviation
Landmark Aviation announced that it signed a definitive agreement to acquire Ross Aviation, a network of fixed based operations located throughout the United States, from investment funds affiliated with Centre Partners Management LLC and management. The acquisition, which is subject to satisfaction of customary closing conditions, is expected to close during the second half of 2014. Click here for more details.
ACSF News
Read McFarren Aviation Consulting's latest blog post called "A Single Audit Standard?" for more information about the ACSF partnership with ARGUS to provide operators with a combined ARGUS Platinum/ACSF Industry Audit Standard (IAS) product. Save the date for next year’s Air Charter Safety Foundation Safety Symposium. The symposium is scheduled for March 10-11, 2015. Visit http://www.acsf.aero/ for Air Charter Safety Foundation News.
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