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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.
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Environmental Compliance Seminar - Windsor Locks, CT - May 11, 2009
Line Service Supervisor Training - Windsor Locks, CT - May 12, 2009
2009 NATA Day On The Hill - Dulles, VA - May 13, 2009
How To Build A More Successful FBO - Windsor Locks, CT - May 14, 2009
Air Charter Summit - Washington - Dulles - June 8, 2009
FBO Leadership Conference - Washington - Dulles - June 9, 2009
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Professional Line Service Training
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PLST Online provides the most up-to-date training available for line service specialists – 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Line service supervisors can conduct the new PLST Online training anytime and from anywhere there is access to the Web.
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| NATA Members Encouraged To Take Action On TSA Security Directive |
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| In December 2008, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) issued a Security Directive (SD) to the directors of airports serving commercial air carriers. The SD mandated changes to the issuance of airport identification media and expanded the base of individuals who would be required to obtain airport identifications. Federal regulations give the TSA power to issue SDs in response to threats against civil aviation. SDs prescribe specific procedural or policy changes designed to address the specific nature of the threat and differ from typical federal rulemaking in that they can be issued with no public notice, comment or cost-benefit analysis.
NATA is concerned that the TSA has chosen to use an SD to promulgate regulations affecting a broad category of previously unregulated individuals and believes it is imperative that the TSA approach the issue of securing the airport operations area (AOA) of commercial airports by issuing a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM). By following the federal rulemaking process, the TSA will allow those affected by the proposed rule to voice their concerns and offer suggestions on the best methods for securing the AOA. Contact your Members of Congress now and request they write a letter to the TSA asking that the agency issue an NPRM.
To view NATA's Action Call on the Security Directive, please click here.
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| Coyne Addresses NFPA Panel On Foam Fire Suppression System Requirements |
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| NATA President James K. Coyne appeared before the National Fire Protection Association's (NFPA) Technical Committee on Airport Facilities on April 21 to discuss the impact that changes to NFPA 409, Standard on Aircraft Hangars, could have on the general aviation industry. The committee is considering changes to NFPA 409 that would require the installation of automatic sprinkler systems in all new hangars of less than 12,000 square feet.
Coyne addressed the detrimental effect these changes would have on the development and construction of new hangars. In a recent NATA survey, over 77% of responding members stated that the costs associated with implementation of these changes would prevent their construction of new hangars. Coyne also expressed concern over the current requirement for foam fire suppression systems in all hangars over 12,000 square feet.
NATA member Mercer Dye of Dye Aviation Facilities also appeared before the committee and provided additional comments and data supporting NATA's opposition to the proposed rule changes.
At the conclusion of the presentations, the committee was provided a tour of Galvin Flying Services at Boeing Field in Seattle, Washington. This tour allowed the committee the opportunity to observe the differences in operations between a general aviation facility and larger airline and military facilities. Galvin Flying Services Director of Line Services Doug Wilson was also available to answer the committee members' questions on specific operational issues.
As the NFPA Technical Committee on Airport Facilities continues their meeting this week, they will consider the proposed rule changes and develop a report on comments that will be released to the public in the coming month. NATA will continue to monitor the committee's actions and will apprise our members of any changes.
A complete copy of Coyne's statement is available by clicking here.
For more information, please contact Mike France.
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| SPCC Membership Update |
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| This month's delay in the effective date of the December 2008 SPCC rule changes has created some confusion in the aviation industry. The reason for this is the overlapping of multiple rule changes and their associated effective and compliance dates. A regulation's effective date is the date that the regulations are codified and appear as part of the current Code of Federal Regulations. At times, particularly with significant regulatory changes, the rules can include a compliance date that is some period of time after the effective date. The compliance date, when specified, is that date by which all those subject to the regulation must be compliant. In the absence of separately listed dates, the effective date is also the compliance date.
The dates of compliance for rulemakings finalized in 2002 and 2006 rule changes are linked, and had been extended to November 20, 2009, by a December 2008 rule change. However, the December 2008 rule changes have had their compliance date extended to January 14, 2010. When this was done, the Environmental Protection Agency removed all references to the November 20, 2009 date, and reverted to the earlier July 1, 2009 date of compliance for the 2002 and 2006 rule changes.
To view this update in its entirety, please click here.
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| President Obama Signs 6-Month FAA Reauthorization Extension |
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| Earlier this month, President Obama signed a bill into law authorizing an extension of funding for the FAA through September 30, 2009. The extension will allow Congress additional time to work on legislation to reauthorize the FAA while giving the agency spending authority in the meantime.
NATA supports the funding provisions in H.R. 915, the Federal Aviation Administration Reauthorization Act of 2009 that was introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives earlier this year. The bill includes adequate funding for NextGen and does not include user fees. While House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Chairman James Oberstar (D-MN) has made finalizing FAA Reauthorization a priority, U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation Chairman John Rockefeller (D-WV) has not stated whether his chamber will work to finalize the legislation this year.
To read NATA's Legislative Report on H.R. 915, please click here.
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| NATA Joins Industry Groups In Establishing A General Aviation Caucus On Capitol Hill |
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| Representatives Allen Boyd (D-FL) and Vernon Ehlers (R-MI) are working with general aviation industry groups including the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association, National Business Aviation Association, Experimental Aircraft Association and NATA to establish a General Aviation Caucus in the U.S. House of Representatives. Representative Boyd will serve as the Chairman and Representative Ehlers as the Co-Chairman of the caucus, which will be open to all members of the U.S. House of Representatives despite party affiliation and committee assignments.
The purpose of a congressional caucus is to bring Members of Congress and their staff together to support the general aviation industry by holding regular meetings on issues affecting the industry. Regular briefings will be held on issues such as the Large Aircraft Security Program and FAA Reauthorization legislation, among others. NATA will provide an update on the list of members who join the caucus as well as the upcoming schedule of events.
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| TSA Announces Three New DASSP Gateway Airports |
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| The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) last week named three new airports as the newest gateway airports for Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA). Being identified as a new gateway airport allows each of the airports identified below to permit certain pre-cleared general aviation operations, including Part 135 on-demand air charter operations, to fly directly from these three new locations into DCA. NATA member companies Landmark Aviation, Wiggins Airways and Signature Flight Support have been identified as the approved FBO locations where operations will depart.
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.
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| Legislative Report Analyzing Clean Energy Draft Bill Now Available |
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| On March 31, 2009, U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Energy and Commerce Chairman Henry Waxman (D-CA) released a discussion draft of clean energy legislation titled the American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009 (ACES). ACES is a committee draft of legislation addressing a comprehensive energy and climate change strategy. The House Committee on Energy and Commerce held a series of hearings the week of April 20, 2009. A completed version of the bill is anticipated to be finalized next week.
To read NATA's analysis of the ACES, please click here.
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| CA Large Spark Ignition Equipment Regulatory Update |
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| In May 2007, the California Environmental Protection Agency released new rules, via the California Air Resources Board (CARB), governing emissions from off-road large spark ignition (LSI) equipment. These rules require operators of certain fleets of LSI equipment, including on-airport ground service equipment, to determine their Fleet Average Emission Level (FAEL) and then set decreasing limits on FAEL beginning in 2009.
Many operators of equipment with engines having a displacement greater than three liters have had difficulty in meeting the 2009 requirements of the LSI regulations. On April 16, the CARB released Advisory 08-03 to provide relief to these operators. The advisory will exempt certain types of equipment from FAEL calculation for a period of time to allow for the development of new equipment or retrofit kits that allow operators to meet the regulatory standard.
Click here to view NATA's Regulatory Update on CA's LSI equipment regulations.
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| FBO Spotlight: SACjet |
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| Sacramento International Airport (SMF), Sacramento, California, is enhanced by a newly completed, five-star corporate aviation facility. After several years of negotiations and two years of building and development, the modern, state-of-the-art SACjet corporate aviation center is finally complete. Seeing the lengthy project from conception to completion, Scott Powell, SACjet's President and Chairman, is excited to announce the completion of the corporate hangar and jet center. The SACjet team now looks forward to sharing it with the public at the Grand Opening Ceremony scheduled for May 1, 2009.
"Sacramento has never had a truly five-star business aviation headquarters and gateway to the world," said Powell. "The new SACjet now offers that in spades." With over 300 days of visual approaches annually, SACjet presents first-class facilities, including a Cessna Citation service center, Air BP-branded fuel, 24-hour maintenance, customs, convenient long runways and commercial airline access. The custom, resort-like interior reception and lounge areas are welcome features for weary travelers and guests. At every turn in this modern facility, customers will experience top notch amenities and outstanding customer service.
"Our desire is to ensure that both our based tenants and transient customers receive the same value on the ground that they expect in the air," said Powell. "We want our customers to know that Sacramento truly provides a nice landing."
Prior to SACjet constructing the new facility, only small Citations could be housed at SMF in two small, private hangars. This is no longer an issue. This aviation center can now be home to aircraft as large as a Gulfstream 550. Due to SMF's location in the valley, west-bound aircraft remain at 20,000 feet often until they are 60 miles out with virtually no vectoring due to traffic. This saves time and fuel on every flight.
SACjet currently has over 10,000 square feet of available build-to-suit office space on the second floor for future aircraft management and flight department opportunities.
Powell foresees a bright and growing future for Sacramento. It is his goal to help enhance the community by building and maintaining a corporate aviation facility that will be within the top 5% for fit and finish in national FBOs. This accomplishment will increase based tenants and bring new business and employment opportunities to the region. "SACjet believes in both the Capital City and the State of California as a whole. This project is the start of a three-phase 30-acre business aviation campus that, when completed, will rival any general aviation complex in North America," stated Powell.
For more information, please visit www.sacjet.com or call 916-428-8292.
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| Be Part Of The NATA Stimulus Plan |
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| Recently, NATA President James K. Coyne encouraged members to participate during the association's annual Day on the Hill event that will take place on May 13, 2009. An excerpt from Coyne's letter to the members follows:
Dear NATA Member,
For nearly 70 years, NATA has worked with Congress to build programs to support aviation, or to seek relief from destructive, delusional, or simply dumb federal decisions. This is what America's Founding Fathers expected when they enshrined in the First Amendment the right to petition the government for a redress of grievances. But these days it takes more than a petition -- it takes personal face-to-face contact with Congress!
And yes, there are plenty of grievances to deal with: a leaderless FAA, the stalled FAA reauthorization bill, chaos and confusion in FAA regions, a lack of standardized rules, backdoor rulemaking, threats of new taxes and user fees (again!), impractical and impossible new security regulations, more limits to airspace access, confusion and delays in the NextGen modernization program, draconian new environmental proposals, and the spectacle of government hypocrites condemning private aviation as an excessive luxury even as they depend on it more and more for their own travel.
That's why we need you to join us at NATA's "Day on the Hill" on May 13th.
Click here to read Coyne's letter to NATA members.
To view the Day on the Hill agenda and register, please click here.
The 2009 NATA Day on the Hill is open to all members of the general aviation industry. So register today!!!
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| Updates For May Committee Meetings |
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| The NATA Committee Meetings, to be held at the Westin Alexandria, Courthouse Square, are two weeks away. The NATA room block cut-off at the Westin Alexandria has passed, and currently the hotel is sold out of all guest rooms. For your convenience, NATA provides the following information on a hotel nearby:
Hilton Alexandria Old Town
1767 King Street
Alexandria, Virginia
Tel: (703) 837-0440
This hotel is located on King Street and Diagonal Road, a 5- to 10-minute cab ride or a 10- to 15-minute walk from the Westin Alexandria. Rates begin at $299. Please contact the Hilton directly for rates and to make your reservation.
The dress code for all committee meetings is business casual. Suggested dress for the Day on The Hill congressional visits is business attire.
A package containing talking-points and a schedule of appointments will be provided by May 11 via email to those attending the Day on The Hill congressional visits.
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| Esler, Winton, Carr, Bunce And Lombardo Added To The Summit Agenda |
| 2009 Air Charter Summit Update |
The NATA 2009 Air Charter Summit will take place June 8-10 at the Westfields Marriott in Dulles, Virginia. Part 135 on-demand air charter leaders are invited to meet with top government and industry officials to discuss current topics affecting the future success of their business, including:
- FAA regulatory issues with Dennis Pratte, manager, Part 135 Air Carrier Operations Branch, FAA, Don Arendt, manager, Flight Standards SMS Office, FAA and Hooper Harris, acting director, Office of Accident Investigation, FAA, and James K. Coyne, president, NATA.
- General aviation security initiatives with John Sammon, assistant administrator, Transportation Sector Network Management, TSA.
- Protecting your crews and executives from criminal liability with David Rimmer, sr. vice president, Excel Aire Service, David Esler, contributor, Business & Commercial Aviation and Kent Jackson, partner, Jackson & Wade, L.L.C.
- Curbing the media and public attack on business aviation with William Garvey, editor, Business & Commercial Aviation, and Lisa Stark, correspondent, ABC News.
- Your rights in responding to enforcement actions with Gregory S. Winton, Esq. Aviation Law Experts, Dana Carr, director of operations, Air Trek Inc., and Paul Lange, Esq., Lange & Associates.
- Future of GA manufacturing, sales and delivery with a panel of the world's top general aviation manufacturing executives including Peter Bunce, president and CEO, GAMA and Joe Lombardo, president, Gulfstream Aerospace.
- Preparing for success in the new economy with Richard Van Gemert, senior vice president, Jet Aviation, William Haberstock, president & CEO, Million Air – Salt Lake City, James C. Christiansen, president, NetJets, and James K. Coyne, president, NATA.
Visit www.nata.aero/acs for descriptions of these sessions, housing information and registration details.
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| Bunce, Lombardo, Dye And Showalter Join FBO Conference Program |
| Latest 2009 FBO Leadership Conference Lineup |
| Managers and senior-level executives of fixed base operations are invited to receive the latest intelligence, tactics, and strategies at the NATA 2009 FBO Leadership Conference on June 9-11 at the Westfields Marriott in Dulles, Virginia.
The following topics will be covered:
- Ritz-Carlton caliber customer service and marketing with Brian Grubb, corporate director, The Ritz-Carlton Leadership Center.
- FAA airports issues with Catherine M. Lang, acting associate administrator for Airports, FAA.
- TSA aviation security directives with Douglas Hofsass, general manager, Commercial Aviation & Airports, TSA.
- How to be an aviation ambassador – GA Serves America Campaign – with Craig Fuller, president, Aircraft Owners & Pilots Association.
- Future of GA manufacturing, sales and delivery with a panel of the world's top general aviation manufacturing executives including, Peter Bunce, president and CEO, GAMA and Joe Lombardo, president, Gulfstream Aerospace.
- Curbing the media and public attack on business aviation with William Garvey, editor, Business & Commercial Aviation, and Lisa Stark, correspondent, ABC News.
- Impact of NFPA 409 building codes on your business with James Doctorman, chairman, NFPA Airports Facilities Committee, The Boeing Company, Mercer Dye, Dye Aviation Facilities Inc., Bob Showalter, chairman, Showalter Flying Service, and James K. Coyne, president, NATA.
Visit www.nata.aero/fbolc for descriptions of these sessions, housing information and registration details.
The 2009 Air Charter Summit and 2009 FBO Leadership Conference will be held back-to-back this year to give you more options. Come for one event, stay for both or send a team to divide and conquer. Volume and combo event discounts are available. Contact Diane Gleason at dgleason@nata.aero or (703) 575-2050 for help with questions or to register multiple attendees from the same company at the volume discount rate.
Click here to find out how you can reach your target audience and demonstrate your commitment to higher learning by supporting a session.
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