NATA News

The SAFO includes links to information regarding the identification and reporting of passengers who demonstrate swine flu symptoms. The primary guidance source is at www.cdc.gov/swineflu/guidance. As more information becomes available and additional guidance is released, that Web site will be updated.

Links to additional resources pertinent to air carriers are also provided in the SAFO.

The FAA is asking all air carriers to review the SAFO, guidance provided by CDC and other government agencies, adopt appropriate recommended actions and educate flight crews as necessary.

An excerpt of Biden's comments follows:

"I wouldn't go anywhere in confined places now," stated Biden when talking to the Today Show's Matt Lauer. "I would tell members of my family, and I have, I wouldn't go anywhere in confined places now. It's not that it's going to Mexico, it's you're in a confined aircraft; when one person sneezes, it goes all the way through the aircraft. That's me. I would not be, at this point, if they had another way of transportation, suggesting they ride the subway. "

Responding to the Vice President's comments NATA President James K. Coyne stated, "It is unconscionable that the Vice President of the United States would openly state that it is unsafe to utilize air transportation because of the H1N1 virus. That is simply not the case and only invokes unnecessary fear for the traveling American public."

The NPRM largely adopts the recommendations of the Part 135 Aviation Rulemaking Committee (ARC), which recommended mandatory CRM training for both single- and dual-pilot operations in 2005. It also addresses a National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) recommendation for CRM that has been on the NTSB's Most Wanted List since 2003.

The FAA proposal will require CRM initial and recurrent training for every Part 135 operator required to have an approved training program. The FAA intends to require compliance within two years of a final rule and will offer credit for prior training, subject to certain conditions.

Importantly, the requirement will apply to single- and dual pilot-operations. The benefits of CRM training are generally well known for dual-pilot operations, but the ARC argued and the FAA agrees that single-pilot operations can derive a significant benefit from the training as well, particularly as it relates to communication, situational awareness, problem solving and decision making.

NATA is reviewing the NPRM and will provide a more detailed analysis of the rule to the membership. The association will also submit comments on the rule. All impacted operators are encouraged to review the NPRM and provide comments to the FAA prior to the comment deadline of July 30, 2009.

Download the CRM NPRM.

In its decision, the NTSB denied the FAA's appeal and upheld all of the ALJ's decisions. At one point, the NTSB even went so far as to say the FAA's brief was "long on argument and short on proof."

At this time, the FAA still has the ability to appeal the NTSB's decision to the Federal Circuit Court of Appeals, but it is rare that such cases make it to that level. It is unknown if the FAA intends to appeal.

Air Trek's certificate remains under suspension and, should the FAA not appeal further, will remain so until the FAA is satisfied that the operator has resolved the regulatory violations that are the reason for the suspension.

A recently released Government Accountability Office (GAO) report faults the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) for not completing comprehensive risk assessments as required by the National Infrastructure Protection Program (NIPP). The TSA cited high costs and methodological difficulties as reasons for not performing these required assessments.

The NIPP requires the TSA to implement a six-step risk management framework to assist the agency in allocating resources and taking actions. Step three of the NIPP risk management framework involves performing risk assessments that take into account the threat, vulnerability and consequences of specific risks. Only by analyzing all three components of a risk can a complete picture of the risk be obtained.

Rather than implementing the NIPP method, the TSA has been using an intelligence-based approach to analyzing risks that evaluates only threats. This method does not include vulnerability and consequence in the comprehensive risk assessment and limits the agency's ability to implement effectively the remaining three steps of the NIP program: prioritize, implement protective programs and measure effectiveness.

NATA believes that the problems identified by the GAO report contributed to the issues in the TSA's recent attempts to regulate the GA industry -- Security Directive-08F and the Large Aircraft Security Program (LASP). NATA believes that the TSA must continue to work with the general aviation industry in order to ensure that these and all future security regulations take into account the valuable vulnerability and consequence data that only industry experts can provide. By working cooperatively, the TSA and the general aviation industry can create a secure aviation environment that does not stifle growth, innovation and success.

The GAO report can be viewed by clicking here.

For more information on LASP, click here.

For more information on SD-08F, click here.

NATA is concerned that the TSA has chosen to use an SD to promulgate regulations affecting a broad category of previously unregulated individuals. Due to the large number, and varied interests, of the general aviation pilots, service providers and aircraft owners who will be affected by this SD, NATA believes that it is imperative that the TSA approach the issue of securing the AOA of commercial airports by issuing a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking. By following the federal rulemaking process, the TSA will enable those affected by the proposed rule to voice their concerns and offer suggestions on the best methods for securing the AOA.

To view NATA's Action Call, please click here.

Please contact Mike France, mfrance@nata.aero, or Kristen Moore, kmoore@nata.aero, for more information.

The House passed the budget resolution on a vote of 233 to 193, without any support from Republican representatives and with 17 Democrats voting against it. To view roll call votes in the House on the resolution, please click here.

The Senate passed the funding plan by a vote of 53 to 43. No Republican Senators voted in favor of the resolution, and two Democrats voted against it. To view roll call votes in the Senate on the resolution, please click here.

To view NATA's Legislative Report on President Obama's FY10 Budget Proposal, please click here.

The letter highlights the need for full-funding of the Contract Tower Program to ensure the continuation of the safety program that allows additional non-towered airports to receive vital safety benefits. The letter states that "as a result of a 27-year government/industry partnership, the FAA Contract Tower Program: 1) enhances aviation safety at smaller airports that in many cases would not have a tower; (2) helps small airports with retaining and developing commercial air service and general aviation; (3) promotes economic development and creates jobs locally; and (4) consistently receives high marks for customer service from aviation users and pilots." Absent this highly successful federal program, many local communities and smaller airports would not receive the significant safety benefits of air traffic control services.

To view a copy of the FAA Contract Tower Program support letter, please click here.

Previously, several Part 141 schools with Knowledge Test Examining Authority (KTEA) were allowed to participate in the AKTD System. Unfortunately, due to the age of the system and the difficulty in keeping it stable and viable, the FAA recently alerted the approximately two dozen participating schools that they would not be able to continue to use the AKTD system.

These schools were faced with either stopping testing or continuing to provide knowledge testing through one of two computer testing designees (CTDs). Unfortunately, the requirements to become affiliated with one of the existing CTDs were a significant obstacle for some schools.

During the meeting, FAA staff indicated their desire to assist the impacted schools so they could continue to exercise their KTEA and continue offering tests. Many of the affected schools are already affiliated with a CTD or they indicated to the FAA that they intended to become affiliated and have no problems with the requirements their school must meet. The FAA urges any of the other flight schools that received communications regarding their participation in AKTD System to reach out to their FAA contact within AFS-630 to discuss and formally request what, if any, relief may be necessary to allow for a transition to a contract with one of the CTDs.

Importantly, potential relief from any of the CTD standards or requirements will only be considered for those flight schools with KTEA that have been participants in the AKTD System.

Affected flight schools needing more information should contact Jacqueline Rosser.

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 to register, please click here.

The 2009 NATA Day on the Hill is open to all members of the general aviation industry. So register today!!!

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 of 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.