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In This Issue
House Panel Hears Contrasting Testimony on Residential Through-the-Fence Agreements at Public Airports
NATA Asks California Gov. Schwarzenegger For Signature On AB 1889
NATA Joins Letter of Support to Confirm ICAO Nominee
FAA Issues Technical Amendment to 2009 Final Rule on Pilot Schools
NATA President’s Capitol View Blog – Public Sector Windfalls
NATA Policy Playbook Blog – The Rules of the Game
It’s Not Too Late To Preview NATA’s October FBO Success Seminar
Register for Next Week’s Social Media Webinar
House Panel Hears Contrasting Testimony on Residential Through-the-Fence Agreements at Public Airports
On September 22, 2010, members of the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure heard testimony from various representatives of the aviation industry concerning Residential Through-the-Fence (RTTF) Agreements at Public Airports. On September 9, 2010, the FAA issued a revised policy proposal in the Federal Register stating that RTTF agreements already established at public-use airports would require more oversight and new RTTF access at airports would be prohibited.
Testifying before the committee, NATA President James K. Coyne stated, “NATA agrees with the FAA that the primary issue for not allowing new RTTF agreements is to ensure the future utility of federally funded airports. Investments in airports, made through the Airport Improvement Program or through federal surplus property grants, are intended to enhance the flexibility of airports to meet the future needs, in both capacity and type of operations, of the National Airspace System. Due to the intrinsic nature of residential properties, as compared to commercial properties, RTTF agreements limit the flexibility of airport sponsors to expand according to the needs of the community. NATA believes that the FAA has made an overwhelming case for prohibiting new RTTF agreements and supports its proposal.”
Representative Sam Graves (R-MO), a proponent of RTTF, introduced H.R. 4815 with hopes of finding a compromise to the RTTF issue. “I firmly believe residential TTF agreements can safely and efficiently coexist with GA airports now and in the future,” Graves stated. “I also believe the federal government should protect its investments. However, I don’t think the agreements we are discussing today adversely or without exception affect an airport’s authority, its ability to operate, or the FAA’s ability to protect its investment.”
Representative James Oberstar (D-MN), Chairman of the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, stated that it is important “for all sides to find common ground and to ensure that the policy that emerges from the FAA’s September 9 proposal reflects both the nation’s interest in maintaining a healthy, functioning airport system” and the interests of those who view RTTF as a way to enjoy their land and hobby.
NATA believes that the FAA has proposed a policy that well serves the long-term interests of public-use airports, airport businesses and the public. “Any attempt to override that policy by statute could result in unintended consequences that damage the future of the airport as well as the future of all grant assurances,” Coyne concluded.
Along with Coyne, those who testified before the committee were U.S. House Representative Kurt Schrader (D-OR); Catherine Lang, acting associate administrator – office of airports for the FAA; Carol Comer, aviation programs manager for the Georgia Department of Transportation; Mitch Swecker, state airports manager for the Oregon Department of Transportation; Ann Crook, airport manager at Elmira Corning Regional Airport and Dr. Brent Blue, founder of Throughthefence.org.
To review testimony and watch the hearing, click here.
To view NATA’s press release, click here.
NATA Asks California Gov. Schwarzenegger For Signature On AB 1889
This week, NATA President James K. Coyne wrote to California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger asking the governor to sign the recently passed Assembly Bill 1889 (AB 1889) into law. AB 1889 provides a one-year delay in compliance, for flight training facilities, with the regulations issued by the California Bureau of Private Postsecondary Education (BPPE). This delay in compliance would allow time for the California Legislature to review the appropriateness of regulating flight training.
“The flight training industry is not asking not to be regulated, only that we be afforded a fair voice in the development of the rules that will be applied to our industry. Up to this point, that has not occurred. Your signature on AB 1889 will provide the time and opportunity for our concerns to be heard by the legislature,” wrote Coyne.
NATA believes, at this point, that the governor intends to veto AB 1889 due to language in the bill unrelated to flight training. The association has already begun work on other pathways to getting the desperately needed delay.
Coyne’s letter to Governor Schwarzenegger is available here.
NATA Joins Letter of Support to Confirm ICAO Nominee
NATA joined twelve other aviation organizations in a joint letter to U.S. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) and Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) requesting their support in ensuring Senate consideration of Duane Woerth as the U.S. permanent representative to the United Nations International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) as soon as possible. The Foreign Relations Committee voted in favor on his nomination this week, marking the way for the full Senate to act. The ICAO triennial General Assembly will convene on September 28, 2010, and there is not currently a U .S. permanent representative to represent the United States on global actions and priorities in the areas of aviation safety, security and environment.
The letter states, “We believe the United States has been disadvantaged by the lack of a Permanent Representative at ICAO over the past 18 months. During that time, ICAO has hosted a number of high level events in aviation safety, security and environmental matters, and the absence of a U.S. Permanent Representative has made it difficult to secure multilateral agreements on positions favorable to our interests. In addition, there are ongoing efforts by both the European Union and other regional blocs to advance their priorities for ICAO prior to the Assembly. We share a growing concern that the U.S. ability to impact those outcomes will be compromised, especially as they affect votes within ICAO, on the budget or other issues that impact international aviation.”
Woerth was nominated for the position by President Obama on July 1, 2010.
FAA Issues Technical Amendment to 2009 Final Rule on Pilot Schools
On September 17, the FAA published a Technical Amendment to a 2009 final rule issued in August 2009 that dealt with the training, qualifications, certifications, and operating requirements for pilots, ground instructors, flight instructors and pilot schools. The Technical Amendment addressed inadvertent errors in the 2009 final rule regarding the qualifications for Part 141 Pilot Schools.
NATA has published a regulatory report that details the changes made by this technical amendment.
NATA’s Regulatory Report is available to NATA members by clicking here.
FAA’s Technical Amendment is available here.
NATA President’s Capitol View Blog – Public Sector Windfalls
On September 17, the FAA published a Technical Amendment to a 2009 final rule issued in August 2009 that dealt with the training, qualifications, certifications, and operating requirements for pilots, ground instructors, flight instructors and pilot schools. The Technical Amendment addressed inadvertent errors in the 2009 final rule regarding the qualifications for Part 141 Pilot Schools.
NATA has published a regulatory report that details the changes made by this technical amendment.
NATA’s Regulatory Report is available to NATA members by clicking here.
FAA’s Technical Amendment is available here.
NATA Policy Playbook Blog – The Rules of the Game
In this week’s Policy Playbook Blog, NATA Director of Regulatory Affairs Michael France addresses the issue of compliance with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Spill Prevention, Control and Countermeasures (SPCC) rule. The SPCC rule has been through one major change and two revisions in the last eight years that have led to significant confusion in the aviation industry. SPCC compliance is one of the leading questions received by NATA staff from member facility operators. NATA’s Policy Playbook Blog and France’s post, The Rules of the Game, is available here.
It’s Not Too Late To Preview NATA’s October FBO Success Seminar
Preview Webinar Recording Available Now
FBO Success seminar speakers presented a FREE FBO Success Preview Webinar yesterday. If you missed it or want to share the information with colleagues, click here for the recording of the preview.
In case you haven’t heard…
NATA’s acclaimed FBO Success Seminar will head to Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, October 5 - 7 for a comprehensive session with a special focus on fueling. As part of the three-day event, several major oil companies and third-party fuel brokers will participate in a lively roundtable discussion and field questions from FBO owners and operators in attendance.
The FBO Success Seminar covers a variety of issues facing FBOs, including:
- Optimizing operations and positioning for economic success
- Lowering credit card interest rates
- Minimizing insurance premiums
- Developing a favorable lease
- Positioning for sale, merger or acquisition
- FBO legal matters and pointers
- Establishing long-term profitable customer relationships
- Marketing for any size FBO: Increasing sales and market share without affecting fuel margins
Click here to visit the FBO Success Seminar page.
Register for Next Week’s Social Media Webinar
Social Media Strategies: Tools & Tactics for Success Webinar
Social Media Strategies: Tools & Tactics for Success Webinar
Already make 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.
Benefits:
- Learn the importance of integrating your social media communications
- Hear how to gain inspiration to craft your messages and blog posts
- Find out how to engage others within your organization and within the community to participate
- Discover how your Web site fits into the social media mix
Panelists:
Mark Cyphers – President, DC Web Designers
Jon Anne Doty – Charter Sales Manager at Corporate Flight Management
Danielle Tanner – Corporate Communications Specialist at Pentastar Aviation
The Social Media Strategies: Tools & Tactics for Success webinar is only $49.95 per location and takes place on September 30 from Noon to 1:00 p.m. EDT.
Visit www.nata.aero/webinars to see the full E-learn webinars schedule and to register today.
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