NATA News

The next in-person meeting of the NATA ASC will take place on October 26-27, 2009, in the Washington, D.C. area. Details for this meeting can be found by clicking here.

For more information about these meetings, please contact Eric Byer on the NATA staff.

The NATA formed the NATA ASC in 2002 to further the interests of companies providing services to scheduled air carrier as their primary business. NATA 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. NATA 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 Transportation Security Administration’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.

NATA issued a legislative report last week on S. 1451, please click here to view it.

Health Care Legislation Update
As Congress endeavors this week to complete its work before the August recess, the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate are focusing solely on legislation to reform health care. The House Committee on Energy and Commerce resumed its mark-up of health care legislation on Wednesday, July 29, after an agreement was reached between the White House, leaders of the House, and four Blue Dog Democrats who were opposed to the legislation prior to Wednesday.

The agreement included cutting more than $100 billion from the bill, including an exemption for small businesses with less than $500,000 in payroll that would have excluded them from the employer mandate to provide health insurance. The compromise also prevents the public insurance option from basing reimbursements on Medicare rates and makes state-based health insurance cooperatives optional. The bill will be delayed until Congress returns in September. 

The Senate, however, is expected to complete its version of health care legislation and possibly bring it to the floor for a vote by August 7. The Senate health care reform package is currently being reviewed by the Senate Committee on Finance and includes incentives for employers to provide health insurance for employees rather than a penalty mandate. The committee is also expected to reject the tax surcharge on wealthy households that the House adopted and limits on deductions for upper-income taxpayers that President Obama is seeking. As the committee works through the bill, they are also carefully weighing provisions to ensure that unintended consequences affecting small businesses and middle-class families are revised or removed.

More details of both the House and Senate legislation will be released in the next two days, NATA will update the membership on the status of this legislation.

The increase of funds for the DOT is partially due to the $4 billion increase for a new high-speed rail program, a priority established in President Obama’s budget request issued in February. In addition, the FAA’s Operations Account was increased by $304 million to hire 136 flight standards inspectors and an additional 50 aircraft certification inspectors.

To view NATA’s Legislative Report on the FY10 Transportation Appropriations Legislation, please click here

• History of federal aid to airports
• Federal Grant Assurances
• Evaluating the airport environment
• Airport sponsors rights
• Exclusive Rights
• Airport rules and regulations

The 2009 revision of the Airports Sponsors Guide to Minimum Standards and Airport Rules & Regulations has been completely rewritten and is designed to present airport sponsors with a thorough review of the important concerns when developing and implementing minimum standards. This revision also focused on reorganizing topics and presenting them in an easy to read and understand format.

The guide will be an important resource for airport sponsors trying to ensure sustainable growth and increased service levels at their airports. Airport commercial service providers will also find this guide invaluable as a tool to understanding the many issues surrounding minimum standards.

The Airport Sponsors Guide to Minimum Standards and Airport Rules & Regulations is available to NATA members online at www.nata.aero or by clicking here.

Please visit the congressional tour information page that includes sample letters and more information by clicking here.

2009 Updated Congressional Schedule: (House and Senate)

June 29-July 3 – Independence Day Recess (House & Senate)
August 3-September 4 – August Recess (House)
August 10-September 7 – August Recess (Senate)
October 30 — Target Adjournment

If you have questions or need additional information, please contact NATA Director of Legislative Affairs Kristen Moore at (800) 808-6282 or by email at kmoore@nata.aero.

General Aviation in the United States provides an in-depth review of the NATA membership segments as well as other important components of the general aviation and airline services industry. This handy reference also contains information on a number of U.S. government agencies that affect the day-to-day operation of aviation businesses, and features several charts containing vital general aviation and business aviation statistics on fuel consumption, fractional ownership companies, active pilots, airports, and much more.

"NATA's fact book is one of the many helpful resources available to aid our members in educating community and government leaders about the value of our industry as a critical component to the American economy," NATA President James K. Coyne stated.

Click here to download your free copy of General Aviation in the United States now!

Members who have questions regarding this publication may contact Linda Pylant or Shannon Chambers.

Click here to download the brochure today!

If you have questions about the brochure, please contact Eric Byer.