NATA News

The first briefing, titled “Fiscal Crisis,” focuses on the current economic climate facing the general aviation industry and contains a brief cameo appearance by U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA). 

“These video briefings allow me to speak directly to our members on current political and financial issues affecting their companies,” Coyne stated. “I will also be able to provide some candid perspective as to how these issues impact the bottom line of aviation businesses and what actions our members can take to ensure that their companies are protected from new taxes and unnecessary regulations.”  

“In recent weeks, NATA has become aggressive in creating a number of different resources for our members to learn more about what NATA is doing for them,” Coyne said. “We believe that these new video briefings will complement our efforts in creating the NATA President’s Capitol View Blog and the Inside Washington Blog along with joining Twitter, Facebook and other social media networks.

To view “Fiscal Crisis,” please click here.

To view the catalog of Coyne’s Video Briefings, please click here.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) secured enough votes from her party by allowing an amendment to be offered to anti-abortion Democrats that bars the government insurance plan from covering abortions and prohibits people who received insurance subsidies from purchasing private plans that cover abortions.

The 10-year $894 billion bill places a surtax on individuals earning more than $500,000 a year to raise revenue for health care reform. In addition, the bill intends to insure more than 36 million uninsured Americans. About 15 million of the poorest children and adults would be eligible to enroll in Medicaid and an additional 21 million would be able to purchase coverage from a new national insurance exchange, where private plans would compete with a "public option" backed by the federal government. The bill includes small business tax incentives as well as exempts small businesses with payrolls of less than $500,000 annually from being required to provide health coverage or face penalty. 

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) hopes to bring the Senate’s Health Care Bill (S. 1796) to the floor before Thanksgiving, and final legislation is not likely to reach President Obama’s desk before the New Year. 

NATA will provide a detailed legislative report this week on both H.R. 3692 and the Senate’s companion bill, S. 1796. 

The FAA’s denial stated that the authority’s application had failed to meet four of the six statutory requirements for instituting an airport access restriction under the Airport Noise and Capacity Act. NATA submitted comments opposed to the authority’s application and has produced a regulatory report that outlines the specifics of the FAA’s denial.

The FAA’s decision highlights the fact that the Glendale-Burbank-Pasadena Airport Authority has focused solely on severely limiting airport access despite the fact that its own application points out that less restrictive, more cost efficient solutions are feasible. A copy of the FAA’s letter to the authority’s executive director is available here.

Republican members of the committee boycotted the vote to protest a lack of a complete analysis of its potential economic impact. Republicans have called the Senate climate change legislation and a similar measure passed by the House of Representatives “a tax that the country can ill-afford at a time of high unemployment and economic uncertainty.” 

The Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works’ 11-1 vote to approve the climate proposal may have little long-term significance in shaping the final bill.

“In terms of air safety, ensuring that tower controllers have an unobstructed view and the latest technology and equipment is vital,” said Coyne. “Teterboro Airport is the nation’s busiest general aviation airport, and Teterboro controllers need a new tower to continue to control the flow of air traffic safely.”

The letter to Administrator Babbitt notes that in recent years the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey has invested nearly $100 million on a variety of safety improvement projects at TEB, including new taxiways, lighting improvements, and the installation of a new Engineered Material Arresting System. Despite repeated requests that a new tower for TEB be placed on the FAA’s Capital Plan priority list, the project still remains a low priority for the agency. NATA and the Teterboro Airport Industry Working Group hope that bringing this issue to the attention of the administrator will help make a new tower a priority for the FAA.

In 2006, the Teterboro Airport Industry Working Group assembled a diverse group of aviation industry professionals, including experienced aviation experts representing TEB’s fixed base operators, airport users and tenants, and national and local aviation industry associations, to bridge the interests of the aviation community and airport neighbors proactively and voluntarily and to offer practical and workable local solutions that address the unique nature of TEB.

Other signatories to the letter included Net Jets Aviation Inc., Dassault Falcon Jet Corporation, Teterboro Airport, Jet Aviation, Signature Flight Support, General Aviation Manufacturers Association, National Business Aviation Association, Meridian Air Charter, First Aviation Services, and AFCO AVPORTS Management LLC dba AvPorts.

To view the letter sent to Administrator Babbitt, please click here.

“Tim is a fantastic addition to the NATA staff,” stated Coyne. “His strong financial management background and vast experience with non-profit organizations will be invaluable to NATA, especially as our industry works through one of the worst economic downturns in recent memory.”

Heck, who also holds a Certificate of Public Accounting, has a proven track record in affecting change by implementing best practices in the areas of operations, cash and treasury management, budgeting, process reengineering and strategic planning to improve organizational efficiency and effectiveness. 

“NATA and its membership are quite fortunate to have someone of Tim’s caliber assuming the vice president of financial operations position,” concluded Coyne. “I look forward to working with Tim as we build off of the solid financial foundation that Alan provided during his service to the association.”

• Overall, visits to doctors for flu-like illness continue to increase sharply to about 8% of all visits, about eight times the usual levels for this time of year.  The rate is higher than the very bad flu season of 2007-2008. 
• All 10 regions remain above the epidemic threshold.  The percentage of visits for flu-like illness increased in five of 10 regions (Northeast, Midwest), dropped in three (Southeast, Texas area, California/Alaska/Hawaii) and remained the same in the other two (Northwest, Colorado/Dakotas area).
• Total hospitalization rates for the flu continue to increase and are higher than expected for this time of year. 38,451 hospitalizations (confirmed and by symptom) since 9/1/09 (up from 30,000 last week). 
• All 50 states are reporting widespread or regional flu activity.  49 states (up from 46) are reporting widespread flu activity; one state and 1 territory are reporting regional flu activity.
• Virtually all the flu viruses identified so far continue to be the 2009 H1N1 virus; the vaccine continues to be a good match, and the virus continues to respond well to Tamiflu and Relenza, with rare exceptions.
• Shipments of both nasal spray and injectable H1N1 vaccine continue to the states.  As of 10/30, 26.6 million doses were available to be shipped, up from 14 million on 10/21.

More information on the H1N1 flu can be found at www.flu.gov.

"One Voice" was heard today at the AOPA Summit in Tampa in a big way – and “One Big Voice” is what decision-makers listen to. We should all thank the leadership and professionals of our allied associations for coming to Summit this morning, locking arms and developing strategies to fight new costs and restrictions that threaten GA. Our allies: Ed Bolen of National Business Aviation Association (NBAA); Pete Bunce of General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA); Peggy Chabrian of Women in Aviation International (WAI); Jim Coyne of National Air Transportation Association (NATA); Paula Derks of Aircraft Electronics Association (AEA); and Tom Poberezny of Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA). We are united as an industry. This unity translates into growing support from Capitol Hill and from leaders across America who understand the vital role that GA plays in the economies, safety, health, and connectedness of our communities. We were thrilled to hear that message echoed by Governors Joe Manchin (WVA) and Sonny Perdue (GA), who joined us this morning and at our Noon Rally." Fuller went on to say, "There is also much more to do. We’ve launched, done our climb-out and now we’ve got to get growing. AOPA staff, our partner associations, and our supporters in government can’t do it all. We must get our message into every corner of America to keep the Summit momentum going into the critical budget debates in 2010."

NATA President James K. Coyne played an important role in the "One Voice" session as a powerful representative of aviation businesses and a lively role as master of ceremonies of the General Aviation Serves America rally. He introduced several special guests and presented a rousing speech along with Fuller, and West Virginia Governor Joe Manchin, III. They expressed the dire need for pilots to help fight user fees, communicate their message to elected officials and invest in aviation or risk losing it all. Coyne's passion for aviation inspired and energized the crowd of pilots, industry colleagues and aviation enthusiasts present at the convention center as well as thousands of audience members participating online. He spoke of his immense pride as he recently flew for the first time with his son in left seat as a newly accomplished private pilot, and the utter importance of protecting our freedom to fly for future generations.

NATA's Amy Koranda and Shannon Chambers greeted members and informed attendees about safety programs such as Flight Crew Briefings and Safety 1st Professional Line Service Training on the show floor and in a forum held Saturday. Koranda led a near-capacity crowd through safety practices at FBOs, what to look for to ensure a Safety 1st operation, and how to take advantage of the Safety 1st Flight Crew Briefing when flying into Teterboro Airport.

Join us for a free webinar highlighting the major provisions of the House and Senate versions of FAA Reauthorization and what the likelihood will be in seeing this legislation made final this year. The webinar will take place November 19 from 12:00 noon to 12:30 p.m. with a question-and-answer period following. Click here to register for webinar.

• Large Aircraft Security Program - LASP
• Twelve-Five Standard Security Program Update
• TSA Operation Playbook
• Possible Repair Station Security  Rule

The webinar lasted for one hour and included a thorough question-and-answer period. It is available, to NATA members, for viewing at www.nata.aero.

If you missed the GA Security Policy Update Webinar from last week, you can view a recording by clicking here.