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December 21, 2015 — Volume 14, Issue 51

This Week's Top Stories

Congress Approves Year-End Tax and Spending Package

Congress gave final approval to a $2 trillion package of tax policy changes and funding for Fiscal Year 2016 – including money for the ongoing operation of the FAA. NATA President Tom Hendricks praised the package, which included NATA priorities such as, a five-year extension of bonus depreciation, from 2015 through 2019, and a permanent increase in Section 179 expensing stating, “The tax package is an important prelude to comprehensive tax reform and NATA will continue to work with our partners in the business community toward that goal.” Hendricks also discussed the legislation’s provision of $16.3 billion in funding for FAA in context of next year’s debate on the FAA reauthorization, “It demonstrates that the budget process can provide the agency with the resources it needs to operate and modernize our nation’s air traffic control system without having to resort to alternative organizational proposals including the creation of a separate, user-fee funded air traffic control corporation.”

NATA and Industry Oppose LightSquared’s Revised GPS Receiver Test Plan

Last week, NATA joined a coalition of aviation parties in a letter recommending the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) reject the LightSquared Plan “as the preferred method for the FCC and the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) to derive GPS receiver interference tolerance masks, centered on the L1 GPS frequency band 1559-1610MHz.” The Aeronautical Frequency Committee (AFC), which is sponsored by Aviation Spectrum Resources, Inc. (ASRI), filed the letter to the Commission on behalf of the industry coalition.

FAA Updates Order 8300.16 – Major Repair and Alteration Data Approval

Last week, the FAA released an update notification on Order 8300.16 – Major Repair and Alteration Data Approval/with Change 1. The purpose of the Order is to provide guidance applicable to the data approval process for major repairs and alterations, including field approvals. As noted in the Order, this change helps clarify roles and responsibilities between aviation safety inspectors (ASIs) and applicants regarding field approvals and flight manual supplements.

Court Backs FAA Decision On Flight Sharing Service

Last week, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia ruled against a petition by Flytenow seeking to set aside the FAA’s determination the nascent ride-sharing service was holding itself out as common carriage. The Court concluded “the FAA’s Interpretation is consistent with the relevant statutory and regulatory provisions and does not violate Flytenow’s constitutional rights, we deny Flytenow’s petition for review." In response, Alan Guichard, a co-founder of Flytenow, stated the company is considering an appeal.

Association Highlights

NATA Headquarters’ Holiday Office Hours

In celebration of the upcoming holiday season, NATA’s D.C. office will close at noon Eastern on Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve. Also, the headquarters will close for both Christmas Day and New Year’s Day. We hope you have a safe and joyous holiday season!

Safety 1^st 2016 Event Sponsorship Opportunities Are Available!

Sponsoring a NATA Safety 1^st event is a great way to put your business in front of decision makers and product users at NATA member companies. Depending on your sponsorship selection, here are some of the incentives you can receive: recognition on the event registration page at www.nata.aero and in other NATA communications, your company logo included on all printed seminar materials, the opportunity to interact with attendees, and more!

Safety 1^sthas opportunities available for six 2016 ALS Workshops, the Advanced De-Icing Workshop, the FBO Success Seminar, and The Essentials of Hangar Subleasing: From Risk to Revenue Seminar. For more information, please contact Elizabeth Nicholson at enicholson@nata.aero.

Help Us Recognize Exceptional Aviation Service Individuals and Companies

NATA is calling for nominations to acknowledge the individuals, offices, and organizations demonstrating excellence in their field and the highest level of customer service to the general aviation community. Each year, NATA presents awards to the exceptional individuals and companies that have helped to improve the general aviation community. The recipients of these awards are chosen based upon NATA member-submitted nominations. To review the award categories and award nomination form, click here. For more information, please contact Karissa Uko at kuko@nata.aero.

Member Spotlight

NATA Member, Desert Jet Center Appoints General Manager

Desert Jet Center, part of the Desert Jet family of companies and the newest Fixed Base Operation (FBO) at the Jacqueline Cochran Regional Airport (KTRM) recently announced the appointment of General Manager, Brad Elliott. Elliott, who previously held the position of Customer Relations Manager for Banyan Air Service, brings nearly 15 years’ business and general aviation experience to Desert Jet Center. For more information, click here.

NATA Member, Embry-Riddle Shares 90^th Anniversary with Wright Brothers

December 17 marks the first successful flight in history of a self-propelled aircraft near Kitty Hawk, N.C., by brothers Orville and Wilbur Wright in 1903. Exactly 23 years later, barnstormer John Paul Riddle and businessman T. Higbee Embry laid the foundation for what is now the world’s largest and oldest institute of higher learning focused on aviation and aerospace. Thanks to their vision, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University will commemorate the 90^th anniversary of that landmark day throughout 2016. To learn more, click here.

Events

Early Bird Registration for the 2016 Aviation Business Conference Is Now Open

NATA's 2016 Aviation Business Conference will take place June 8^th-10^th at the Hyatt Regency Washington on Capitol Hill. The conference will kick off with a reception Wednesday evening, June 8th and the conference will conclude Friday afternoon, June 10^th. Early bird registration will run through Friday, April 8^th. Please visit http://nata.aero/Events/2016-Aviation-Business-Conference.aspx to register and save today!

ACSF News

ACSF Symposium

Registration is now open for the 2016 Air Charter Safety Foundation Safety Symposium at the NTSB Training Center in Dulles, VA on March 8–9, 2016. The event theme is Safety: A Smart Investment for a Rich Future and will touch on the following subjects: system safety, reducing risk, safety metrics and much more. Visit www.acsf.aero/symposium for more information and to register online today!

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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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