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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. continued |
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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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| NATA President Visits Sun Coast Air Center In Venice, FL |
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| Last Wednesday, NATA President James K. Coyne paid a visit to NATA member SunCoast Air Center in Venice, FL. Coyne was treated to a facility tour by SunCoast Managing Director Marty Kretchman. Following the tour, Coyne participated in a community forum discussing national and local issues affecting general aviation and the Venice Municipal Airport. Attending the forum were Venice Airport tenants, pilots, city council members, airport staff and local aviation enthusiasts. Of particular concern to many of the attendees are the recent attempts by the city of Venice to have the airport downgraded in an attempt to limit the use of the airport by business jet traffic. Coyne stressed the importance of involvement by local pilots and business owners in the political process. NATA staff will continue to work with SunCoast’s management in the coming months to help ensure that the Venice Airport remains a vibrant component of the local economy!
Coyne’s bio is available here.
More information on SunCoast Air Center is available here. | |
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| WA State Senate Committee Debating Tax Increase On Aircraft |
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| As NATA has previously reported, the state of Washington’s legislature is working through the committee process House Bill 3176 that would impose a tax increase on aircraft owners and operators. More specifically, the bill would impose a 0.5 percent excise tax for purposes of using aircraft in the state, replacing the current fixed fee for aircraft registration. The tax would be assessed on the fair market value of the aircraft as determined by the state.
Last week, the Washington state Senate Committee on Ways and Means took up Senate Bill 6873, the companion bill to HB 3176; however, there has not yet been a vote on the measure. NATA believes that the history of taxation of aircraft and aircraft operations is clear. Increases in aviation-related taxes decrease aviation activity and, therefore, negatively impact the competitiveness of local businesses and result in a long-term decline in tax revenue.
To view the NATA action call sent to members in the state of Washington, please click here.
Click here to view the full text of HB 3176. | |
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| Don’t Miss ACSF’s Safety Symposium Tomorrow |
| Onsite Registration Is Available At The Westfields Marriott |
Symposium Agenda Highlights:
- Responding To The NTSB’s Increasing Focus On Air Charter with James Ballough, Special Assistant to the Assoc. Administrator for Aviation Safety, FAA
In recent years, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has become increasingly focused on the safety of on-demand and fractional ownership operations. The FAA is tasked with responding to most NTSB recommendations related to Part 135. How is the agency responding to this new focus? Is the NTSB influencing staffing and policy priorities related to Part 135?
- Business Benefits Of Safety Programs with the Honorable Christopher A. Hart, Vice Chairman, National Transportation Safety Board
NTSB Vice Chairman Christopher Hart has an extensive background in aviation and system safety that uniquely qualifies him to address the business, including financial, benefits of the implementation of safety-enhancing programs. Vice Chairman Hart has held leadership roles within the FAA, the NHTSA and the DOT. In addition, he holds a law degree from Harvard Law School and a Masters Degree in Aerospace Engineering from Princeton University. He is a member of the District of Columbia Bar and the Lawyer-Pilots Bar Association, and he is a pilot with commercial, multi-engine, and instrument ratings.
- Build A New Safety Culture With Your Existing Staff with Shawn Pruchnicki, Top Human Factors Scholar And Accident Investigation Expert
Making the executive decision to adopt a just safety culture and implement SMS and other programs is only the first step. Now you must effect change in your employees, some of whom will be resistant to change or reject the new concepts as unnecessary. Learn how to establish your culture, how to get your staff to buy in to a culture shift and the challenges you can expect to encounter as you build your safety culture.
- New Online Risk Assessment Tool To Be Unveiled
Convenience and safety are usually not thought of as going hand-in-hand, but NATA’s new online Risk Assessment Tool - RA Check - combines a highly comprehensive FAA-endorsed Risk Assessment Tool with the automation necessary to make its use quick, easy, and accurate. At the ACSF Symposium, NetJets International Vice President of Safety & Compliance Dave Hewitt will give an overview of implementation and the history of the FAA-published tool, and NATA’s Director of Technology Initiatives David Vernon will introduce RA Check. Hear about the automated tool that can ease implementation for operators of every size and complexity, and be among the first to register for a free 30-day trial at the Air Charter Safety Symposium.
Visit www.acsf.aero/symposium for details, and register onsite at the Westfields Marriott in Chantilly, Virginia! | |
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| NATA Comments On Proposed EPA De-icing Rule |
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| Last week, NATA provided its formal comments to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on the proposed Effluent Limitation Guidelines (ELG) for de-ice activities. The proposed ELG imposes a national standard for the control of wastewater runoff from de-icing activities at most primary commercial service airports. The proposed rules mandate a percentage of used de-ice fluid that must be collected and treated at affected airports.
In its comments, the association noted, “The issuance of (these standards) require airports to comply with specific facility, equipment and procedural mandates imposed by the EPA, an agency unfamiliar with and ill prepared to deal with the demanding nature of airport operations.”
NATA’s full comments to the EPA are available to members here. | |
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| Media Response To Austin, TX Crash Stirs Strong Industry Reactions |
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| NATA Vice President Eric R. Byer released a blog post last week called “Austin, TX Crash: How Some Will Do Anything To Make the Extreme Look Like the Norm.” In the post, Byer addresses the industry concerning the attempt of the media to take a rare extreme aircraft accident and make the case that general aviation is not secure. Byer states:
"Last week, I wrote a blog shortly after the accident addressing the need for the mainstream media not to rush to judgment until all the facts are out on the table. Now, after the dust has settled, we are seeing attempts to capitalize on a terrible incident to invoke fear and create controversy over the security of the general aviation industry.
Normally, I would ignore this type of rhetoric, but the piece issued by STRATFOR does such a disservice to the general aviation community in its use of apples-to-oranges examples that it cannot be disregarded..."
Members of the industry also have a lot to say about this topic. The following are excerpts from comments on that post:
John L. Carlen, Atlantic Aviation
A well thought out, firmly directed response to a typical knee jerk reaction to an incident without critical thinking involved. No thought for inflicted harm that was careless in nature, toward an industry that has strived mightily, at great cost, to ensure the type of security required in this age of insanity.
Well done!
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JR Stambaugh, Stambaugh Aviation
I have to say I whole heartedly agree with the basis of this blog. In addition I would like to point out that the mainstream news media in this country has been on a crusade since the 9/11 tragedy to continually raise concerns and "security" issues regarding aviation... Commercial as well as General aviation is the victim of constant supposition of "what could happen."
Years ago, aviation travel was for the upper elite in this country. Commercial flights were expensive, and in a much less "global" environment the average person did not need, let alone utilize, such travel methods to the extent we have seen in more recent decades. The ownership of aircraft fell along these same lines, to an even greater extent.
The continual "bashing" of aircraft and aviation as a whole is slowly damaging the industry... is it their goal to return us to the 60's where only businesses and the elite could enjoy and utilize the aircraft? Click here to read more.
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Kenneth Wiegand, McKinney Airport
Eric's blog is right on target. I was in Austin the day of the incident and listened to local radio and television reports. I continue to be amazed at the lengths the media will go to sell a story. They all -- without exception -- speculated that this obvious suicide was a terrorist attack. But the worst report I heard that day was the reaction from local Congressman Michael McCaul of Austin. You may still read his remarks on the front page of his website at http://mccaul.house.gov/.
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Harold Coghlan, Magic Express Air
Eric, I appreciate your well written blog. It is amazing that people with no security/defense or safety or accident investigation backgrounds get media access and spout ill-conceived and unfounded ideas, while trying to make it sound like they are "experts." There are many with more expertise than I, although 20 years of military service, and years spent as a NTSB trained accident investigator probably give me as much or more credibility as any of these so-called experts. GA aircraft do not make good jihad weapons, because of low kinetic energy and/or payload capacity, among several reasons. This was a suicide/homicide, with unfortunate results, but it could hardly be considered a "terrorist attack." If these "experts" need a refresher on what Terrorists look like, and what kind of explosives and weapons they use, they need to travel and go spend some time with my buddies flying and fighting overseas in places like Camp Speicher or Balad Air Base. I surely hope that the insane actions of one person are not used as justification by ill-trained and grandstanding politicians and their "experts" to try and put even more restrictions on our Aviation System here in America, or to try to regulate us out of existence. God Bless our Country, and the Troops defending it (but watch out for politicians and self-proclaimed experts). Keep up the Good Work in Protecting Aviation!
To add a comment or read more click here. | |
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| Los Angeles City Council Votes To Impose Noise Restrictions At Van Nuys |
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Late last week, the Los Angeles City Council gave its preliminary approval to an ordinance that would restrict access to Van Nuys Airport by noisier aircraft. The ordinance would impose a phaseout plan on noisier Stage 2 aircraft beginning with an immediate ban on aircraft creating noise levels higher than 85 decibels. The phaseout plan would then lower the decibel limit in 2011 and 2014 and end in 2016 with a ban on any aircraft creating more than 77 decibels.
The city of Los Angles claims that it is permitted to issue these access restrictions without going through the normal FAA Part 161 process because a resolution proposing a seven-year phaseout of Stage 2 aircraft was adopted by the Los Angeles World Airports Board of Airport Commissioners in 1990 prior to the passage of the Airport Noise and Capacity Act (ANCA). The ANCA, which established the Part 161 process, provided a grandfather clause for any noise ordinance implemented or proposed before October 1, 1990. Although the city council did not adopt the proposed phaseout in 1990, they now claim that the grandfather clause in the ANCA applies since the plan was “proposed.”
Van Nuys Airport currently imposes a nighttime curfew (10pm -7am) on Stage 2 aircraft and thirty days after the proposed ordinance receives final approval, expected later this week, the initial 85 decibel restriction will go into effect. | |
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| Congress Holds Hearings On Aircraft Icing And Aviation Safety |
| House Aviation Subcommittee Hearing on Aircraft Icing |
| Last Wednesday, the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure held an Aviation Subcommittee hearing on Aircraft Icing to address the 13-year-old pending safety recommendations that the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has given the FAA. Subcommittee Chairman Jerry Costello (D-IL) stated to FAA officials that “it is unacceptable that the agency has not proposed regulations to require that aircraft manufacturers prove their planes can fly safely in icy weather.” John Hickey, an FAA safety official, told the subcommittee that “FAA has been working on the issue for more than a decade, but substantial research was required to develop a solution.” The FAA is expected to propose regulations by mid-June of this year.
A summary of the hearing as well as the NTSB Most Wanted List for Aircraft Icing can be found by clicking here. | |
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| Senate Aviation Subcommittee Hearing On Aviation Safety |
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| Last Thursday, the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation held an Aviation Operations, Safety, and Security Subcommittee hearing on “Aviation Safety: One Year After the Crash of Flight 3407.” The Honorable Deborah A.P. Hersman, chairman, National Transportation Safety Board and Peggy Gilligan, associate administrator for Aviation Safety, FAA testified before the subcommittee on ways to minimize pilot fatigue, ways to ensure that flight crews report to work rested and fit for duty and that our aviation system makes certain that commercial pilots are proficient and well trained.
Over the past year, the subcommittee has held eight hearings on aviation safety. In addition, several provisions were included in the FAA reauthorization bill (S. 1451), focused specifically on increasing the level of safety in the commercial airline industry. As a result, the FAA has initiated a number of key efforts to improve aviation safety such as voluntary commitments by air carriers to implement important safety measures. The FAA is currently working on issuing new regulations on flight and duty time limitations. The deadline for the current extension of FAA reauthorization legislation is March 31, 2010. The Senate is expected to clear the way for the bill to reach the Senate floor by the extension deadline. | |
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| Aviation Industry Association Heads To Appear At Upcoming CABA Event |
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| NATA President James K. Coyne will join with NBAA President Ed Bolen and GAMA President Pete Bunce at an upcoming Centennial Airport Business Association (CABA) event in April to promote CABA’s “Aviation Saves…” program. The luncheon, to be held at X Jet FBO in Englewood, CO, on April 28, will provide CABA members the opportunity to hear from the three association presidents about the latest issues affecting general aviation. This event is sponsored by CABA, which was formed in 1994 to support the growing need for advocacy from aviation businesses in and around Centennial Airport.
More information on CABA and the upcoming “Aviation Saves…” event is available from the CABA Web site, www.mycaba.org . | |
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| LSST Seminar In Vegas Offers Something For Every Line Supervisor |
| March 15-16, Las Vegas, Held In Conjunction With AIE |
| Build career knowledge, confidence and success with NATA's Line Service Supervisor Training Seminar at Spring Training Week in Las Vegas. The LSST contains the most comprehensive technical line service and supervisory skills training in one place and at one time. This course also satisfies 14 CFR Part 139 Section 321 for fire safety training certification – an FAA requirement of line service supervisors to be completed every 24 calendar months. With the addition of new speakers and topics, this seminar has something to offer for every line service supervisor.
Other Seminar Benefits:
- Discover your strengths and weaknesses through self-assessments
- Learn to promote safety and synergy through teamwork
- Instill a culture based on trust, partnership and respect
- Analyze the technical information crucial to performing your job
- Make your FBO more efficient by learning how to engage and motivate your staff
Among The Topics To Be Covered:
- Attendee Self Assessments
- Creating A Healthy Safety Culture
- Leadership and Supervisor Essentials
- Legal Compliance As A Leader
- Employee Engagement / Effective Communication
- Line Service Supervisor Technical Review
- Simple Steps To Ensure Top-Notch Customer Service
NATA’s Spring Training Week…
NATA is pleased to host our second annual Spring Training Week in conjunction with the Aviation Industry Expo. This year’s Spring Training consists of several major league seminars designed to answer questions about the business climate, advance the skills of FBO owners, general managers, line service specialists and supervisors as well as enhance the success of their operation in any economic environment:
• FBO Success Seminar
• NATA Safety 1st Trainer Seminar (Train The Trainer)
• Environmental Compliance Seminar
• Line Service Supervisor Training Seminar (LSST) | |
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| Directory Deadline In Less Than Three Weeks |
| Ensure Correct Aviation Resource Directory Listing And Get The Most From Your NATA Membership |
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March 15, 2010, is the deadline to provide updated information for NATA’s 2010 Aviation Resource and Membership Directory.
Members can now provide updated profile and company information at www.nata.aero to ensure:
- Correct information in NATA’s Aviation Resource and Membership Directory
- Up-to-date information on NATA’s online directory
- The right people within your organization receive important information:
- Legislative & Regulatory Reports
- Action Calls
- Press & News Releases
- Seminar, Workshop & Training Information
- Summit, Conference & Special Event Invitations
- Webinars & Social Media Postings
- Delivery of relevant NATA publications:
- Aviation Business Journal
- Aviation Resource and Membership Directory
- NATA Safety 1st eToolkit
- NATA Safety 1st Flitebag
- NATA News
- ASC Monthly Update
- Arrival Times
- Plane Facts
- Training Times
- Receipt of information about NATA’s valuable products and services:
- Workers’ Compensation Insurance
- Compliance Services
- And much more…
To ensure that your information is up-to-date and accurate: Visit www.nata.aero, login and then click on Update Your Profile to make sure that your information is up-to-date and that you get the most from your membership. Follow NATA on Twitter at www.twitter.com/nataaero and become a fan on Facebook at www.facebook.com/nataaero.
If you need assistance, please contact Linda Pylant at lpylant@nata.aero or by phone at (800) 808-6282 x112. | |
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| NATA Announces Annual Compensation Survey |
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It is time again to update the NATA Annual Compensation Survey. The Compensation Survey is a unique and valuable reference to help you manage your business more profitably by managing labor costs. Association Research Inc, the independent research firm that has conducted the NATA Compensation Survey for many years, has once again created a confidential, Web-based survey.
To start the survey, click on the link below. When you go to the survey Web site, you will have to register with your e-mail address and create a password of your choosing. You can start the survey and save your work at any point. If necessary, you can always return later using your e-mail address and password to complete the survey by the March 22, 2010 deadline.
If you would like complete the survey off line, there will be a $25 charge.
Click the following link to start the survey: https://www.ari-surveys.com/run/natacomp10.
Please contact ARI at ari@associationresearch.com with any questions about the survey. | |
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| Weekly Web Survey |
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Do you believe the U.S. Senate will approve an FAA reauthorization bill by March 31st?
Participate in survey. | |
| NextGen News – Future Arriving At PHL |
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| In a commentary published last week in the Philadelphia Inquirer, former FAA Administrator Marion C. Blakey described changes coming to Philadelphia International Airport.
“In the next few days, something will happen at Philadelphia International Airport that will go largely unnoticed. Yet it will ultimately spark a revolution in air traffic management, leading to safer, more efficient air travel in Philadelphia and the rest of the nation.
It starts with a revolutionary technology, Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast, or ADS-B, which is a cornerstone of the Next Generation Air Transportation System, known as NextGen. Once ADS-B becomes operational in the coming days, ground controllers will be able to use the satellite-based GPS system to monitor and separate aircraft in Philadelphia's airspace.”
Blakey also described the additional benefits Philadelphia air traffic will receive by utilizing ADS-B technology including, weather and air traffic data uploaded directly to aircraft cockpits. She noted that the currently allocated $1.14 billion is enough to maintain the current 2025 NextGen implementation schedule. However, Blakey said, “We can get a faster return on our investment if we invest (more) in the infrastructure for NextGen sooner.”
Click here to read the entire commentary, Future Arriving at PHL. | |
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