NATA News

Commenting on the most recent extension, NATA President James K. Coyne said, “I am hopeful that as the 112th Congress convenes in early January we can get a fresh start on consideration and passage of a long-term FAA reauthorization bill that can be completed within the first few months of 2011. These continued delays hurt the growth and development of our national air transportation system and the flying public.”

Last week, NATA along with general aviation industry groups including the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association, Experimental Aircraft Association, General Aviation Manufacturers Association, Helicopter Association International and the National Business Aviation Association hosted an event for the House and Senate General Aviation Caucuses. As part of the event, special recognition was awarded the three outgoing Members of Congress who have made significant contributions in supporting general aviation. U.S. Representatives Vernon Ehlers (R-MI) and Allen Boyd (D-FL), staunch advocates for general aviation, both served as co-chairman of the House General Aviation Caucus. Rep. Ehlers, a passionate aviator, has supported the general aviation industry throughout his 16 years in Congress. The industry is going to miss his leadership in creating and guiding the House General Aviation Caucus. Rep. Boyd was instrumental in bringing needed attention to important issues affecting general aviation to his colleagues in Congress throughout the year. In addition, Chairman of the U.S. House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, James Oberstar (D-MN), who will not be returning for the 112th Congress, was also recognized for his steadfast leadership throughout his 36 years in Congress. 

In January when the 112th Congress convenes, Representatives Sam Graves (R-MO) and John Barrow (D-GA) will serve as co-chairman of the House General Aviation Caucus.

On December 28, 2010, NATA will celebrate its 70th year. To commemorate the occasion, U.S. Representative John Duncan (R-TN) introduced House Resolution 1699 on September 28, 2010, highlighting NATA’s rich history of ensuring the continuation of the general aviation industry in the United States. Last week, Representative Duncan spoke on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives commending NATA prior to the resolution’s passage. U.S. Representatives Russ Carnahan (D-MO) and Thomas Petri (R-WI) also offered their praise of NATA and support for passage of the resolution.

House Resolution 1669 signifies NATA’s history and contributions to improving general aviation safety. Since its charter on December 28, 1940, NATA has advocated for its members by providing a voice for aviation businesses within the federal government agencies and in Congress. The association has developed close ties with members of the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. In addition, the association works closely with the Department of Transportation, Department of Homeland Security, Federal Aviation Administration, Transportation Security Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board. 

NATA Vice President of Government and Industry Affairs Eric R. Byer’s latest blog post discusses NATA’s 70th anniversary and its recognition by the U.S. House of Representatives.
 
To read Byer’s blog, please click here.

Many Part 135 operators have questions about how to comply with pilot duty and rest regulations. There are literally dozens of legal interpretations, FAA notices and even court rulings that impact how compliance with the rules is to be achieved.

This special webinar, Part 135 Rest & Duty –What Do The Regulations Really Require?, will give on-demand air charter operators in-depth information on how the FAA requires rest to be provided and what constitutes a “legal” rest period.

The one-hour free webinar is on Wednesday, December 15, at Noon eastern time. To ensure that operators are able to ask their questions about this sensitive regulatory issue freely, only employees of Part 135 on-demand operators will be permitted to participate.

Please click here to register for the webinar.

Last week, NATA President James K. Coyne met with members of the media to outline the association’s priorities for the upcoming year while highlighting many of NATA’s accomplishments in 2010. As the general aviation industry continues to grapple with the current economic downturn, Coyne noted that 2011 will provide many additional challenges on the legislative, regulatory and security front. 

To read Coyne’s presentation to the media, please click here.

To read NATA’s 2011 Policy Priorities, please click here.     

To read NATA’s 2011 White Paper Series, please click here.

To read the article by General Aviation News on the press luncheon, please click here.

To read the article by AOPA Pilot on the press luncheon, please click here.

To learn more about NATA’s press activities, please click here.

The new policy language, if adopted, is meant to assist aviation safety inspectors (ASI) in making the appropriate determination when assessing IA applications, as well as to prevent applicant confusion. Under the new language, those holding supervisory positions and, consequently, not actively engaged in maintenance activities would not be permitted to retain their IA. The new policy would go into effect for the next IA renewal cycle in March 2011.

NATA is concerned with the proposed language and its impact on the large number of individuals holding IAs who would become ineligible to maintain them under the new language. NATA has been in direct conversation with FAA Headquarters and is preparing its own comments in cooperation with the NATA Aircraft Maintenance and Systems Technology Committee. Watch NATA News and our Web site for further updates.

A copy of the notice of proposed policy can be found here.

• Opening General Aviation Leadership Luncheon featuring NATA President and CEO James K. Coyne, NBAA President and CEO Edward M. Bolen, and Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association President and CEO Craig Fuller.

• Political Leadership Session exploring how the political landscape for 2011 will change and how those changes affect our industry.

• General Aviation Security Update on issues such as the Large Aircraft Security Program with Transportation Security Administration General Manager, General Aviation Security, Brian Delauter.

• Get The Most Out of NATA's Safety 1st and Workers' Compensation Programs includes a review of key areas with the greatest impact on operational safety from USAU and a discussion by NATA Director, Safety & Training Amy Koranda on how to address these key areas through the wealth of NATA Safety 1st industry standard resources.

• Tuesday's motivational breakfast on Winning Business and Life Strategies features PGA golfer, sportscaster and pilot Bobby Clampett.

• An industry panel on The Future of Aviation Gasoline will review the history and future of lead in aviation fuel regulation as well as the efforts our industry is undertaking to work proactively towards a lead free future.

• In the Airport Minimum Standards - A Value to the Future of Your Business session, experts discuss the value of comprehensive Airport Minimum Standards in protecting the future of your business and how to work with your airport during the development or revision process to secure your interests.

• The concluding session, Maximize Your Time and Increase Productivity at the Schedulers & Dispatchers Conference, provides a smooth transition into one of NBAA's premier events.

The preliminary brochure will arrive in the mail over the next few weeks. To view a copy of the preliminary 2011 FBO Leadership Conference brochure and to register, visit www.nata.aero/fbolc. Several sponsorship opportunities are available, please contact Diane Gleason at dgleason@nata.aero to discuss options.

NATA is pleased to host the third annual Spring Training Week (February 21-24) in conjunction with Cygnus Aviation Expo. Spring Training is a line service camp featuring all-star seminars designed to enhance safety practices, provide major league knowledge and help you coach your team to a winning season.

Line Service Supervisor Training Seminar
Monday, February 21 - Tuesday, February 22
8:00am - 5:00pm
Cost: $495
NATA's Line Service Supervisor Training Seminar, taught by industry experts, will provide a mix of the latest technical and managerial skills needed by every supervisor. The technical portion includes everything your supervisor needs to know about fuel production and distribution, fuel quality, filtration, fuel delivery systems, and fuel additives. The management portion enables supervisors to come away with proven effective techniques for motivating employees. Additionally, they are taught skills to discipline positively, and develop the confidence to interact productively with different personalities on a daily basis.

NATA Safety 1st Trainer Seminar
Wednesday, February 23
8:00am - 5:00pm
Cost: $275
Our comprehensive Safety 1st seminar guides you through how to implement NATA's Professional Line Service Training (PLST) program effectively. We know that putting together a training program is a lot of work, but it is essential for every professionally run FBO to have one. NATA has done the hard part by creating an industry benchmark training program for you. We will even train your trainer how to use it successfully in a short amount of time. In just one day, learn how to present NATA's PLST program and be motivated to guide your organization through the PLST process.

Environmental Compliance Seminar For Aviation Facilities
Thursday, February 24
9:00am - 3:00pm
Cost: $250
The all new NATA Environmental Compliance Seminar for Aviation Facilities is the only event that focuses solely on environmental compliance issues confronting FBOs and general aviation airports. With mounting pressure from the media, the federal government and the public at-large, this seminar is designed to ensure that FBOs and general aviation airports are complying with environmental mandates that affect their daily operations.

Visit www.nata.aero/springtraining for more event details and http://www.cygnusaviationexpo.com/NATA_home.po to register for one or more of NATA’s seminars.

Does this fictional headline immediately bring to your mind a real-life tragic accident or near miss? Unfortunately, this headline could be all too real in the future. Are you doing your part to ensure your airport provides the safest environment for flight crews, controllers, and other airport users? Proper training for and familiarization with an airport is crucial to avoiding pilot confusion, increasing runway and taxiway safety, and even improving the security of that airport.

In 2007, NATA launched an online flight crew training module for Teterboro Airport. The training module includes sections on runway hotspots, surface area movement problems, security requirements and best practices, noise abatement rules, and air traffic control procedures. In 2009, NATA launched a similar module for Newark Liberty International Airport on behalf of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey.

To develop these modules, NATA interviews airport management, tenants and transient users of the airport, and air traffic controllers. These individuals have the most intimate knowledge of an airport and provide important insider information for flight crews new to the airport. Whether you represent an FBO, insurance company, charter operator, airport authority, or any other GA-related business, you can help provide detailed training for pilots, controllers, and other users of your airport.

Click here to read the rest of this 4th Quarter ABJ article (pages 35-36) about sponsoring and developing flight crew briefing modules.

Visit www.nata.aero/flightcrewbriefings to view the Teterboro and Newark modules.

The 2011 revision of NATA’s popular publication “Refueling and Quality Control Procedures for Airport Service and Support Operations” is now available for pre-order for NATA members. The 2011 revision is a complete rewrite that includes full-color photographs and a new easy-to-read format. “Refueling and Quality Control Procedures for Airport Service and Support Operations” is referenced in FAA advisory circular (AC) 150/5230-4A, Aircraft Fuel Storage, Handling and Dispensing on Airports as an authoritative source for “information about fuel safety, types of aviation fuels, fueling vehicle safety, facility inspection procedures, fueling procedures, and methods for handling fuel spills.”

The goal of this guide is to provide airport fuel service providers a comprehensive, easy-to-understand review of the many complex standards and requirements for the handling of aviation fuel. The incorporation of full-color photographs adds to the usefulness of the 2011 revision as a teaching tool for new and seasoned fuel handling technicians alike.

The 2011 revision is expected to be available for delivery in mid-December. The price for this guide is $150 for NATA members and $250 for non-members. However, NATA members placing a pre-order now can receive this invaluable guide for only $130. Don’t miss your opportunity to get this industry leading guide for a pre-publication price. Click the link below to order now.

Pre-order your copy of NATA’s “Refueling and Quality Control Procedures for Airport Service and Support Operations” now!