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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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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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139 Fire Safety Training Online |
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This training not only meets and exceeds the requirements of 14 CFR 139.321 but also allows you to interact with other students in a group learning environment, receive the very latest NFPA news, watch live training presentations and much more. |
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| Fuller, Coyne To Appear At GA Serves America Town Hall Meetings On Martha’s Vineyard Island On July 18th And In Charlotte, NC, On July 20th |
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| Recently, NATA became a partner and major contributor to the General Aviation Serves America campaign that was introduced in late April by the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA). The General Aviation Serves America campaign was created by AOPA to highlight the importance of the general aviation industry, under the threat of new taxes and security restrictions, to the U.S. economy.
As part of this partnership, AOPA President Craig L. Fuller and NATA President James K. Coyne will jointly appear at two General Aviation Serves America Town Hall Meetings on Martha’s Vineyard Island on Saturday, July 18, and in Charlotte, NC on Monday, July 20, 2009. The flyer for each event can be reviewed at the links below:
Martha’s Vineyard Island, MA – July 18, 2009
Charlotte, NC – July 20, 2009
NATA members having questions about the association’s involvement in supporting the General Aviation Serves America campaign may contact Eric R. Byer. | |
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| UK To Delay August 31 ETS Deadline |
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| According to a report published by the British Business and General Aviation Association, the United Kingdom (UK) will officially delay, as early as next week, the August 31 deadline for the submission of monitoring plans required under the European Union’s (EU) Emission Trading Scheme (ETS). This delay is necessary because several key items needed from the EU Commission, including a final list of affected operators, is not expected to be available until mid-August. The UK will likely extend the deadline for the submission of monitoring plans until late November 2009.
NATA will issue a membership update detailing the specifics of the delay as soon as official confirmation is received from the UK government. It should also be noted that this delay would only be applicable to operators assigned to the UK as their administering state.
For more information on the EU’s ETS, please contact NATA Manager of Regulatory Affairs Mike France. | |
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| TSA Selects New General Manager Of General Aviation Security |
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| Late last week, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) announced that Brian Delauter has been selected to serve as the agency’s acting general manager of the General Aviation Branch effective July 12, 2009.
Currently, Delauter serves as the federal security director at Savannah International Airport. According to the TSA, Delauter has an extensive general aviation background and knowledge of all aspects of general aviation (corporate/recreational aircraft operations, airports, airspace, and airmen issues) and aviation laws, regulations, polices, and/or principles. He is a leader in the establishment and implementation of comprehensive general aviation security and communication strategies through collaboration with stakeholder partners.
Prior to joining the TSA, Delauter spent more than fifteen years in the aviation community as a general aviation pilot as well as a commercial aviator with Northwest Airlines. In this capacity, he managed crew during flights and ground operations in the general aviation environment. He currently holds multiple FAA licenses including commercial single engine land, commercial multi engine land, airline transport pilot, flight instructor – single engine, multi engine, and instrument.
In his new position, Delauter will use his extensive general aviation experience in government and private industry to lead the TSA’s strategy to enhance security within the GA sector and reduce the risk of misuse of general aviation assets by developing identification capabilities including positive pilot and aircraft identification. | |
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| Alert: Charter Operators Possible Targets Of A Scam |
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| NATA received a report from an alert member of an attempt to scam his business out of thousands of dollars. A person contacted the charter operator via email looking to schedule charters and asking for a quote. Once the quote was provided, the “customer” (who was presently out of the country) explained that the ground travel coordinator he booked his car and accommodations with did not accept credit cards and that due to his location he was unable to pay this person any other way. He then asked the charter operator to charge his credit card for the full amount of the proposed charter plus an additional $6,000, which the charter operator was to send to the ground travel coordinator. The operator became immediately suspicious and contacted law enforcement.
Similar scams have occurred at on-line auction sites. In most cases, the customer’s payment ends up being fraudulent and the seller is out the money that was forwarded to the third party.
Operators should be suspicious of any customer who asks you to forward money to someone else. If someone attempts to scam you, save all communications from the scammer and report the incident to local law enforcement. NATA also encourages members to report any such activities to the association, via email to Jacqueline Rosser. | |
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| GAO Report Looks At Air Cargo Safety |
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| The Government Accountability Office (GAO) has released a report on air cargo safety. The report, “Aviation Safety: Better Data and Targeted FAA Efforts Needed to Identify and Address Safety Issues of Small Air Cargo Carriers,” was requested to study recent trends in cargo safety as well as government and industry initiatives to address safety.
In conducting the analysis, the GAO interviewed several industry experts and compiled a detailed safety survey. Among the key conclusions of the report is the need for better data on the air cargo industry.
In a ten-year review of air cargo accidents, the GAO found that the significant majority involved small air cargo carriers, such as those operated under Part 135. Of the 443 accidents identified, 79 percent of all accidents and 96 percent of fatal accidents were in smaller aircraft.
Unfortunately, because the FAA does not collect data specific to the cargo industry, there is no objective way to measure the fatal accident rate for the industry. In addition to recommending that the FAA initiate better data collection, the experts interviewed by the GAO recommended installation of better technology on cargo aircraft and the use of flight risk assessment tools. | |
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| FAA Upholds Decision Against The City Of Santa Monica Proposed Jet Ban |
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| In late 2007, the city of Santa Monica instituted a ban on category C and D aircraft at Santa Monica Municipal Airport because it felt those aircraft presented a threat to safety. In 2008, the FAA issued a cease-and-desist order to prevent the city’s ban from going into effect until the agency had time to conduct an administrative review.
After conducting the administrative review, the FAA found in May of this year that the ban violated the city’s obligation to prevent unjust discrimination against airport users. This obligation is the result of the city receiving federal funds from the FAA’s airport improvement program. The city of Santa Monica appealed the ruling to the FAA Associate Administrator of Policy.
Last Wednesday, the FAA upheld the findings of the administrative review and found that the city’s proposed ban would unjustly discriminate against certain classes of airport users, in violation of the airport’s grant assurances. Wednesday’s ruling is the FAA’s final ruling on the matter; the city of Santa Monica is expected to decide within the next 30 days if it will appeal the case in federal court. | |
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| U.S. Senate Passes Fiscal Year 2010 Homeland Security Appropriations Bill |
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| Last week, the U.S. Senate passed S. 1298, the Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Bill for fiscal year 2010. The spending bill would allocate the department nearly $43 billion in discretionary spending, about 7 percent more than the current fiscal year, and $300 million more than H.R. 2892, the U.S. House of Representatives version of the legislation that passed on June 18.
The Senate Committee on Appropriations report on the homeland security spending bill (S. 1298) shares language with the House report urging the Transportation Security Administration to continue to work with the general aviation industry to make an October 2008 proposed rule for cargo security less burdensome.
Notable amendments to the bill included one by Senator David Vitter (R-LA) that would require the department to enforce a rule under which employers would be pressured to fire workers if their information did not match data contained in Social Security databases.
Earmarks included in the bill were also a big part of the debate over amendments on the floor last week. The Senate first rejected an amendment by Minority Whip Kyl to strike $900,000 for an emergency operations center in Whitefish, Montana. The Senate later defeated an amendment by Senator John McCain (R-AZ) to cut $39.7 million for the leadership academy at the Advanced Training Center in West Virginia, a training facility for U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents.
As conference negotiations proceed in the next several weeks, NATA will publish a legislative report on any changes to the bill that occur as a result of compromise between the House and Senate.
To view the Senate roll call vote on the Homeland Security Appropriations Bill, please click here.
To view NATA’s Legislative Report on H.R. 2892, please click here. | |
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| Legislative Report Released On General Aviation Security Enhancement Act |
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| On June 26, 2009, U.S. Representative Charles Dent (R-PA) introduced H.R. 3093, the General Aviation Security Enhancement Act of 2009 that would require the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) to engage in a negotiated rulemaking if extensive new security requirements for general aviation are established. A negotiated rulemaking allows representatives of the various affected interest groups to discuss the text of a proposed rule.
To view NATA’s Legislative Report on H.R. 3093, please click here. | |
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| Airline Services Council Selects New Leadership |
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| NATA President James K. Coyne announced the new leadership of the association’s Airline Services Council (ASC).
The NATA formed the Airline Services Council in 2002 to further the interests of companies providing services to scheduled air carrier as their primary business. ASC members represent domestic and international firms employing a combined workforce in excess of 90,000 people and generating more than $2.5 billion in annual sales at more than 450 airports. ASC member company services include aircraft fueling, baggage service, catering, terminal services, cargo services, aircraft handling, de-icing, maintenance, security services, and aircraft cleaning.
Fernando (Fred) DiBenedetto, vice president, business development at Fortbrand Services, Inc., concludes his tenure as chairman of the NATA ASC after three years. DiBenedetto has been involved in the airline services industry for more than 36 years, including serving as president and COO of Servisair/GlobeGround, a leading, global provider of a full range of services to airlines and airports, where he was responsible for the delivery of ground handling services to over 700 customers at 145 airports with annual revenues of one billion dollars. DiBenedetto led the council in tackling a number of critical issues in recent years including independent cargo handling participation in the TSA’s Certified Cargo Screening Program, highlighting the importance of ground handling services to the commercial airport community and doubling membership within the NATA ASC.
“Fred has been a true champion of the airline services community, advocating for the clear business and safety advantages that the ground handling sector provides to the commercial airline industry,” stated Coyne. “Fred’s devotion to the NATA ASC was seen in many, many ways, including his ability to attract new members that resulted in the more than doubling of the council’s membership over the last two years.”
Replacing DiBenedetto as the NATA ASC chairman is Jack Evans, chief executive officer of Total Airport Services, Inc. (TAS). Evans served as the council’s vice chairman prior to taking the chairman’s position. Evans formed TAS in November 2004 with a single contract and nine employees in San Francisco, California. Within two years, the company had grown to 200 employees and five operating locations including Hartford, Connecticut; Columbus, Ohio; Huntsville, Alabama; Chicago, Illinois; and Newark, New Jersey.
“We are quite fortunate to have had one great chairman with Fred, followed by another with Jack, on the council,” Coyne said. “Jack has laid out an aggressive agenda for the council to tackle over the next two years, and we at NATA look forward to working with him to achieve these goals.”
For more information on the NATA Airline Services Council, please click here. | |
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| Tax Help For A Smarter Charter Operation |
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| Part 135 air charter operators face a dizzying array of federal and state tax laws on a daily basis – but now there is help! NATA’s Commercial Operators And Management Tax Seminar will provide answers to some of the most common and confusing tax questions.
NATA and Conklin & de Decker have teamed up to present this two-day comprehensive seminar covering the entire range of key tax issues. From Federal Excise Taxes to state taxes and international fees, and from FARs to IRS regulations, you will find the information and answers you need.
Why Attend:
- Know the tax implications of charter brokering
- Discover common tax errors and how to avoid them
- Anticipate state tax problems before they become your problems
- Expand your understanding of international user fees
- Save time and money by knowing your rights
September 23& 24 San Antonio, TX
This seminar is offered only once this year, so reserve your space today.
For more information or to register, visit NATA’s Events Calendar at www.nata.aero or call 800-808-NATA. | |
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| Advance Your Line Service |
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| High performance line service supervisors are absolutely essential to successful operations. Annual training in the latest and best practices is the most effective way for supervisors to maximize efficiency, safety and profit.
NATA’s Advanced Line Service Supervisor Training (ALSST) Seminar provides the tools to increase the performance of line crew supervisors and set them and your operation apart from the rest.
Seminar Benefits:
- Advanced skills to train, motivate and discipline employees
- Employees will be better equipped to respond to both emergency and ordinary, day-to-day situations
- An energized and confident workforce
- Decreased employee turn-over
- Improved communication and performance
- FAA-Approved 14 CFR 139.321 Fire Safety Training certification
- Attendees who have completed both the LSST and ALSST seminars receive an NATA Certified Supervisor Certificate and are recognized in NATA’s e-Toolkit
Featured Speakers:
Walter Chartrand, AirBP Aviation Services
Frank Surface, MoneyWise Solutions
September 23 & 24 San Diego, CA
This seminar is offered only once this year, so reserve your space today.
For more information or to register, visit NATA’s Events Calendar at www.nata.aero or call 800-808-NATA. | |
| Keep Your Profile Information Updated Through nata.aero |
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| Need to change your email address or phone number? Need to add or remove employees from your company contact list or update your company profile information for the business directory? Company primary contacts can view and change all information for the company including updating address and demographic information, adding and removing employees, and checking the products and services listings for your company that will print in the yearly business directory. All members can view and change their individual information.
NATA members have exclusive access to “member only” content on the nata.aero Web site, can receive NATA newsletters (NATA News, ASC Monthly Update, Arrival Times, and Safety 1st e-toolkit), and have email notification of important government and industry affairs issues and press releases. NATA encourages you to ensure that all key personnel are listed as member contacts so you can get the most out of your NATA membership.
To learn more, visit www.nata.aero, login and click on Update Your Profile or contact Linda Pylant for additional information. | |
| NATA Weekly Survey |
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| Should Congress become involved in how states tax out-of-state commercial air carriers?
Participate in survey. | |
| Environmental Fact Of The Week |
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| NATA’s quick facts on the aviation industry's effect on the environment are designed to ensure that members take every step necessary to minimize the effect aviation has on the environment while recognizing the initiatives the industry has taken to reduce global warming.
With the heat of summer upon us, it may seem like an odd time to discuss aircraft and runway de-icing; however, a dramatic change in the equipment and procedures required to de-ice aircraft and airport surfaces may occur by the end of this summer. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is expected to release a draft rule later this summer that is known as Effluent Limitations Guidelines for Airport De-Icing.
This rule will set a series of mandatory monitoring, reporting and mitigation steps for airports that provide de-icing services. The purpose of this draft rule will be to prevent environmental damage to our nation’s surface waters from de-icing activities. Many of the chemicals used in aircraft and runway de-icing can be toxic to aquatic life or can deplete a body of water’s dissolved oxygen, thus limiting its ability to sustain life.
Our industry has already begun the process of ensuring that de-icing activities do not negatively impact the ecology surrounding airports. Using processes such as recycling, treatment and procedural changes, airports that have had environmental issues due to de-icing have been able to correct the problems.
Over the next two months, NATA will continue to prepare for the release of the proposed effluent limitations guidelines (ELG) and will work closely with our members and others in the industry to provide the EPA with comments and proposals that ensure that the ELG meet their protective goals without causing undue harm to aircraft safety and the viability of de-icing providers.
For more information, please contact NATA Manager of Regulatory Affairs Mike France. | |
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