NATA News

Major General Robert A. Harding, a retired Army intelligence officer who was President Obama’s nominee to head the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), withdrew his nomination on Friday night amid questions about his work as a defense contractor. This is the second time in recent months that the White House has lost a nominee to head the TSA.

As the Director for Operations at the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA), General Harding managed a $1 billion intelligence collection program and almost 5,000 employees, including more than 200 attachés stationed abroad. After serving 33 years in the U.S. Army and retiring from government, General Harding formed his own security consultancy, Harding Security Associates, and continued to work with the DIA on a contractual basis.

Just last week, both the United States Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation and the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs held nomination hearings for General Harding. Questions arose during the hearings about the contract General Harding’s company secured to interrogate prisoners in Iraq for a few months in 2004 and that his firm collected more federal money than it was entitled to for providing interrogators in Iraq. General Robert Harding told the Committee that none of the interrogators he provided to the Army engaged in harsh interrogation techniques and none had been cited for wrongdoing or prisoner abuse. He said that he repaid the federal government $1.8 million after the contract was terminated because he had provided severance packages to his interrogators, who were suddenly out of a job, although his company had no written policy to do so.

The Obama Administration has not announced its third choice. Due to the back-to-back failed nominations, the post is likely to remain unfilled for months to come.

The timeline for conference committee negotiations between the House and Senate remains unknown. In the meantime, the U.S. Senate and the U.S. House of Representatives passed a 30-day extension of federal aviation taxes and spending authority, as well as FAA funding authorization before the previous extension expires on March 31, 2010. The 30-day extension was needed to give lawmakers more time to agree on a multiyear FAA reauthorization bill that has passed both chambers. An initial three-month extension that was recently passed by the House was held up by the Senate due to concern over a highway spending provision.

NATA sent an action call to members in the state of Washington, to view the action call, please click here.

While the actual regulations governing the activities, policies and procedures of the Bureau of Private Postsecondary Education are still in development, language in AB 48 suggests that flight schools will now be subject to the following fees:

• Approval to operate application fee ($750-$5000)
• Additional location approval ($500-$3000)
• Annual Fee ($1000)

Additionally, all institutions would be required to pay an annual fee equal to 0.75% of the revenue collected by the institution from students who reside in California. These fees are subject to change when the final regulations are promulgated.

NATA is very concerned about California’s attempt to insert itself into the FAA-regulated arena of flight training. NATA staff is in the process of obtaining more information from California and the FAA on the effect these rules will have on flight school operation.

The survey is available by clicking here. The deadline to complete the survey is April 30, 2010.

The 2010 NATA Day on the Hill is rapidly approaching. Here are just a few reasons why this industry event has become a can’t-miss opportunity to educate Members of Congress as well as participate in many NATA activities.

5. Visiting with your Members of Congress and staff provides an excellent opportunity to invite them for a tour of your facility in their state or district.

4. Attendees will be able to visit the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and hear from Tom Donohue, the Chamber’s president and CEO. Donohue is widely regarded as one of Washington, D.C.’s most influential lobbyists and political insiders.

3. Should a FAA reauthorization bill still be in conference committee, participant visits with Members of Congress and staff encouraging passage of a comprehensive FAA reauthorization bill could be just the reminder to get a bill finally done!

2. Tired of the political posturing that delays important legislation including FAA reauthorization? Well, this is your opportunity to weigh in on FAA reauthorization, health care, taxes, security and many, many more issues!

1. Let Members of Congress and their staff know that as their constituent, general aviation is a critical component of our nation’s economy as well as the global air transportation system!

The 2010 Day on the Hill event also includes the association’s Annual Meeting and Election of Officers. As a benefit to NATA members, we are combining these events along with the Industry Excellence Awards Dinner and Spring Committee meetings so only one trip is required.

The association’s Industry Excellence Awards will be presented the evening of April 21st at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. Congressman Jerry Costello (D-IL), Chairman of the U.S. House of Representatives Subcommittee on Aviation, will receive the association’s Distinguished Service Award.

The events of the entire week provide outstanding opportunities for participants to network with other community peers to learn the latest industry news and developments. If you have never before joined the association during a Day on the Hill event, take the first step towards developing an important new relationship by meeting the staff of your U.S. House Representative and U.S. Senators. We have many return Day on the Hill participants and knowledgeable staff members to help you learn the ropes. For more information about the 2010 Day on the Hill, including how to register, please click here.

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

The LSST seminar provides the training line service supervisors need to become more proficient in supervising staff, motivating others, communicating and coaching a team.

The seminar will take place at the New England Air Museum. The museum contains an outstanding collection of aviation artifacts and over 125 aircraft and 200 aircraft engines, many of which are on display. Click here for more information on this seminar, including how to register.

Preliminary Agenda Topics And Confirmed Speakers:

• FAA Regulatory Review: John J. Hickey, deputy associate administrator for aviation safety, FAA, and Joe Conte, Office of the Chief Counsel, Enforcement Division, FAA

• Charter Brokering Update: Dayton Lehman, deputy assistant general counsel, Office of Aviation Enforcement and Proceedings, U.S. Department of Transportation, and Andy Priester, president and chief operating officer, Priester Aviation

• Fractional Ownership Leadership Session: Kenneth C. Ricci, chairman, Flight Options

• Transportation Security Administration Update: Doug Hofsass, deputy assistant administrator, Transportation Sector Network Management, TSA, and Brian Delauter, general manager, general aviation, Transportation Sector Network Management, TSA

• Economic Outlook for Part 135: Rolland Vincent, president, Rolland Vincent Associates

• Dinner with Special Guest Speaker: Bruce Jenner, Olympic Hall of Famer

• State Taxes and Applicability to Part 135 and 91k Operations: Nel Stubbs, vice president/co-owner, Conklin & de Decker

• Federal Excise Taxes – What Is A Charter Operator’s Liability If The Broker Fails to Collect/Remit: Eileen Gleimer, partner, Crowell & Moring, and Terri Farish, director of client services, Chantilly Air

• Flight, Duty & Rest – What New Rules Will Mean to the Charter Community: Jacque Rosser, director, regulatory affairs, NATA

Summit brochures will arrive in your mailbox in a few weeks. If you know someone who should get one, please send their information to lpylant@nata.aero. Visit www.nata.aero/acs for event details and to register today!

For more information on the 2010 Compensation Survey, click here.

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.

Participate in survey.