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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 Board Member Testifies At Connecticut Budget Hearing |
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| Today, NATA Board Member Robert Marinace, president and chief executive officer of Key Air located at the Waterbury-Oxford Airport, will testify before the Connecticut State Committee on Finance, Revenue and Bonding. The public hearing will address House Bill 6387, a bill sponsored by Governor Dannel Malloy that contains a provision that seeks to impose a personal property tax on aircraft in the state.
In written testimony, Marinace states:
Due to the growth in demand for aviation services, Key Air has earmarked $30 Million for hangar and office expansion at the Waterbury-Oxford Airport, to begin in 2011. This new construction would have a very positive effect on the regional economy including creating 300 construction jobs in the first 18 months and an additional 250 new aviation service jobs upon completion….
[However, b]ased on our knowledge of our clients and the nature of the aviation industry, we expect that if HB 6387 were enacted, 60% of the small piston aircraft at the Waterbury-Oxford Airport and 80% of the jet aircraft would relocate to surrounding states.
In addition to the millions of dollars of lost revenue to the local towns and the State, we estimate that 120 jobs would be lost at Key Air (75% of the workforce) and another 150 jobs would be lost at the other businesses that have aircraft at the Waterbury-Oxford Airport. We expect the same damage to occur at other general aviation airports around the State.
NATA issued an action call notifying its members in Connecticut when HR 6387 was introduced and requesting they contact the state legislature in opposition to the bill. NATA also submitted testimony for the record this week and is hopeful that the strong opposition and potential for detrimental effect on the state economy will ensure the proposal’s defeat. | |
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| Coyne Keynotes Upper Midwest Aviation Symposium In Minot, ND |
| ND Governor Jack Dalrymple Releases Proclamation Declaring Week As "Aviation Week" In North Dakota |
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This morning, NATA President James K. Coyne addressed participants at the Midwest Aviation Symposium in Minot, ND, at a session titled “The Changing Political Realities of American Aviation.” Coyne highlighted ongoing progress on Capitol Hill with FAA reauthorization legislation as well as the effort to reduce funding levels within the federal budget that could affect some aviation programs, including the Airport Improvement Program.
Coyne also addressed the proclamation issued by North Dakota Governor Jack Dalrymple declaring the week of March 6-12 “Aviation Week” in the state of North Dakota.
“The aviation community thanks Governor Dalrymple for issuing this proclamation and recognizing the importance of aviation to the state of North Dakota and its economy,” stated Coyne.
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| FAA To Extend Comment Period On Airport SMS Rule |
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Last Friday, the FAA released a prepublication version of a notice to extend the comment period on the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) requiring Safety Management Systems (SMS) at airports certificated under Part 139. This notice is expected to be published in the Federal Register today and will postpone the comment period until July 5, 2011. This is the second comment period extension for this rule issued by the FAA. In addition to extending the comment period, the FAA established a process to submit clarification questions to the agency. NATA will submit clarification questions, as well as formal comments, to the FAA.
Click here to view the comment extension.
Click here to view the regulatory report on the 139 SMS NPRM.
Click here to view the full NPRM.
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| TSA Issues Clarification On AFSP Photo Submission Requirements |
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On February 28, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) issued an interpretation to clarify the requirement that flight training providers, under the Alien Flight Student Program (AFSP), must provide the agency a photo of an alien flight training student prior to commencing his or her training. Under this clarification, flight training for a student under the AFSP may commence prior to uploading a photo to the TSA, provided the facility or flight instructor:
- Verifies the student’s identity by means of a current government-issued ID
- Ensured that the Cat. 4 submission and a permission to commence training has been received
- Takes, uploads, and places in the student’s record a current photo of the student within five days of commencing training
This clarification is applicable to all four AFSP categories and was issued “to both meet the needs of industry, as well as the TSA inspection force.”
Click here to view the full AFSP clarification.
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| AVGAS ARC To Convene This Month |
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Later this month, the FAA will convene its recently chartered Unleaded Avgas Transition Aviation Rulemaking Committee (ARC). The purpose of this ARC will be to investigate the many issues involved in transitioning general aviation from a leaded to an unleaded fuel.
Specifically, the ARC has been tasked with:
- Investigating, prioritizing, and summarizing the current issues relating to the transition to an unleaded aviation gasoline.
- Providing recommendations for collaborative industry-government initiatives to facilitate the development and deployment of an unleaded aviation gasoline with the least impact on the existing piston-engine aircraft fleet.
During its investigation, the ARC is required to consider the following factors relating to unleaded avgas:
- Aircraft and engine performance requirements
- Properties and composition
- Airworthiness approval
- Environmental impacts
- Distribution infrastructure requirements
- Production issues
- Economic issues
NATA will participate as a member of the ARC.
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| ARSA Files Motion To Force FAA To Perform Evaluation Of Drug And Alcohol Rule |
| FAA Publishes New Evaluation Tomorrow |
| Last month, the Aeronautical Repair Station Association (ARSA) took the next step in a long running legal battle with the FAA. ARSA filed a motion asking the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Colombia Circuit to force the FAA to comply with an earlier ruling regarding the agency’s 2006 Drug and Alcohol testing rule. In the original ruling, the court found that the FAA improperly failed to perform an analysis of the rule’s impact on small businesses as required by the Regulatory Flexibility Act.
According to ARSA’s filing, “over three years have passed [since the original ruling], and the FAA is yet to comply with the Court’s order. No evidence suggests the FAA has begun, or has any intention to accomplish the required analysis.” In the filing, a motion for writ of mandamus, ARSA specifically requests that the FAA be forced to comply with the 2006 order or have the rule invalidated.
A regulatory flexibility analysis is required under federal law to be performed whenever a new federal regulation is expected to have significant impact on small businesses. One of the purposes of this analysis is to evaluate the expected benefits of a proposed rule with its cost and impact on small businesses, which often do not have the resources and ability to absorb costly regulatory schemes. According to an article in AIN Online, ARSA stated, “We’re not against drug testing and don’t suggest it should disappear; the problem is with the process. It is important to the industry as a whole that the FAA accurately determines the economic impact on small operators.”
Unexpectedly, the FAA then scheduled the new analysis to be published tomorrow. A pre-publication version of the new review can be downloaded here. | |
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| FAA Seeks Comment On Proposal To Limit BARR Program Severely |
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The Block Aircraft Registration Request program, commonly known as BARR, is a system that permits aircraft owners/operators to have their aircraft data blocked when conducting IFR flights in the United States. This popular program, administered by the National Business Aviation Association, is frequently used by those concerned about their aircraft movements being tracked in real-time. It is possible, using various Internet flight tracking services, to know the aircraft location, altitude, airspeed, destination and estimated time of arrival of an unblocked aircraft.
Flight tracking services obtain this data through a Memorandum of Agreement with the FAA. In a notice published last week, the FAA is seeking to amend that MOA to permit blocking only under very specific and limited conditions.
Under the proposed revision to the MOA, only a business that can certify that a “Valid Security Concern” exists related to the owner’s or operator’s aircraft or passengers would be blocked. Alternatively, a business that has met the Department of Treasury’s requirements for a “bona fide business-oriented security concern” could also be blocked.
NATA strongly objects to the proposed change as it will unnecessarily expose the private movements of numerous individuals in near-real time. The association will submit a response to the notice prior to the comment deadline of April 4, 2011.
The FAA Notice seeking comment on the MOA revision is available here.
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| Should FET Be Applied To Landing Fees? |
| Get Answers From NATA’s FET Overview For Air Charter Operators Webinar |
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FET Overview for Air Charter Operators Webinar – Wednesday, March 9, at noon EST
This E-Learn Webinar is designed for employees responsible for managing federal excise tax (FET) assessment, collection or remission for air charter operations.
Some of the questions to be answered during this one-hour webinar:
- Have you ever been confused about why some flights to Canada are taxed as domestic and others are international?
- Are you unsure of whether to apply FET to landing fees or overnight expenses for the crew?
- Do you know if hospitals, universities and other non-profits are exempt from FET?
- Are you sure you are claiming the proper fuel credit?
- Do you know why sometimes you should receive a 20-cent-per-gallon credit and other times it is 17.5 cents?
If you’re looking for the answers to these questions and more, you need to attend NATA’s newest Webinar “FET Overview for Air Charter Operators” on Wednesday, March 9, from noon to 1:00 p.m. EST.
Among the Topics to be Covered:
- Commercial and Noncommercial FET rates
- Items subject to and exempt from FET
- Operations exempt from FET
- Fuel credits
- IRS Forms and Publications
Speaker
Jacqueline Rosser, director of regulatory affairs, NATA
Registration
Click here to register now. Registration for this webinar is $49.95 per location and includes a copy of presentation materials and link to a recording of the webinar.
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| Don’t Miss The ACSF Symposium March 15-16 At The NTSB Training Center |
| Featuring Safety Overview By NTSB Chairman Hersman And TWA 800 Walk-Through |
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The Air Charter Safety Foundation will hold its annual safety symposium March 15-16 at the NTSB Training Center. On March 16, National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) Chairman Hersman will provide an overview of safety issues affecting Part 135 and 91K operations. Chairman Hersman has been a Member of the NTSB since June 21, 2004, and has served on the Safety Board since July 2009. Since then, she has chaired a number of public events hosted by the NTSB and has been the Member on the scene of 19 major transportation accidents.
TWA 800 Walk-Through
The Air Charter Safety Symposium will also include a walk-through of the TWA 800 reconstruction. TWA 800 is the Boeing 747 that exploded mid-air and crashed on July 17, 1996, in the Atlantic Ocean after departing John F. Kennedy International Airport. All 230 people on board were killed. A reconstructed portion of the TWA 800 fuselage is housed at the NTSB Training Center as an educational tool for accident investigators and aviation safety professionals.
The symposium provides a rare opportunity for attendees to learn the value of reconstruction in the prevention of future accidents. The reconstruction is not available to the general public, but may be viewed by attendees as part of the educational experience. The NTSB’s Paul Schuda will conduct tours during the lunch hour on March 15.
Other safety topics that you will not want to miss:
- SMS Update
- Building a Positive Safety Culture in Your company
- Emergency Preparedness – Panel Discussion
- FAA Update – Accident Prevention/Investigation
- Keynote by John Allen, Director of Flight Standards, FAA
- and much more....
Visit ACSF’s Web site at www.acsf.aero/symposium *to download the full conference brochure with session descriptions.
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| Get In-Depth Guidance On Aviation Fuel Handling |
| Preview the revised book and get your copy now! |
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Preview the revised book and get your copy now!
NATA recently released the 2011 revision of its popular guidebook Refueling and Quality Control Procedures for Airport Service and Support Operations. The 2011 revision is a complete update containing an in-depth review of topics relating to aviation fuel handling, with full-color photographs in a new easy-to-read format. Included in the 2011 revision are chapters addressing:
- Safety
- Aviation Fuels
- Fuel Handling Equipment
- Quality Control and Fuel Testing Procedures
- Equipment Inspections and Maintenance
- Operational Procedures
- Fuel Spills
- Training
- Resources
FAA advisory circular (AC) 150/5230-4A, Aircraft Fuel Storage, Handling and Dispensing on Airports references this publication 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.”
Click here to view several sample pages from the manual.
This guidebook is offered to NATA member companies at a special rate. Secure your copy today.
Orders can be placed online at www.nata.aero/store.
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| From The Members... |
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NATA appreciates your feedback and takes your comments into close consideration when making decisions on outreach programs, products, services, and events. We've had an extremely busy first two months of 2011 and here are just a few comments and mentions that we would like to pass on:
- In response to this week Byer's blog post, Andi Montgomery says:
February 28, 2011
Eric, I have already contacted our elected officials and I really like your blogs!!!! Can I use them for my blog?
- Cutter Aviation recently announced the implementation of an FBO-ISMS (FBO Integrated Safety Management System) Program – an integrated, cross-business SMS Program adapted specifically by Cutter Aviation to meet the needs of both their Line Service / Ground Handling and Aircraft Maintenance Service departments. Cutter also noted that the NATA Safety 1st Program is a core part of the line service safety program within their SMS.
- Comments by 2011 NATA Spring Training Week seminar participants included:
-Walter Chartrand and Dr. Dewett really held my attention during the LSST Seminar. I would highly recommend NATA training.
-I learned a lot about how my behavior as a supervisor affects others. The use of exercises gave us ample opportunity to practice concepts.
-The LSST Seminar format was new to me this year and was a nice change from the last several years. It gave me new tools to work with as a supervisor.
-Dr. Dewett was very entertaining and informative. It is easy to recall subject matter due to the inclusion of personal anecdotes. I can’t wait to implement what I’ve learned.
-Need to allocate more time for presentations by Dr. Dewett and Dr. Martinez.
If you would like to submit feedback on an NATA product, event, service, etc., please send it to nataadmin@nata.aero or call 800-808-NATA. Thank you.
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| Register Today For May 4-5, 2011 NATA Day On The Hill |
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| NATA’s annual Day on the Hill event provides an invaluable opportunity for NATA members to participate in and have an effect on the legislative process in our country. Individual meetings with your representatives in the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate provide a great avenue to discuss the most important issues facing the general aviation industry today, especially those impacting your business, both nationally and locally. Meetings with your Members of Congress and their staff provide a valuable opportunity to establish and maintain a productive relationship with your elected officials in Washington as well as gather their support on local issues affecting your community.
The 2011 NATA Day on the Hill and Spring Committee meetings will take place on May 4-5 at the Hyatt Regency Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. The two-day meeting will also include the NATA Industry Excellence Awards Dinner, Election of Officers and Annual Meeting of Members on the evening of May 4. NATA is pleased to announce that Senator Mike Johanns (R-NE), co-chair of the Senate General Aviation Caucus, will keynote the Industry Excellence Awards Dinner.
To learn more about the 2011 NATA Day on the Hill, including how to register, please click here.
(NATA has had fax machine difficulties, so please make sure you follow-up with NATA’s Celeste Clark to ensure that your registration has been received.) | |
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| Byer’s Blog |
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NATA Vice President of Government and Industry Affairs Eric R. Byer’s latest blog focuses on how states are barking up the wrong tree when it comes to looking at aircraft personal property taxes as new funding streams.
To read Byer’s blog, please click here.
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| Fact Of The Week – Quality Control |
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| One of the most well known quality control tasks is sumping your fuel tanks and filter vessels. Sumping basically involves drawing a sample of fuel, rating it, then drawing any remaining contaminates from the storage tank or filter vessel. This process usually involves drawing about one gallon of fuel out of the tank or filter vessel, but in the event that contamination, such as water, is present, it can take removing several gallons of fuel to remove the contamination. For an average FBO with two fuel storage tanks and three fuel trucks, this can amount to eight or more gallons of waste fuel per day. When carried out over the course of a year, that equates to almost 3,000 gallons of waste fuel. If that fuel sells for $4 per gallon, that is $12,000 of lost revenue per year!
Fortunately a device exists to recover some of this lost revenue Many FBOs have installed a device called a reclamation tank. Reclamation tanks are small tanks with a sloped bottom leading to a drain. “Wasted” fuel is placed into the reclamation tank and allowed to settle for a period of time. The sloped bottom and drain allow any contaminates to be removed easily. The reclamation tank is usually plumbed directly into its associated storage tank’s piping, allowing the now cleaned waste fuel to be pumped through the filtration system back into storage, saving thousands of dollars a year. Many FBOs report that their reclamation tanks pay for themselves in as little as a year.
For more information on reclamation tanks, contact your aviation fuel supplier or fuel tank manufacturer. | |
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NATA Sustaining Members:
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