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July 20, 2015 – Volume 14 Issue 29
 NATA at EAA AirVenture
Attending or exhibiting at EAA AirVenture? NATA's President and CEO Tom Hendricks and Senior Vice President Tim Obitts will be on hand and look forward to visiting with you. Contact tobitts@nata.aero to coordinate or join Tom on Thursday, July 23rd at 1:00 p.m. at the Embry Riddle booth No. 49, 50, 59, 60 and 61 at Aviation Gateway Park during ERAU's "Name A Plane" ceremony (see article below).
FAA Reauthorization Update: House Committee Releases Summary of ATC Corporation Proposal
On July 16th one of Washington’s politically-focused newspapers, Politico, reported on and released a two-page summary prepared by the House Transportation and Infrastructure (T&I) Committee of its draft FAA reauthorization legislation, the “Aviation Innovation, Reform & Reauthorization (AIRR) Act.” The expected release of the draft legislation in early July was delayed due to a lack of House floor time to consider the proposal. While the T&I Committee staff has reiterated that the bill is still under development, the document confirms what Chairman Shuster told NATA members at the Aviation Business Conference; the legislation will propose to create a user-fee funded, independent, not-for-profit corporation to operate the nation’s air traffic control system. The summary also confirms that many of the suggestions NATA presented to the Committee on regulatory consistency, certification and more efficient utilization of FAA staff will, in some manner, be incorporated in the bill.
The summary leaves unanswered many important questions and NATA is actively involved in the ongoing debate, making sure policymakers understand that all segments of general aviation, including Part 91(k) and Part 135, must be included in any effort to exempt general aviation from user fees. The association respectfully disagrees with the proposition that the air traffic control system can run more efficiently or safely through a corporatized structure. NATA continues to work closely with our colleagues in the general aviation community and our allies on Capitol Hill like House GA Caucus Co-Chair, Representative Sam Graves and we will keep you informed of further developments.
AOPA Looks to Revise FAA Flying Club Policy Guidance
Last week, the FAA released a Notice of Petition in the Federal Register in response to proposed revisions requested by AOPA to the FAA’s flying club policy guidance. AOPA’s proposal is intended to allow flying club flight instructors and mechanics that provide services to club members to receive monetary compensation. The current policy “allows flying clubs to allow compensation only in the form of credit against payment of dues or flight time.” NATA would appreciate member feedback on whether the proposed language is open to interpretation such that it could inadvertently impact FBOs and flight schools. Comments are due to the agency on or before August 14, 2015. Contact Megan Eisenstein at meisenstein@nata.aero for more details.
Stage 2 Ban Looms – FAA Issues Reminder
Last week, an FAA notice reminded the industry of the coming ban on Stage 2 aircraft operations in the Unites States. Language included in the 2012 FAA reauthorization legislation states that, “[A]fter December 31, 2015, a person may not operate a civil subsonic jet airplane with a maximum weight of 75,000 pounds or less, and for which an airworthiness certificate (other than an experimental certificate) has been issued, to or from an airport in the United States unless the Secretary of Transportation finds that the aircraft complies with [S]tage 3 noise levels.”
The FAA will permit operation of these aircraft under limited circumstances, such as to sell the airplane outside of the U.S., when prior permission is obtained in accordance with § 91.883. Operators of airplanes that don’t meet the Stage 3 noise levels will, after December 31, 2015, be subject to civil penalties.
TSA Reviews ASAC Airport Access Control Recommendations
Last week, the Transportation Security Administration issued a press release announcing the agency has completed the review process of all 28 airport access control recommendations provided by the Aviation Security Advisory Committee (ASAC). The recommendations were created in response to Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson’s request for additional security enhancements to address potential insider threat vulnerability at U.S. airports. John McGraw, NATA’s Director of Regulatory Affairs, is a member of the ASAC working group, which provided the recommendations in its report to the TSA on April 8, 2015. The TSA is “acting on all 28 of the ASAC recommendations and has set a definitive schedule for assessing and reporting the results on actions taken based on the recommendations.” For more information on the ASAC, please contact Megan Eisenstein at meisenstein@nata.aero.
Senate Finance Committee to Consider Two-Year Extension of Bonus Depreciation and Section 179 Expensing
Tomorrow, the Senate Finance Committee will mark-up a package of tax “extenders” that includes a two-year extension of bonus depreciation and Section 179 expensing. These provisions both expired at the end of 2014. In announcing the mark-up the Chairman of the Finance Committee, Senator Orrin Hatch (R-UT) noted, “This markup will give the Committee a timely opportunity to act on extending a number of expired provisions in the tax code that help families, individuals and small businesses. This is the first time in 20 years where a new Congress has started with extenders legislation having already expired, and given that these provisions are meant to be incentives, we need to advance a package as soon as possible. This package is a result of strong bipartisan work, and I look forward to working with the full Committee to ensure members are able to work their will and examine these provisions carefully.” A coalition of leading trade associations, including NATA, the U.S. Chamber, and the National Association of Manufacturers recently wrote the Finance Committee requesting such action.
NATA to Participate in AAAE's GA Issues and Security Conference
NATA's Director of Safety and Training Mike France is representing the aviation business community this week at AAAE's "GA Issues Conference" being held today through Wednesday in Portland, OR. Mike will be participating in a number of panels discussing, among other things, AAAE-NATA efforts to increase dialogue between airport businesses and managers.
Embry Riddle Honors NATA’s Tom Hendricks and Other Aviation Association Leaders at AirVenture
As part of its scholarship-raising Name A Plane Program, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University will unveil a personalized decaled Cessna 172 from its university fleet honoring NATA's President & CEO Tom Hendricks at a special dedication ceremony during EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2015. The ceremony takes place Thursday at 1:00 p.m. CT at the Embry-Riddle booth No. 49, 50, 59, 60 and 61 in Aviation Gateway Park. Embry-Riddle's "Name A Plane Program" provides a unique opportunity to personalize one of the university’s residential campus fleets of Cessna 172s and Diamond Twin Stars as a tribute, honor, memorial or recognition of a loved one, special individual or organization. For more information on the Name A Plane Program, go to erau.edu/name.
NATA Participates in “New Unleaded Avgas Deployment” Meeting
Last week, NATA staff participated in a “New Unleaded Avgas Deployment” meeting at the American Petroleum Institute (API). NATA serves as a member of the Piston Aviation Fuels Initiative (PAFI) Steering Group. The FAA and industry engaged in discussions to address deployment issues related to a potential transition from 100LL to unleaded Avgas. The working group reviewed the legislative and regulatory activities associated with the removal of lead from aviation gasoline; tax implications; and the non-commercial logistical, infrastructure, safety, supply and fit-for-purpose issues associated with deploying a new unleaded fuel into the market. The next Avgas deployment meeting is scheduled for October 9th in Washington, D.C. For more information, please contact Megan Eisenstein at meisenstein@nata.aero.
IS-BAH Updates Available
The 2015/16 IS-BAH manual and updates are now available. The 2015/16 IS-BAH manual contains many changes and additions suggested over the past 12 months by users. To purchase the manual, download updates or read more about the program, please visit our IS-BAH webpage.
Please Help Provide Accurate Information on Aviation Activity and Aviation Safety
The 37th annual General Aviation and Part 135 Activity Survey (GA Survey) for reporting on calendar year 2014 will be ending soon, and the FAA needs our help. The FAA’s annual GA Survey is the only source of information on the general aviation fleet, the number of hours flown, and the ways people use general aviation aircraft. These data help to determine funding for infrastructure and service needs, assess the impact of regulatory changes, and measure aviation safety. The GA Survey is also used to prepare safety statistics and calculate the rate of accidents among general aviation aircraft. Questions? Please contact Tetra Tech toll-free at 1-800-826-1797 or email infoaviationsurvey@tetratech.com. Previous years’ survey results can be found here.
Safety 1st Certified Trainer Program - Second Course Begins in August
The final NATA Safety 1st Certified Trainer Program (CTP) for 2015 will begin in August. The CTP is comprised of six instructor-led, online classes that provide the foundational knowledge and skills required to be an effective trainer. These classes are approximately an hour and a half in length and occur over a three-month period. As an online course, the CTP saves participants time away from work and the cost of travel typically associated with in-person seminars and training classes. The course is derived from basic learning and on-the-job training theory and includes practical implementation strategies that allow attendees to have an immediate positive impact on training and morale. Registration is open. For more information, click here.
Final Safety 1st Regional Advanced Line Service Workshop in 2015 Takes Place in Fort Lauderdale
Following on the success of the Wheeling, IL Advance Line Service Workshop, NATA Safety 1st is pleased to bring its unique mix of technical and service training to Fort Lauderdale, FL on October 20-21, 2015. The Safety 1st Regional Advanced Line Service Workshop is designed to provide the knowledge and skills needed to make your line service team succeed and become new leaders within your company. This is the last Advanced Line Service Workshop in 2015. Don’t miss out, register now!
ACSF News
The next Air Charter Safety Symposium takes place March 8-9, 2016. Visit www.acsf.aero for more Air Charter Safety Foundation news.
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