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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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| NATA Continues Legislative Effort To Bring Relief To CA Flight Schools |
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| As the deadline for California flight schools to submit an application for approval to operate draws closer, NATA continues its legislative effort to provide relief for those schools. Just last week, an amendment added language to Assembly Bill 1889 that would provide a one-year delay in implementation of rules issued by the CA Bureau of Private Postsecondary Education for flight schools certified by the Federal Aviation Administration. AB 1889 will be considered in the CA Senate Committee on Business and Professions today where NATA’s lobbyist will testify in support of the bill. Additionally, NATA understands that Assemblyman Roger Niello will be amending Assembly Bill 1140 later this week to offer a one-year delay in compliance for all flight training institutions.
Both AB 1889 and the amended version of AB 1140 will also contain a provision requiring the legislature to hold informational sessions during the delay period to investigate the appropriateness of regulating flight instruction.
”Providing flight schools a delay in compliance from rules issued by the bureau is vitally important,” NATA Director of Regulatory Affairs Michael France explains. “Only then will the California legislature have the time needed to address the overlooked difficulty of expanding regulation into an industry as diverse and unique as flight training.”
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| Pistole Confirmed as TSA Administrator |
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| John Pistole, former deputy director of the FBI, who was chosen by President Barrack Obama to lead the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) was officially confirmed by the U.S. Senate on Friday, June 25, 2010. Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle are pleased with the confirmation. U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Homeland Security Chairman Bennie Thompson (D-MS) stated “I look forward to meeting with him to discuss the plan for the agency and the committee’s priorities as soon as possible”. U.S. Senator Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Chairman Joseph Lieberman (I-CT) referred to Pistole as “a well-qualified and urgently needed candidate.”
While the security issues involving air, rail and trucking issues that the TSA oversees are critical, one of the biggest issues facing the agency is the federal employees union wanting collective-bargaining rights for more than 50,000 transportation security officers (TSOs). Pistole didn’t take a position on the matter during his confirmation hearings but said he would review the issue carefully once confirmed.
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| NATA Comments On North Shore Helicopter Route NPRM |
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| NATA has submitted comments to the FAA calling on the agency to withdraw its proposed rule seeking to require helicopters to use the New York North Shore Helicopter Route when operating in that area of Long Island, NY. The proposal would mandate use of a route that is currently voluntary.
NATA believes the FAA failed to conduct a proper analysis to justify a new regulation. The FAA is basing the rule on anecdotal noise complaints received by local elected officials and the local FAA field office. NATA’s comments explained that this is insufficient information to proceed to a final rule, stating, “Prior to proposing a new regulation, the FAA is obliged to conduct a thorough review and analysis to justify the need for the rule and properly consider both the benefits and costs of its planned action. It does not appear that any due diligence was conducted prior to deciding to mandate use of the now voluntary North Shore Route.”
NATA also questioned why the FAA did not call upon operators to determine why some are not voluntarily using the route. The route was developed in 2007 in conjunction with stakeholders. Apparently, there has been no follow-up conducted to determine if the route is viable and could be successful in reducing noise complaints. Further, there has been no scientific analysis to quantify the impact of noise in the impacted area.
NATA believes the proposed rule lacks justification and could set bad precedent for future rulemaking, and therefore is requesting it not proceed to a final rule.
While the official comment period closed on June 25, NATA members concerned about the issue are nonetheless encouraged to submit comments as the FAA will consider late-filed comments when possible.
Click here to view NATA’s comments.
Click here to view the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking that includes information on submitting comments.
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| FCC Move Against 121.5 ELTs Causes Concern |
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Last week, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) released documents indicating its intention to “prohibit further certification, manufacture, importation, sale or use of 121.5 MHz ELTs.” NATA along with other general aviation groups immediately began efforts to understand the FCC’s action and take steps to stop the implementation of this new rule.
A ban on 121.5 MHz ELTs would likely impact over one hundred thousand aircraft. News of the FCC action spread quickly and caused significant concern among aircraft owners and operators.
The FCC intended that their ban would be effective sixty days after publication in the Federal Register. Fortunately, the industry became aware of the FCC’s action prior to the actual publication of a final rule.
Industry representatives notified the appropriate FAA officials, and they have made contact with the FCC to voice their concerns over this rulemaking effort. The Small Business Administration (SBA) Office of Advocacy also immediately convened a meeting of aviation interest groups to discuss the problem.
At this time, the FCC prohibition on 121.5 MHz ELTs is not in effect, nor is there a compliance deadline of any kind.
Although the FCC has not released any official statement, NATA is confident that the situation will be satisfactorily resolved following input from FAA, SBA Office of Advocacy and industry groups.
NATA will update the membership on this issue as new information becomes available.
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| EPA Grants Comment Date Extension For Avgas ANPRM |
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| Last week, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) granted a 60-day extension to the comment period for the Advanced Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (ANPRM) on lead in aviation gasoline (Avgas). NATA along with the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association, Experimental Aircraft Association, General Aviation Manufactures Association, American Petroleum Institute and National Petrochemical Refiners Association had jointly asked the EPA for a 120-day extension to the comment period earlier this month. The group expressed to the EPA that the extension was “necessary for the Avgas Stakeholder Group to develop and provide meaningful and substantive response on the multiple issues on which EPA seeks comments. It also will allow the completion of on-going research into the effects of reduced lead in Avgas. The new comment deadline is now August 27, 2010. The EPA official notice of comment period extension is available here.
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| GA And 135 Annual Activity Survey Underway - NATA Urges Participation |
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| The General Aviation and Part 135 Activity Survey (GA Survey) for reporting on calendar year 2009 is now underway, and your help is needed. The FAA's annual GA Survey is the only source of information on the size and makeup of the general aviation and Part 135 fleets, the number of hours flown, and the reasons people fly. The data helps to determine funding for infrastructure and service needs, assess the impact of regulatory changes, and measure aviation safety.
If you received a postcard invitation or survey form in the mail, please complete the survey today. You can complete the survey on-line at www.aviationsurvey.org (use aircraft N-Number to login) or complete and return the survey form you receive in the mail using the postage-paid envelope. If you already completed this year's survey, thank you! Your help is appreciated.
Why is your participation important?
- Your help is needed to prepare accurate estimates of aviation safety. Information from this survey is used to calculate fatal accident rates for general aviation and Part 135 aircraft.
- A focused effort is being made by the FAA to improve the data quality for high-end, high-use aircraft, a significant part of the GA fleet. As a result, 100% of on-demand Part 135 and turbine aircraft are being asked to participate in the 2009 GA Survey.
- Your responses are completely confidential. PA Consulting Group is an independent research firm that conducts the GA Survey on behalf of the FAA and prepares statistical reports. Individual information is not shared with the FAA.
- An abbreviated survey form is available for owners of multiple aircraft. If you own three or more aircraft and received several survey forms, please contact PA Consulting!
Questions? Lost the survey form? Own three or more aircraft? Please contact Theresa Tennant of PA Consulting Group toll-free at 1-800-826-1797 or email Theresa.Tennant@paconsulting.com.
NATA thanks you for your help!
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| Bonus Depreciation Introduced In The Senate |
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| Last week, U.S. Senate Committee on Finance Chairman Max Baucus (D-MT) and Ranking Member Chuck Grassley (R-IA) introduced S. 3513, the Bonus Depreciation Extension to Create Jobs Act to extend bonus depreciation for businesses that purchase general aviation aircraft in 2010. The legislation amends the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to extend for one year the special depreciation allowances for certain property. Bonus depreciation allows aircraft buyers to depreciate their purchase 50 percent in the first year instead of spreading the depreciation over five years. Bonus depreciation was originally introduced in 2008 as part of the economic stimulus package and extended through 2009 in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. This incentive has a positive impact accounting for 55 percent of all piston sales in 2009, according to one general aviation manufacturer.
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| NATA Welcomes Over 500 Phillips 66 Aviation Branded Dealers As New Members |
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| NATA is pleased to announce that Phillips 66 Aviation has provided introductory membership in NATA to its branded dealers that are currently not NATA members. This effort allows these dealers the opportunity to experience all the benefits of NATA membership, while supporting the national association.
“We believe it is important to have a strong, national organization representing the interests of the general aviation industry and our branded dealers,” said Rod Palmer, Manager of General Aviation for Phillips 66 Aviation.“Supporting NATA is one way of ensuring a strong legacy.” The Phillips 66 Aviation dealers will be able to take advantage of NATA’s advocacy efforts, be informed of developments in the industry via NATA’s member publications and be able to participate in NATA’s money-saving benefit programs such as Workers’ Compensation insurance.
“NATA applauds Phillips 66 Aviation for recognizing the importance of a strong national association, and we look forward to working with them and their constituents for years to come,” said NATA President James K. Coyne.
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| Social Media Expert Josh Hallett To Lead July 13 Webinar |
| Wilson and Humble offer journalistic and industry viewpoints |
Curious about or confused by Social Media? Wonder who in our industry is utilizing these tools and for what purposes? Want to know how to fit these channels into your business plan most advantageously? Register for the July 13 Success With Social Media Webinar. Top social media professionals and industry pioneers will discuss:
- Successful use of these communication and community-building tools
- Determining ROI and what is the actual investment
- Advice on the basics and how to get started
- How others in the industry are using Social Media
Social Media can seem daunting and intimidating, but there is help. In fact, a whole community of social media aficionados is available to answer your questions. Top among them are webinar panelists:
Josh R. Hallett – Director, Voce Connect at Voce Communications & Social Media Counselor to Disney Parks, Sony Computer Entertainment America, Yahoo, eBay and others. www.hyku.com
Josh is an internationally recognized thought leader in the convergence of social media and corporate public relations and marketing. He is currently director, Voce Connect at Voce Communications providing social media consulting and development work with brands like Disney Parks, Sony Computer Entertainment America, Sony Computer Entertainment Europe, Yahoo, eBay and a number of B2B/B2C firms. For more than fifteen years, Josh has been working with emerging Internet communication technologies and public relations practitioners and corporate communicators to integrate these tools into an organization's public and media relations strategies. For the past three years, Josh has organized the highly successful BlogOrlando conference series, bringing together experts from around the country to discuss trends and issues related to social media. He is a highly sought-after public speaker on social media and has presented at numerous workshops, seminars and conferences in a wide variety of market segments.
Benet Wilson – Aviation Week's Online Managing Editor-Business Aviation; http://twitter.com/AvWeekBenet or http://twitter.com/benetwilson
Beth Humble – Duncan Aviation’s Team Leader - Market Research; http://twitter.com/DuncanAviation or http://twitter.com/bhumble
Follow NATA at http://www.twitter.com/nataaero, http://www.facebook.com/nataaero and http://www.youtube.com/nataaero.
Click here to register for July 13, 2010 (12:00 noon EDT) – Success With Social Media Webinar - Only $49.95.
Click here for additional E-learn webinar descriptions.
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| NATA Blog Roundup |
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Coyne’s NATA's Capitol View Blog
This week, NATA President James K. Coyne discusses his recent trip with Mississippi Governor Haley Barbour.
To read Coyne’s blog, please click here.
Byer’s Inside Washington Weekly Blog:
This week, NATA Vice President of Government and Industry Affairs Eric R. Byer discusses the importance of the rulemaking process and why some are skirting it.
To read Byer’s blog, please click here.
Policy Playbook Blog - Is $1 a Day a Reasonable Cost for New Environmental Policy?
NATA Director of Legislative Affairs Kristen Moore addresses the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s analysis of the American Power Act, legislation that was introduced in the U.S. Senate last month.
To read Moore’s blog, please click here.
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| Survey Question |
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Is social media a part of your business plan?
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| NextGen News |
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At the request of the chairman and ranking members of the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, Subcommittee on Aviation, the Department of Transportation Office of Inspector General (IG) conducted an examination of the FAA’s progress in transitioning to NextGen. The IG’s final report was issued last week and addresses:
- Key actions needed to successfully implement NextGen
- FAA’s and partner agencies’ progress in leveraging resources and budgets
- FAA’s efforts to engage the private sector in shaping NextGen policy issues
The report notes that, “A number of critical actions are still needed to move NextGen from planning to implementation,” and “not taking timely action on these issues could delay FAA’s plans to transition to NextGen.” Some specific areas of concern identified in the report include:
- Increased collaboration between the FAA and other federal agencies is needed with regards to research and development and budgeting
- A “lack of clear focus and priorities” for the NextGen Institute has caused that group not to live up to expectations
- FAA needs to expedite critical system decision-making
- FAA needs to establish firm system requirements that will help guide cost and schedule estimates
The FAA agrees with the IG’s recommendation, has begun working to address those concerns, and has stated that the agency “recognizes the complexities of NextGen design and implementation, and from the very beginning has been working to identify system risks and to develop plans to address those risks.”
The full IG report is available here.
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