NATA News

NATA President James K. Coyne and Vice President of Government & Industry Affairs Eric R. Byer represented the association at the meeting.

"This initial meeting was a very good first step towards addressing many of the concerns outlined by the general aviation industry," stated Coyne. "We look forward to continuing this dialogue with the TSA to ensure that appropriate security measures are incorporated while recognizing the many unique characteristics of the general aviation community."

NATA submitted its comments on the LASP in late February. Those comments can be viewed by clicking here.

The association's LASP Issue Page may be viewed by clicking here.

Members with questions about this process may contact Eric Byer on the NATA staff.

Currently, the TSA allows general aviation flights that meet criteria of the DCA Access Standard Security Program (DASSP) to land at DCA. Aircraft must arrive from one of over 25 gateway airports, including the three new additions listed below, after flight crews and passengers have been vetted and screened.

Effective April 15, 2009, the following locations are gateways for the DCA Access Standard Security Program:

• Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), Los Angeles, CA - Landmark Aviation
• Manchester Airport (MHT), Manchester, NH - Wiggins Airways
• Long Beach Airport (LGB), Long Beach, CA - Signature Flight Support

A complete listing of gateway airports can be found by clicking here.

For more information on the DCA Standard Access Security Program, please contact Eric Byer on the NATA staff.

To read NATA's analysis of the ACES, please click here.

SAFO 09008, Proper Identification and Procedures During In-Flight Engine Failures, calls on operators to review their training curriculums:

• To ensure that initial and recurrent training programs provide a broad range of engine failure scenarios, including failures that may be misinterpreted as an engine failure.
• For emphasis that once the flightcrew verifies an engine failure, they should take action to accomplish the correct shutdown checklist and properly plan for an engine-out approach and possible go-around.
• For emphasis on the importance of the emergency/abnormal checklist, and that they should not be interrupted for routine events until the checklist has been completed. This would include completing the immediate actions for an engine fire or severe damage.

New guidance related to Minimum Equipment List (MEL) revisions has also been published in an Information Document (InFO). FAA InFO 09004, Interim Master Minimum Equipment Lists (MMEL) and Minimum Equipment Lists (MEL) Processes, explains that during the transition from the older mainframe system to the newer Web-based application for MEL revisions the interim methods detailed in the InFO should be used.

With so many states under tremendous economic strain, NATA is seeing states become increasingly aggressive in assigning a tax liability to aircraft operations. States do retain the right to tax property that is operated within their borders and many do so via a personal property tax. Operators should also be aware of sales and use taxes, registration fees and other taxes or fees that can be applied regardless of whether the air charter business is based in the state. Also, states vary in their methods of determining how long an aircraft must be in the state before it is considered to be domiciled there.

Being aware of and planning for potential tax liability is important. To help educate operators, NATA is pleased to announce a new on-line resource for members. The NATA State Tax Issues page provides detailed information on aircraft taxes for each state. Operators should review the information for states they frequent to ensure compliance and to enable proper tax planning.

The State Tax Issues page was compiled by NATA-member Conklin & de Decker and will be regularly updated as states amend their tax laws. For more information about the variety of consulting services offered by Conklin & de Decker, please visit their webpage at www.conklindd.com.

Visit the NATA State Tax Issues Webpage. (Note that users will be required to login prior to accessing the page.)

For more information, contact Jacqueline Rosser.

General aviation affects the lives and livelihoods of millions of people. The "GA Serves America" campaign will share real, personal stories with fellow citizens and policy makers about the economic lifeline general aviation is to thousands of communities across the country. These messages will be online, in print, and in electronic media in Washington, D.C., and in key states.

"AOPA is now taking the message about the value of general aviation to wider audiences," Fuller said. He notes that there is a good base of public support for general aviation. "They know a little; they need to know a lot more," said Fuller. "AOPA, along with other key associations like NATA, is committed to telling this story."

General aviation is neither understood nor appreciated by some decision makers around the country, especially when it comes to general aviation's contributions to our nation's economy. If enacted, proposed new fees in the president's budget will be devastating to general aviation and to the millions of Americans who depend on it everyday.

Developed by NATA for the leading executives and managers of fixed base operations, the 2009 NATA FBO Leadership Conference is the only annual event designed exclusively to improve the performance and profitability of FBOs. Visit www.nata.aero/fbolc for more information and to register.

(2009 NATA Air Charter Summit (June 8-10) attendees should plan to register for both events to catch this vital presentation by visiting www.nata.aero/acs).

Chief pilots, directors and company executives of Part 135 operations are invited to:

• Receive an exclusive FAA regulatory review of Part 135 issues such as safety management systems, operational control, Part 135 ARC proposals, flight and duty time requirements, and performance assessments prior to landing with Margaret Gilligan, associate administrator for Aviation Safety, Dennis Pratte, manager, Part 135 Air Carrier Operations Branch, Don Arendt, manager, Flight Standards Office and Hooper Harris, acting director, Office of Accident Investigation (Invited)
• Get a general aviation security update from John Sammon, assistant administrator of the Transportation Security Administration's (TSA) Transportation Sector Network Management. Sammon will address the status of the Large Aircraft Security Program NPRM, security directives affecting general aviation operators, and Operation Playbook, as well as many other topics.
• Explore what you can do to curb the public and media attack on business aviation with Bill Garvey, Business & Commercial Aviation, Lisa Stark, ABC News and Tom Costello, NBC Nightly News (Invited).
• Discover the best ways to protect your crews, executives and owners from criminal liability in the event of an accident.
• Know your rights in responding to enforcement actions. In the event of an inspection, find out what you must disclose and what restrictions you may be able to impose on their activities. Get the facts.
• Learn what some of the world's top general aviation management executives have to say about the current state and future prospects of general aviation manufacturing, sales and delivery and how they will affect your charter, fuel sales and maintenance businesses in years to come.
• Prepare your business now for success in the new economy. Join James K. Coyne, NATA, Richard Van Gemert, Jet Aviation, Bill Haberstock, Million Air - Salt Lake City and James C. Christiansen, NetJets for a frank discussion about surviving in today's economy and what you can do now to take advantage of a market rebound.
• Hear from Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association President Craig Fuller (Invited) about a bold new campaign created to tell the human side of aviation called "General Aviation Serves America."
• Take some time to relax and be inspired and entertained during a dinner performance by the Capitol Steps and during NATA's Excellence Awards Breakfast keynote speech by George Mason University's Head Coach Jim Larranaga.

Visit www.nata.aero/acs for more information on this event, housing details and registration instructions. The 2009 Air Charter Summit and 2009 FBO Leadership Conference will be held back-to-back this year to give you more options. Volume and combo event discounts are available. Come for one event, stay for both or send a team to divide and conquer!

To sponsor the Air Charter Summit, please click here.

To sponsor the FBO Leadership Conference, please click here.

For more information, please contact Diane Gleason.

"This year's Day on the Hill comes at a pivotal point in the general aviation industry's storied history with the American economy in a recession and the public's perception that the use of corporate aircraft is a luxury," stated NATA President James K. Coyne. "All members of the general aviation industry are strongly encouraged to take advantage of this outstanding opportunity to meet with their Members of Congress and staff so they know directly how important this industry is to their district, their state and the American economy."

General aviation industry members are welcome to participate in the 2009 NATA Day on the Hill and may view this year's agenda and register online by clicking here.

To view NATA's 2009 Legislative Priorities, please click here.

"NATA looks forward to representatives from the general aviation community blanketing Capitol Hill to address the major issues confronting our industry," Coyne said. "More than ever, we encourage all members of the general aviation community to participate in this event to educate Members of Congress and their staff on the value of our industry."

NATA will be conducting a Free Online Webinar that will answer all your questions related to these recent changes to COBRA. Space is limited and you must register by this Wednesday in order to attend.

Click Here to Register

To learn more about the GA Issues Conference, including how to register, please click here.