NATA News

The roundtable discussion was convened by Republican leaders of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and Aviation Subcommittee, Representatives John L. Mica (R-FL) and Tom Petri (R-WI). Industry representatives from commercial, regional and cargo airlines, general aviation, airports, aviation businesses, and repair stations, as well as aviation financial analysts, were present for a critical examination of the state of the industry and potential congressional initiatives to address the problems.

NATA advocated for positive reinforcement for our nation's public-use airports, general aviation businesses, aircraft and pilots. Byer highlighted some of the things Congress has done lately to boost aviation manufacturing and jobs, such as the recently introduced legislation by Rep. Todd Tiahrt (R-KS), H.R. 3844, that would extend bonus depreciation for noncommercial aircraft, but he stated much more can be done.

To read NATA's Press Release on the roundtable, please click here.

To read Byer's full testimony, please click here.

NATA has joined with the Air Transport Association (ATA), Airports Council International - North America (ACI-NA), American Association of Airport Executives (AAAE) and the Regional Airline Association (RAA) in asking the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to reconsider its decision not to extend the public comment period for the proposed de-icing Effluent Limitation Guidelines (ELG) beyond December 28, 2009. The de-icing ELG would require certain commercial service airports to use technological solutions to ensure the collection and disposal of a specified percentage of sprayed de-ice fluid.

The original request to extend the comment period was denied by the EPA on the grounds that sufficient opportunity for comment was being provided. This recent request provided the EPA with more detail on the specific reasons why the original 120-day comment period is insufficient, including:

• The effect on the comment process of the comment period's conclusion occurring during the peak of de-icing season
• The effect of the EPA's recent addition of substantial documentation to the ELG docket
• The effect of the sheer size of the rulemaking and supporting documentation on the comment process (currently over 1200 supporting document entries in the docket)
• Specific operational and safety issues that require more time to analyze fully

The current comment period on the proposed de-icing ELG ends December 28, 2009. A copy of the request that the EPA reconsider its denial of an extension of the comment period can be viewed here.

Late last month in a letter to the executive director of the Glendale-Burbank-Pasadena Airport Authority, the FAA denied the authority's request to institute a nighttime curfew on air traffic at Bob Hope Airport in Southern California. The authority had requested, by Part 161 application, to institute the curfew to curtail airport noise in surrounding communities.

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.

• Explore convening a forum of stakeholders, including lawmakers, to consider obtaining a curfew either through federal legislation and/or a negotiated settlement involving impacted constituents.

• Commission a new Part 150 Study to validate its commitment to the airport's ongoing acoustical treatment program, as well as to identify and pursue other noise abatement and mitigation measures.

"'All of us on the Authority Commission were deeply disappointed by the FAA's decision, but the steps outlined today do hold potential for further progress, and we believe this course of action is the best way to move ahead,’ added Authority President Joyce Streator."

In the Burbank Leader article, airport authority officials took a much harsher tone, with Airport Commissioner Don Brown saying:

"’[The FAA] is going to really have to batter us and badger us if they think we're going to stop. We're going to do what we have to do.’"

In regards to the FAA decision, airport Commissioner Charles Lombardo said:

"’We spent nine years and $7 million on this effort - real time and money - and really [the FAA] just said no…. The FAA said we don't have a nighttime noise problem. Well, if you ask the people around the airport, I think they would give you a different answer.’"

In its decision, the FAA determined that there was a noise problem at Bob Hope Airport but denied the airport authority's request as unreasonable. NATA submitted comments to the FAA opposing the airport authority's request for a curfew and hopes the authority chooses a path that involves all stakeholders in a process aimed at finding workable solutions that do not harshly restrict airport access.

Join NATA's Jim Coyne, NBAA's Ed Bolen, GAMA's Pete Bunce and AOPA's Craig Fuller on Tuesday morning, January 26, at NATA's FBO Leadership Conference for a breakfast and the first industry briefing of 2010.

The 2010 FBO Leadership Conference sessions focus on change and relationships. The event itself has undergone a few major changes in the date and location. In an effort to provide our members added value and convenience, NATA is partnering with NBAA to hold the 2010 FBO Leadership Conference (January 25-26) immediately preceding NBAA's Schedulers And Dispatchers Conference (January 26-29) in San Antonio, TX.

We will update the 2010 FBO Leadership Conference events page as more details are available. For more information or to register, please visit www.nata.aero/fbolc. Click here to register for NBAA's Schedulers & Dispatchers Conference

On November 12, 2009, NATA President James K. Coyne participated in the "Future of U.S. Aviation" Forum hosted by the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT). The forum brought together members from labor, government, academia and the airline, manufacturing, and general aviation industries to discuss the health and future competitiveness of U.S. aviation. DOT Secretary Ray LaHood stated that "without a financially strong aviation industry, we will be unable to compete in domestic and international commerce and also could fall behind in addressing our infrastructure needs, including transitioning to NextGen."

The forum addressed FAA reauthorization, alliances to foreign repair stations, passenger rights and major labor issues. LaHood addressed the Next Generation Air Traffic Control System (NextGen), stating, "NextGen is not just an aviation or a DOT issue, it is one of the top priorities of the White House as well." Referring to steps that are already being taken to replace older systems with programs such as Required Navigation Performance (RNP) and Aviation Navigation (RNAV), FAA Administrator Randy Babbitt pointed out, "We all know NextGen is not an option, it is happening, we're doing it now." LaHood added, "For example, in one month, NextGen will be deployed across the Gulf of Mexico, replacing old grid systems."

As for the NextGen funding issue, US Airways Chairman and CEO Doug Parker, who was unavailable to attend the meeting, sent LaHood a letter stating that "if the cost of deploying NextGen has to be covered by even higher taxes or fees imposed on the airlines, we prefer to live without it at the current time." To view the entire letter, click here.

The meeting concluded with Secretary LaHood and Administrator Babbitt revealing the formation of a new federal advisory committee that will study every facet of the aviation industry. LaHood further promised that within one year, that committee will submit a blueprint for change in aviation. 

NATA has produced a comprehensive analysis of health care legislation being considered by the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate.

As reported in last week's NATA News, the U.S. House of Representatives recently approved H.R. 3692 by a slim margin with a vote of 220-215. The GOP had been adamantly opposed to health care reform legislation for many reasons, in particular because the House measure raises taxes during a time of record deficits and our country cannot afford a new entitlement program that would cost an estimated $1 trillion over the next 10 years.

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 receive 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.

To view NATA's comprehensive analysis of health care legislation being considered by Congress, please click here

U.S. Senators Pat Roberts (R-KS) and Sam Brownback (R-KS) introduced legislation, S. 2723, to provide a special depreciation allowance and recovery period for noncommercial aircraft property. S. 2723 is the companion bill to H.R. 3844 introduced by U.S. Congressman Todd Tiahrt (R-KS) to help boost general aviation aircraft sales. The legislation titled "The General Aviation Depreciation Act" would extend the current bonus depreciation allowance for another two years and shorten the recovery period for non-commercial aircraft property from five to three years.

To read NATA's Legislative Report, please click here

NATA President James K. Coyne has joined with ten other members of the Teterboro Airport Industry Working Group in asking FAA Administrator J. Randolph Babbitt to increase the priority for construction of a new air traffic control tower at Teterboro Airport (TEB). The current control tower at TEB was constructed in the early 1970s as a temporary facility and does not provide controllers an unobstructed view of vital areas of the field.

"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

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Early this month, members of the U.S House of Representatives Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure's Subcommittee on Aviation heard testimony from industry leaders on "NextGen: A Review of the RTCA Mid-Term Implementation Task Force Report." Radio Technical Commission for Aeronautics or RTCA, Inc. is a private, not-for-profit corporation developed by the FAA to provide consensus-based recommendations regarding issues such as surveillance, navigation and air traffic management. At the request of the FAA, a task force was implemented for aviation safety that produced a report on September 9, 2009, that forged a consensus on NextGen improvements to be implemented between now and 2018 that will maximize NextGen benefits and create an industry investment.

The task force report stressed the benefit of implementing "operational capabilities" at key hubs and large metropolitan areas where congestion at larger airports can cause bottlenecks at smaller airports. These interim stop-gap measures are already in place in today's system but will help to create a smooth transition towards NextGen implementation. Such capabilities include surface and runway traffic awareness, metroplex capacity and efficiency, cruise efficiency, low-altitude and non-radar airspace access, data communication and integrated air traffic flow management. Following these recommendations will advance important national objectives, including further reducing the industry's environmental footprint, reducing long-term costs for the FAA, enhancing safety, expanding system capacity, and providing other benefits.

Aviation Subcommittee Chairman Jerry Costello (D-IL) praised the RTCA task force on recommendations made in the report. "I believe that the RTCA task force's report is a positive step forward and represents a significant breakthrough for the NextGen effort." He assured the industry that the subcommittee will continue to provide oversight of near-term NextGen implementation while keeping the long-term goals of NextGen in mind. Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman James Oberstar (D-MN) agreed, stating that the report provides "clear, actionable and achievable recommendations that will help shape the FAA's vision and mission for the mid-term."

NATA is pleased with the implementation of the task force and the recommendations that were made to help improve the collaboration between the government and industry. Despite the economic downturn that has rattled the industry, general aviation remains confident that more progress will soon be made to the modernization of the air traffic control system.