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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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| NATA President Meets With DHS Secretary And TSA Administrator On GA Security |
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| NATA President James K. Coyne met with U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano and new Transportation Security Administration Administrator John Pistole at the Experimental Aircraft Association's AirVenture in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. The small group forum allowed Coyne to address many of the most pressing issues facing general aviation such as temporary flight restrictions (TFRs) in metropolitan areas that interrupt chartered aircraft flights whereas commercial airlines are not affected. "There should be a process in place where certain chartered flights can be deemed secure to fly in and out of TFRs," Coyne stated.
Almost nine years after 9/11, general aviation access to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) is still limited to less than three flights a day. Signature Flight Support President and CEO Michael Scheeringa, who was also in attendance at the meeting, stated that while progress has been made such as the implementation of the DCA Access Standard Security Program much more still needs to be done to allow general aviation aircraft to access this vitally important airport. | |
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| Coyne Addresses Avgas Transition Plan With FAA Administrator Babbitt |
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NATA President James K. Coyne met with FAA Administrator Randy Babbitt during the Experimental Aircraft Association's AirVenture in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, early last month. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss the avgas transition plan the General Aviation Avgas Coalition has developed and to secure the administrator's support of a public-private partnership. The following day, Administrator Babbitt spoke before a few hundred people at AirVenture, and in his remarks Babbitt stated, "We are committed to working together, the FAA along with EPA and industry, to find a solution to the long-term future of aviation gasoline and to ensure that there is no interruption in the fuel supply before our goal is reached."
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| NATA Members Can Now Save Up To 10% Off A Car Rental With Hertz |
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 Wherever your travel takes you, close to home or around the world, your NATA CDP number is the key to special savings. Be sure to include it in all of your reservations. To view and print an NATA CDP card, click here. To find the lowest rates, special offers and information about Hertz locations, vehicles and services, click here for a link.
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| Congress Extends FAA Reauthorization |
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| Congress has passed legislation extending federal aviation taxes and spending authority for the FAA for a disturbing fifteenth time. The 60-day extension will expire at the end of the fiscal year on September 30, 2010.
H.R. 5900 also included several provisions enacting new aviation safety reforms similar to H.R. 3371, the Airline Safety and Pilot Improvement Act, which passed the U.S. House of Representatives last October as a result of the Colgan Air crash outside of Buffalo, New York. Some of the provisions include requiring the FAA to ensure that pilots are trained on stall recovery and upset recovery and that airlines provide remedial training. In addition, the bill requires airline pilots to hold an FAA airline transport pilot license (1,500 minimum flight hours required). Under current law, first officers need a commercial pilot license, which requires 250 flight hours. The bill also includes the creation of a Pilot Records Database to provide airlines with electronic access to a pilot's comprehensive record. Information will include a pilot's licenses, aircraft ratings, check rides, notices of disapproval and other flight proficiency tests. Further, the bill establishes a rulemaking on training programs consisting of an expert panel to review Part 121 and Part 135 training hours to assess the optimal time needed for flight crewmembers to master aircraft systems, maneuvers, procedures, and take offs and landings.
To view H.R. 5900, please click here.
Click here to read NATA's Legislative Report on H.R. 5900.
NATA joined with other aviation industry groups last month in support of passage of a long-term bill. To read this letter, please click here. | |
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| Republic And Nashville Approved As DASSP Gateway Airports |
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| Republic Airport (FRG) andNashville International Airport (BNA) are the newest gateway airports for Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA). Approval as a gateway allows operators with the DCA Access Standard Security Program (DASSP) to fly directly to DCA from Farmingdale, New York, or Nashville, Tennessee.
The Transportation Security Administration’s (TSA) DASSP allows general aviation flights to land at DCA after they have been pre-screened at one of the over 27 gateway airports and have complied with other provisions of the program.
At FRG, the DASSP-participating fixed base operator is NATA member SheltAir Aviation Services. At MBS, NATA member Signature Flight Support is the participating fixed base operator.
Additional information on the DASSP, including a complete list of approved gateway airports, is available from the TSA Web site.
To visit NATA's DASSP issue page, please click here. | |
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| EPA Proposes To Extend SPCC Rule Change Compliance Date |
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Last month, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued proposed rules that would extend the compliance dates for the December 2008 and November 2010 Spill Prevention, Control and Countermeasures (SPCC) plan rules to November 2011. This proposed rule change would affect aviation facilities with aboveground storage of aviation fuel that have not yet updated their SPCC plans to reflect the 2008 and 2009 rule changes. The table below details the effects of the proposed rule changes on aviation facilities.
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Facilities starting operations: |
Would be required to: |
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On or before 8/16/2002* |
Have and maintain their current SPCC Plan and,
Update and re-implement that plan to reflect the 2008 & 2009 SPCC rule changes by November 10, 2011 |
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After 8/16/2002 through 11/10/2011 |
Develop and implement an SPCC plan by November 10, 2011 |
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After 11/10/2011 |
Develop and implement an SPCC plan prior to beginning operations |
*It should be noted that the starting operation date refers to new facilities, not changes in ownership.
Due to the many changes the SPCC rules have undergone in the past several years, NATA fully supports the EPA's proposal to delay compliance until November 2011. The proposed rule change is available here and was open for comment until August 18.
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| NATA Members Can Now Save On Uniform Services |
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 NATA is pleased to announce a new program with ARAMARK Uniform Services to provide its members access to a discounted uniform rental and leasing solution. This money- and time-saving membership benefit was recently negotiated to provide added value to your membership.
ARAMARK Uniform Services is America's leading supplier of rugged work wear, uniforms, outerwear, safety apparel and anything else you need to outfit your workers for America's toughest jobs. Their state-of-the-art facilities let you personalize your work wear for a professional brand image. ARAMARK is also a single-source provider of flame-resistant apparel and arc flash protective equipment.
NATA members may now take advantage of these valuable and convenient savings:
- 20% off rental and lease uniform rates
- 20% off facility services (mats, towels, mops, restroom supplies, etc.)
To learn more about ARAMARK and the products and services that are available, please click here to log in and visit the Member Resource area of www.nata.aero.
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| NATA President's Blog |
| James K. Coyne Contemplates "Time For A House Cleaning?" |
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Way back in 1993, I wrote a book (co-authored with John Fund) titled Cleaning House about the need for new blood in Washington. The elections of 1994 brought some important political changes to Congress the following year and perhaps our little tome played a small part. Today, many Americans are in a similar mood and the most popular line on the upcoming ballot this fall may well prove to be "None of the Above." One way or another, 2010 will surely be another turbulent election year, and pundits are already predicting a year of dramatic change, perhaps even greater than the elections of 1994 and 1980 (the year I was elected).
Those of us in the aviation industry can certainly understand why so many people are disappointed with the recent performance of our political leaders. We've seen up close and personal how inefficient, ineffective, and inept government can be. The sorry tale of FAA reauthorization legislation over the past three years is a good example. Click here to read post.
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| Last LSST And FBO Success Seminars Of 2010 |
| Ft. Lauderdale in October |
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FBO Success Seminar Series
The October 5-7 FBO Success Seminar in Ft. Lauderdale will help you discover leading, cutting-edge business strategies for maximizing profits at your FBO. It will help you with almost every conceivable situation in the day-to-day business of running a successful FBO, from developing a favorable lease with an airport authority to understanding and working with your fuel supplier; from decreasing credit card interest rate charges to lowering insurance premiums; and from dealing with FAA and Environmental Protection Agency issues to building long-term profitable customer relationships.
Topics Include:
- A Strategic Overview Of FBO Success
- Operating Your FBO Business In Good And Tough Times
- Decrease Credit Card Interest Rates And Lower Insurance Premiums
- Winning With Third-Party Fuel Providers
- Stay On Time And Within Budget On Building Projects
- Developing A Favorable Lease With Your Airport Authority And Positioning For Merger, Sale, Or Acquisition
- Optimize Operations And Prepare For Contingencies
- Selecting And Developing Top Employees
- Make Fractional Aircraft Programs Your Ally
- Round Table Discussion: FBO Opportunities Or Threats And What To Do
- Building Long-Term Profitable Customer Relationships
- Making The Customer Your Best Friend
- Marketing And Communications For Any Size FBO
- Strengthen Your Fuel Supplier Relationship
Don't miss your last chance this year to join others to make your FBO more successful. Click here to register for the October 5-7 FBO Success Seminar in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida.
Line Service Supervisor Training Seminar
The Line Service Supervisor Training Seminar October 6-7 in Ft. Lauderdale will round out the 2010 LSST seminar schedule. Don't miss the chance to become more proficient in strategic planning, supervising staff, motivating others, communicating and coaching a team as well as to complete FAA-required 14 CFR 139.321 Fire Safety Training before the end of the year. This high-impact, high-energy seminar includes guided group debates, interactive discussions and various case studies designed to take you to a new level of leadership.
Don't miss the final LSST Seminar in 2010. Click here to register today for the October 6-7 seminar in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida.
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| NATA And General Aviation Avgas Coalition Submit Comments To EPA On Leaded Avgas ANPRM |
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| Last Week, the General Aviation Avgas Coalition, of which NATA is an active member, submitted formal comments to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on the agency's Advanced Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (ANPR) regarding emissions from general aviation aircraft using leaded aviation gasoline. This ANPR is an early regulatory stage of the process outlined in the Clean Air Act (CAA) for the regulation of air pollutants. These comments were the result of a comprehensive effort by the members of the coalition, comprising NATA, the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association, the Experimental Aircraft Association, the General Aviation Manufactures Association, the National Business Aircraft Association, the American Petroleum Institute and the National Petrochemical Refiners Association. The comments stressed the coalition's efforts to transition to an unleaded fuel for general aviation, but highlighted the many technical and safety concerns that must be addressed.
Under the CAA, the EPA must either issue a finding that lead emissions from general aviation aircraft endanger human health and welfare, determine that those lead emissions do not endanger human health and welfare, or undertake further study on the matter. The coalition indicated that the EPA currently has only a limited amount of data with which to pursue any further rulemaking and must seriously consider further study of leaded avgas usage and aircraft emissions before proceeding.
"Before making any determination related to lead emissions from piston-engine aircraft, the EPA should collect information, design a more comprehensive study, and evaluate avgas emissions using a more comprehensive data set."
As the EPA begins the process of reviewing the comments submitted, NATA and the General Aviation Avgas Coalition will continue to work with the agency, the FAA, Congress and the industry in general to chart a path that addresses the significant technical and safety challenges of moving our industry towards an unleaded future.
The General Aviation Avgas Coalition comments can be viewed by clicking here.
A copy of EPA's ANPR on lead emissions from general aviation aircraft is available here. | |
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| New NATA E-Learn Webinars |
| Visit www.nata.aero/webinars To Register Today! |
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9/9/2010 - PLST Online Best Practices For Trainers/Administrators (FREE), Noon EDT
If you've made the investment in NATA's Safety 1st PLST Online, this webinar will help you maximize its capabilities. Louis Soares and Amy Koranda will review questions sent by registered attendees as well as those frequently asked by current PLST Online participants.
9/22/2010 - FBO Success Preview Webinar - What To Expect October 6-7, 2010, In Ft. Lauderdale, FL (FREE), Noon EDT
The highly acclaimed FBO Success Seminar will make its way to South Florida for a three-day event, October 5-7 in Ft. Lauderdale. If you are an FBO owner/operator, manager or supervisor, join our webinar to learn how this seminar is designed to help you become more successful in three key areas: operations, marketing and profitability. Spend 30 minutes with us to find out more about this popular program and get your questions answered before its conclusion.
9/30/2010 - Social Media Strategies: Tools & Tactics for Success ($49.95), Noon EDT
Already made the decision to add social media to your business and marketing plan? Need to know how to increase your audience, improve productivity and enhance your use of social media channels? Developed to help take social media practitioners and professionals to the next level, this webinar covers the finer elements of planning, tools, execution, policies and standards, and monitoring.
10/13/2010 - The Strategic Business Plan - A Critical Tool For Developing, Operating, Managing, And Marketing An Aviation Business ($49.95), 1:00 p.m. EDT
In addition to communicating the mission, vision, and values of an aviation business (as they relate to the development, operation and management, and marketing of the aviation business), the Strategic Business Plan (SBP) conveys the specific goals and objectives that need to be met to position the aviation business most effectively for the future and/or take it to the next level. In essence, the SBP provides a systematic approach for making decisions today that will have a direct impact on the aviation business. SBP answers the question: How is the aviation business going to get there - what needs to happen to get from Point A to Point B?
To register for NATA's E-Learn Webinars, visit www.nata.aero/webinars. | |
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