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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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Training - Pittsburgh, PA- December 2, 2009
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Professional Line Service Training
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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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| Congress Asks Obama Not To Include User Fees In FY11 Budget |
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| U.S. House of Representatives Subcommittee on Aviation Chairman Jerry Costello (D-IL) and Ranking Member Thomas Petri (R-WI) are circulating a letter among members of the subcommittee for signatures on a letter urging President Obama not to include general aviation user fees in the Fiscal Year 2011 budget. House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Chairman James Oberstar (D-MN) as well as Costello and Petri support maintaining the current mechanism of using fuel taxes to support the Aviation Trust Fund, as is contained in H.R. 915, the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2009, which passed the House earlier this year. They expect to send the letter to the President within two weeks.
The letter states that “the current system of aviation excise taxes has proven to be a stable and efficient source of funding for our aviation system. Furthermore, we believe that user fees will place an undue administrative burden, and associated costs, on system users – particularly small businesses and general aviation users.”
To read the entire letter, please click here.
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| NATA Briefs Hill Staff On Charter Flight, Duty And Rest Issues |
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| Last week, NATA briefed staff members for the U.S. House of Representatives Subcommittee on Aviation on the issues surrounding flight, duty and rest regulations for Part 135 air charter operators and on recommendations that have been made to change the current rules.
These regulations have been the subject of greater scrutiny since the fatal crash earlier this year of a scheduled regional airliner flight. Following that accident, the FAA convened an aviation rulemaking committee to develop recommendations to the agency for changing pilot work regulations. However, this group, comprising Part 121 airline representatives and pilot unions had no Part 135 on-demand operators named to the committee.
NATA and other participants from the 125/135 Aviation Rulemaking Committee (which ended in 2005) strongly encouraged the FAA not to adopt a single rule for all air carriers and urged the agency to move forward with the already developed recommendations made by the 125/135 ARC. The FAA leadership has since publicly stated to NATA and others that they will not consider a single rule for all operators and will rely upon the 125/135 ARC proposal to address work rules for on-demand pilots.
Due to the intense congressional focus currently placed on aviation safety, NATA believes that educating Members of Congress and their staff about the 125/135 ARC recommendation, focusing on how it addresses all the areas of concern raised by Congress, the FAA and others, is critical to ensuring that a “one size fits all” standard is not unilaterally imposed.
Committee staff members were impressed by the level of detail in the recommendations and were thankful for the summary of information provided by NATA.
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| NATA Seeks Member Participation On Security Directive Action Call |
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| Last week, Representatives John Mica (R-FL), Thomas Petri (R-WI), Vernon Ehlers (R-MI), Sam Graves (R-MO) and Allen Boyd (D-FL) introduced legislation, H.R. 3678, to modify the authority of the Transportation Security Administration assistant secretary to issue regulations and security directives using emergency procedures.
H.R. 3678 was introduced in response to Security Directive (SD) 1542-04-08G (SD-8G) issued last year that required pilots based at airports serving commercial air carriers to get a badge in order to have unescorted access to the airport. While SD-8G has been troublesome for many airports throughout the country, one of the major concerns was the use of an SD to promulgate regulations where no imminent threat existed.
NATA is pleased that this legislation was introduced as a stand-alone piece of legislation. It’s imperative that additional Members of Congress co-sign the legislation for the bill to move forward. Please write to your Members of Congress today and seek their support on this important legislation.
To view NATA’s Action Call, please click here.
To view NATA’s Legislative Report on H.R. 3678, please click here.
Please contact Kristen Moore, kmoore@nata.aero, for more information.
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| NATA Releases Legislative Report On Draft Global Warming Legislation |
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| On September 30, Senator John Kerry (D-MA), Chairman of the U.S. Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs, and Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA), chairwoman of the Senate Committee on Environment, released a draft version of legislation designed to curb the effects of climate change by capping greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions nationwide. The draft legislation is similar to the American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009 (ACESA), passed by the U.S. House of Representatives in June. Much like the ACESA, this draft would create a “cap and trade” program that would institute a cap on GHG emissions and require emitters to purchase or trade emission credits.
NATA staff have reviewed the draft legislation and prepared a legislative report that is available to members for download here.
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| FAA Holds “H1N1 Sector Snapshot” Teleconference With Aviation Industry |
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In light of the spread of the H1N1 flu, the Obama administration has asked for a weekly “H1N1 Sector Snapshot” for all critical infrastructure/key resources sectors. Last week, NATA staff participated in a teleconference with FAA officials and industry representatives aimed at acquiring information for compiling the weekly snapshot for the White House. These teleconferences will continue on a weekly basis until they are deemed no longer needed by the administration. This initial meeting served primarily as a means for FAA Pandemic Coordinator Laura Valero to provide industry representatives with the latest information about the H1N1 flu.
Valero released the following information during the teleconference:
- 47 States are reporting widespread or regional outbreaks of H1N1
- The vast majority of H1N1 cases will not require hospitalization and are not life threatening
- Individuals with prior health conditions, such as pregnancy or heart conditions, are at the greatest risk from H1N1
- The H1N1 virus has undergone little mutations, which should make vaccinations very effective
- The H1N1 vaccine should be available next week and will be initially targeted at those individuals at greatest risk from H1N1
This process of weekly teleconferences is part of the FAA’s pandemic response plan. Even though H1N1 is not likely to cause widespread effects on transportation infrastructure, initiating this process will allow the FAA and administration officials the opportunity to evaluate the plan’s effectiveness and identify issues that need to be corrected. NATA staff will continue to participate in these weekly teleconferences and report any important information to its members.
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| Members Encouraged To Review Changed Product Rule |
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| Federal Aviation Regulation 21.101, also known as the Changed Product Rule, requires an applicant for a change to a type certificate to meet the latest requirements, except where the change is not significant, where areas of the product are not affected, where it would be impractical, or where it would not contribute materially to the level of safety of the changed product. Advisory Circular (AC) 21.101-1 provides guidance for establishing the certification basis for changed aeronautical projects and identifying the conditions under which it will be necessary to apply for a new type certificate. The FAA will soon propose revisions of this AC to harmonize with Transport Canada and the European Aviation Safety Agency guidance.
To view NATA’s Regulatory Report on the Changed Product Rule, including how to comment, please click here.
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| Byer’s Newest Blog Post, Plus From The Archives |
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| Byer's latest post is called "Survey Says - Regulatory Consistency, Now!" This post provides some guidance on what we can do individually and what your association is doing on your behalf in the effort to come to a standardization resolution.
Just in case you missed Byer’s earlier posts or Coyne’s first entry…
Byer’s first post, "Light At The End Of The Tarmac?," discusses the brutal effect the economy has had on our members, and offers a ray of hope for the future...maybe nearer than we dared hope.
The second post in his weekly blog, “User Fee Battle – Take Two,” discusses the importance of defending general aviation's vital role in our nation's air transportation system as we embark upon the second User Fee fight.
Coyne's inaugural post, "Can't We All Just Get Along?," addresses the USA Today article attacking general aviation and the fundamental change of strategy on the part of the airlines that this article represents.
New blog posts for Byer's blog will be featured each week in this newsletter. Coyne's monthly posts will also appear here. The blogs may be accessed anytime from the social media page on NATA's Web site.
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| NATA Adds New FBO Operational Best Practices |
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| NATA's Safety & Security Committee added three new operational best practices (OBP) on cell phone/media device usage in work areas, motorized mobile equipment and adverse weather monitoring. These will provide additional guidance to the original OBPs on safety committees, safety management systems, 50/10 stoppage procedures, proper propeller handling, safe securing of aircraft, foreign object damage prevention and the safe towing of aircraft.
The operational best practices were developed by industry experts on NATA's Safety & Security Committee who bring together many years of aviation experience and knowledge. The recommendations contained in the OBPs provide best practice guidance with which each FBO can develop procedures applicable to its own operation and associated risks.
NATA’s OBPs provide an introduction that guides you through the process of tailoring the OBPs to your operation and a record of revisions as well as the best practices. The Safety & Security Committee encourages you to evaluate your practices with NATA’s OBPs to ensure safety on your ramps.
Click here to view NATA’s OBPs.
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| Three Newsletters Added To NATA’s Web Site |
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| NATA offers several weekly and monthly newsletters to provide our members with an instant source of information as well as the opportunity to have their own news published. And now, we have added convenient links to NATA Training Times, The Plane Facts and Flight Training Business Report. Archived copies of NATA’s newsletters are available online and articles are searchable at www.nata.aero.
NATA Training Times
NATA's Training Times newsletter features articles, tips, opportunities and contests developed to keep your team and operation in top shape.
The Plane Facts
To help congressional leaders, policymakers, and their staff shape the government’s role in aviation, we are pleased to present The Plane Facts, a newsletter from NATA that we hope will inform, educate, and challenge its readers to understand the problems and opportunities we face – and work together to solve them.
Flight Training Business Report
NATA's Flight Training Business Report is the industry's sole publication focusing on the marketing, economics, and challenges of flight schools, training centers, and aviation colleges.
Advertising space is available in NATA newsletters. For more information, click here.
To learn more about all of NATA’s newsletters or to view archived issues, please click on the Newsletters link at www.nata.aero. If you have questions or would like to subscribe to or advertise in any of NATA’s newsletters, please contact Linda Pylant at (703) 845-9000 or by email at lpylant@nata.aero.
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| NATF Scholarships – Reach Your Academic And Flight Training Goals |
| Learn More In A Free Webinar |
| Someone wants to give me money? Even in this economy? To help achieve a goal or career in aviation? Yes…you heard right on all three counts. Hear more about how NATF Scholarships can help you or someone you know pursue a career in aviation, learn to fly, or further aviation business career skills. Amy Koranda will host a free Webinar to provide an overview of NATF’s three scholarships, the criteria and the application process. The Webinar will take place on October 14 at 12:30 p.m. EDT. Click here to register. Don’t miss this valuable opportunity to learn how you or someone you know can get help in reaching academic and flight training goals!
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| NATA Weekly Survey |
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| NATA’s weekly surveys are part of an effort to obtain more information from our members to serve their daily needs better. These surveys range from specific policy topics to programs, products and services that the association provides or should provide. The association strongly encourages members to take a few moments to review and complete the online survey in each week’s edition of NATA News.
Question:
Should NATA provide a free Webinar to members highlighting its new Airport Sponsors Guide to Minimum Standards?
Participate in survey.
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| 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.
In the fast changing world of environmental compliance, aviation companies can quickly find themselves behind the curve. For this reason, NATA held its first ever Environmental Policy Update Webinar in September. The Webinar covered the most current topics in environmental compliance including:
- European Union Emissions Trading Scheme
- Proposed Effluent Limitation Guidelines for De-ice Activities
- SPCC Update
- Future Environmental Regulation and Legislation
The Webinar lasted about 30 minutes and was followed by a question-and-answer period where participants were able to talk directly to NATA staff or submit written questions. Over 30 member companies participated in the Webinar and a copy of the presentation is available on the NATA Web site here. NATA looks forward to continuing to use this new tool to provide its members with the latest information affecting their operations.
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