NATA News

The proposed policy calls for allowing existing RTTF agreements to continue, with increased oversight and evaluation from airports, while prohibiting any new RTTF agreements at public-use airports. In its comments, NATA points out that the association’s “interest in Residential Through-The-Fence policy stems from our concern that promoting residential development near or adjacent to airports may ultimately hamper the ability of airports to react to changes in aviation traffic, volumes and aircraft.” The comments explain, “NATA fully supports the Federal Aviation Administration’s proposed policy on RTTF agreements. We believe that the proposed policy provides an adequate balance between the future needs of airports and existing RTTF access.”

Click here to read NATA Comments on the Proposed RTTF Policy.

Click here to read NATA’s regulatory report on the Proposed RTTF Policy.

NATA’s Airports Committee held a regular business meeting in October. The committee met in Atlanta, Georgia, just prior to the NBAA Annual Convention. Committee members discussed a number of topics including security, through-the-fence and airport sponsor-tenant relationship issues. One of the prime topics of discussion was the association's effort to increase the use of airport minimum standards at public use airports. Minimum standards, when developed, implemented and enforced properly, provide benefits to airport sponsors, airport tenants and individuals desiring to provide on-airport aeronautical services. The committee will continue to work across the industry to educate and promote the importance of updated, comprehensive minimum standards.

On October 7, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) published a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) in the Federal Register proposing to require airports that are certificated under Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations, Part 139 (14 CFR 139) to develop and implement safety management systems (SMS). NATA staff have reviewed the NPRM and produced a regulatory report outlining the requirements of the proposed rules. This NPRM is open for public comment until January 5, 2011. During the comment period, NATA staff will work with the FAA and the industry to achieve a better understanding for the agency of the proposed rules’ impact on the association’s membership.

Click here to read NATA’s regulatory report on the Airports SMS NPRM.

To help answer questions, NATA will be hosting, as part of its E-Learn Series, a webinar devoted to SPCC rule changes and compliance for the aviation industry. This webinar will feature industry leading SPCC expert George Gamble, owner of 2G Environmental, and NATA Director of Regulatory Affairs Michael France. Together, Gamble and France will walk you through the basics of the SPCC rule and how it affects your business.

By the end of this webinar, you will learn:

• Whether your facility needs an SPCC plan
• When your facility must be in compliance
• What type of containment is needed for your mobile refuelers
• Valuable tips for compliance

This webinar will be held on Tuesday, November 2, at 2:00 p.m. The cost is only $49.95 per location and registration is available now. Please don't miss this opportunity to educate your entire staff on the importance of SPCC compliance.

The legislation seeks to standardize the training of the Transportation Security Administration's screening workforce by ensuring that every Transportation Security Officer receives increased baseline training nationwide and anti-terrorism training with annual re-certifications.

To read NATA’s legislative analysis of the S. 3866, please click here.

The U.S. House of Representatives passed a resolution recognizing NATA's seventieth anniversary. House Resolution 1669 highlights the association's rich history and contributions to improving the safety of general aviation.

Representative John Duncan (R-TN), a senior member of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, Subcommittee on Aviation, introduced the resolution that acknowledges the association's mission in representing the legislative, regulatory and business interests of its members and providing education, services, and benefits to its members to ensure their long-term economic success.

"The resolution recognizes the foresight and resiliency of the association founders, William A. Ong and Leslie H. Bowman, NATA's first two presidents, as well as the important contributions of George E. Haddaway and John L. Gaylord, who were instrumental in the organization's formation," stated NATA President James K. Coyne.

The House Resolution congratulates NATA on its 70 years and states that the U.S. House of Representatives "applauds the National Air Transportation Association for creating programs and resources to enhance the safety of general aviation operators; and commends the National Air Transportation Association for being instrumental in bolstering the general aviation industry during a time of turmoil in the 1940s."

"It is a true honor for the association and its members to be recognized by the U.S. House of Representatives," stated Coyne. "I would especially like to thank Congressman John J. Duncan, Jr. for introducing House Resolution 1669. Congressman Duncan has been an active and steadfast supporter of the association and its membership, and continues to be an outstanding leader on general aviation issues in the House of Representatives."

"We are thrilled that Congress has highlighted the important role NATA plays in the aviation industry, recognizing its members for their steadfast support in ensuring the growth and durability of the general aviation community," Coyne concluded. "NATA looks forward to the next 70 years as it continues to represent and support the thousands of small businesses that make up the backbone of our national air transportation system."

To read House Resolution 1669, please click here.

The Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) effort to re-register all aircraft has begun. Regulations altering the registration process and requiring registration renewal every three years took effect on October 1.

In accordance with the mandatory re-registration of all aircraft currently on the registry, the FAA has begun mailing notices to the owners of first group of aircraft targeted for re-registration.

Aircraft that were originally registered in the month of March, regardless of year, will have their registration expire on March 31, 2011. The owner should receive a notice in the mail explaining the need to re-register and that the re-registration process needs to be completed prior to January 31, 2011, to ensure delivery of a new certificate prior to the expiration of the old certificate.

NATA has partnered with AIC Title Service to provide our members, particularly those with managed aircraft, with a streamlined system to complete and track registrations and renewals. More information about the registration and renewal requirements as well as the AIC partnership is available at www.nata.aero/aic.

In a recent Capitol View Blog post, NATA President James K. Coyne discusses how economic constraints can change some airports from Dr. Jekyll to Mr. Hyde.

To read Coyne's Capitol View Blog, please click here.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has published the Holdover Time Tables for the 2010-2011 winter season. This document provides essential information for those operators with FAA-approved de-icing programs and is also useful for all operators that use de-icing fluids.

The tables may be downloaded from the FAA by clicking here.

The synchronization of these two events provides the associations' members unparalleled networking, marketing and educational opportunities, in one place, at one time. Under the plan, attendees will still be required to register for each event separately, through the traditional NBAA and NATA avenues.

NATA's FBO Leadership Conference was developed for leading executives and managers of fixed base operations, and features nationally recognized experts who provide the latest intelligence, tactics and strategies to maximize an FBO's success. This year's event includes sessions on the industry economic outlook, airport minimum standards, future of aviation gasoline, shared aircraft ownership, general aviation security and Safety 1st initiatives. The conference's opening leadership session features NATA President and CEO James K. Coyne and NBAA President and CEO Edward M. Bolen. The concluding session on maximizing your time at the Schedulers & Dispatchers Conference provides a smooth transition into one of NBAA's premier events. 

NBAA's Schedulers & Dispatchers Conference is the industry's leading annual event for providing timely and valuable information on the topics, trends and challenges facing the professionals responsible for coordinating the use of business aircraft. The conference includes hundreds of exhibits from aviation products and services providers. 

"NATA and NBAA realized enormous success with this coordinated approach in 2010," said Coyne. "NATA experienced a 50-percent increase in FBO Leadership Conference participation, while NBAA recorded the third highest attendance in the history of the S&D Conference."

"Our industry works best when it works together," said Bolen. "NBAA is pleased to be working with NATA to ensure that, this February, Savannah will be the place to be for aviation professionals."