|
 
July 27, 2015 – Volume 14 Issue 30
 NATA Seeks Member Comment On Proposed Overtime Rule
The Association is requesting member feedback on a Department of Labor initiative to overhaul Federal overtime regulations that could have a significant impact to your business. The Department is proposing to update the regulations governing which executive, administrative, and professional employees (white collar workers) are entitled to the Fair Labor Standards Act’s (FLSA) minimum wage and overtime pay protections.
The proposed rule would more than double the current salary threshold to cover all overtime-eligible workers making $50,440 or less per year and be adjusted annually. The NPRM is also seeking comment on whether the current duties test is working as intended or needs to be modified. Comments are due September 4th and NATA would like specific examples of how your business will be impacted by changes to the current rule. Please contact Megan Eisenstein (meisenstein@nata.aero) with feedback we can incorporate into our comments.
Senate Finance Committee Acts to Extend Bonus Depreciation and Section 179 Expensing
In response to a July 9th request from a coalition of leading trade associations, including NATA, the U.S. Chamber and the National Association of Manufacturers, last week the U.S. Senate Finance Committee approved a bipartisan package of tax extenders that includes a two-year extension of 50 percent bonus depreciation to qualified property purchased and placed in service before December 31, 2016. The package also increases the maximum amount and phase-out threshold in 2015 and 2016 for Section 179 expensing to the levels in effect in 2010 through 2014 of $500,000 and $2 million respectively. Following the vote, NATA President and CEO Thomas L. Hendricks praised committee action noting that “two-year extensions of bonus depreciation and Section 179 expensing encourage NATA member companies to make additional, immediate investments in the U.S. economy.” NATA encourages the full Senate to act on the package and will keep NATA members informed of further developments.
NATA Joins Industry Effort in Support of General Aviation Pilots
Last week, NATA joined an industry effort in support of an amendment to the highway bill co-sponsored by Senate General Aviation Caucus co-chairs John Manchin (D-WV) and John Boozman (R-AR) that would make improvements to the Pilot’s Bill of Rights (PL 112-153). The amendment addresses a number of issues important to general aviation, including expansion of the FAA third-class medical exemption, expediting updates to the FAA’s Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) program and providing protections to volunteer pilots who fly in the public interest. Read more.
NATA Supports Current FAA Parts ID and Marking Framework
On July 7th, NATA joined six other aviation trade associations on a letter requesting Congress refrain from adding to the FAA reauthorization a duplicative and unnecessary FAA rulemaking pertaining to the identification and marking of “influencing parts.” The group is following up on this letter with additional related Hill meetings to stress that “the current regulatory framework (including rules and related guidance) dealing with all aircraft parts, particularly ‘life-limited’ and so-called ‘influencing parts,’ has a proven safety record.” Further, “self-interested parties are targeting the alternative parts industry by pursuing anti-competitive policies that will increase costs for private aircraft owners and operators, small and large businesses, air carriers, repair stations and the flying public. Any effort to limit competition and safety improvements by imposing new, duplicative regulations will only result in greater expenses to the aviation sector and its customers.” Click here for a summary of NATA’s position.
Georgia Member Update: Change in Prepaid State Tax Regulation
Last week, NATA sent a note to Georgia members noting that the state legislature has made a change in law regarding state excise tax rates and, as a result, the Prepaid State Tax no longer applies for sales made on or after July 1, 2015. Click here to read the Tax Bulletin issued by the Georgia Department of Revenue.
Aircraft Certification Service (AIR) Draft Orders Open for Comment
The FAA has released a new draft version of FAA Order 8120.16. The new Order 8120.16A formalizes the shift of responsibilities that took place in 2011 when the program responsibilities shifted to the Aircraft Certification Service from the Flight Standards Service. Comments are due August 17th. To download the draft and provide comments please visit FAA’s Aircraft Certification Service (AIR) draft orders page.
FAA Revises Registration Process for FAA Courses
The process for non AFS/AIR personnel interested in registering for FAA courses has changed. To request training for Non AFS/AIR personnel, please send your contact information and information on the course(s) you want to take including the course number, title, cost, and preferred course dates to Carl Hayes at carl.hayes@faa.gov. Course descriptions are available in the FAA Catalog of Training as well as information on FY15 tuition rates.
NATA Attends Operations Specifications Working Group (OSWG) Meeting
Last week, NATA's Director of Regulatory Affairs, John McGraw, attended the joint FAA-industry OSWG meeting held in Washington, D.C. The OSWG is a forum where FAA and industry discuss issues and/or recommendations on Operations Specifications (OpSpecs), Letters of Authorization (LOA), and Management Specifications (MSpecs). During the meeting, the FAA briefed upcoming improvements to the Economic Authority and Insurance Management (eAIM) System. The FAA is currently developing a new system that will "maintain all current Insurance HQ information, as well as expand to provide for: online form submission and processing, online payment options, forms captured and maintained as records within the system, record processing status information, and increased data sharing with WebOPSS" for commercial air carriers and other air operators. For more information, please contact Megan Eisenstein at meisenstein@nata.aero.
Swift Fuels Introduces Unleaded 94 MON AvGas at AirVenture
Last week, Swift Fuels announced plans to market a new aviation-approved unleaded 94 MON AvGas. According to Swift Fuels, the fuel which is "tailored for lower-octane piston-engines, is already FAA certified and meets ASTM standards for aviation gasoline. The fuel will not replace 100LL now sold at airports for high performance aircraft." Swift Fuels, along with their producers and distributors, plan to provide the unleaded 94 MON AvGas in select regions in the U.S. and Canada. This 94-octane fuel is not one of the candidate fuels the company submitted to the FAA's Piston Aviation Fuels Initiative (PAFI). Read more.
Banyan Air Service Announces Expanded Maintenance Operations
Banyan Air Service announced expanded maintenance operations at its Fort Lauderdale Executive Airport (FXE) location. It has added a second shift to provide extended maintenance services, seven days a week. The new hours of operations will be Monday through Friday 8:00 a.m. until 12:00 p.m., and on Saturday and Sunday from 8:00 a.m. until 6:30 p.m. Read more.
Duncan Aviation Hosts FREE Denver NextGen Seminar, Complete with Equipment Information
Operators may join Duncan Aviation’s Mark Francetic and many of the company’s channel partners on Thursday, August 6, for a free NextGen seminar at the Denver Marriott Tech Center (4900 S. Syracuse St.) in Denver, Colorado. Focusing on the mandates for ADS-B and FANS 1A, Francetic and representatives from Rockwell Collins, Satcom Direct, Honeywell Aerospace, Universal Avionics, Garmin, L-3 Aviation Products and GoGo Biz, will present practical information about the certified equipment that is available now for business aircraft. Read more.
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 Air Charter Safety Foundation is pleased to announce that Crew Aviation, LLC (formerly Excel Air Charter) is the newest charter operator to join the ACSF. The next Air Charter Safety Symposium takes place March 8-9, 2016. Visit www.acsf.aero for more Air Charter Safety Foundation news.
|