NBAA Update Archive

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NBAA Update #03-17
Monday, April 28, 2003

NBAA Update is the National Business Aviation Association's weekly e-mail newsletter, providing the latest operational, regulatory and political news for the business aviation community. Send your comments about NBAA Update to update@nbaa.org.

TORCH LEWIS "GOES WEST"
Torch Lewis, the 2002 NBAA Platinum Wing Award-winning commentator and 1997 NBAA Doswell Award recipient, died at home last week in Florida after a long illness. He was 80. "Torch's Greenhouse Patter column in Business & Commercial Aviation was an institution, as was Torch himself. The business aviation community has lost a great friend and one of its staunchest defenders," said NBAA President Jack Olcott, "We will miss his deep voice and sharp wit." Due to declining health, Lewis missed the NBAA 55th Annual Meeting & Convention last September, which would have been his 50th consecutive attendance.

NBAA TROUBLED BY DELAYS IN BACKGROUND CHECKS FOR FOREIGN NATIONALS
In a letter last week to U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft, NBAA expressed deep concern regarding the process by which foreign nationals obtain permission for flight training in the United States. While NBAA supports the concept of background checks for aliens seeking flight training in our country, the procedure developed by the Department of Justice encourages pilots to seek training in other countries. NBAA urged Ashcroft to work with the flight-training industry to address the critical technical background check requirements and ensure maximum security for the United States while allowing U.S. allies worldwide to benefit by receiving flight training from American companies. For more information, contact NBAA's Pete West at pwest@nbaa.org or visit:
www.nbaa.org/public/news/pr/2003/20030428-021.php

SARS GUIDANCE AVAILABLE ON CDC AND WHO SITES
Members seeking guidance for dealing with Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) can find official information on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) web site at www.cdc.gov/ncidod/sars and the World Health Organization (WHO) web site at www.who.int/csr/sars/en. In addition, SARS information for airline, airport and air travel workers is available on the CDC web site at www.cdc.gov/ncidod/sars/airpersonnel.htm, including documents titled "Interim Guidance for Cleaning of Commercial Passenger Aircraft Following a Flight with a Passenger with Suspected SARS" and "Guidelines for Airline Flight Crew Members."

EBACE BEGINS ONE WEEK FROM WEDNESDAY IN GENEVA; BLAKEY KEYNOTING
EBACE2003 will be held May 7 to 9 in Geneva, Switzerland. FAA Administrator Marion Blakey will be the Opening General Session keynote speaker. For more information or to register, visit:
www.ebace.com

CAN OPERATORS USE AN OVERFLIGHT EXEMPTION WITH ONLY FLIGHTCREW ABOARD?
No. In accordance with 19 CFR 122.25 (c)(7), "An approved passenger must be on board for the overflight exemption to be used." Private aircraft arriving from areas south of the U.S. must give advance notice of arrival to U.S. Customs and must land at the nearest designated airport to the border or coastline crossing point. Operators may apply for and receive an exemption to the requirement to land at a designated airport. For more information about the "overflight exemption," visit the United States Custom Guide, available on NBAA's web site at:
www.nbaa.org/member/customs

FRIENDS OF MEIGS CONDUCTING LOCAL FUNDRAISERS
Friends of Meigs Field, the support group for Merrill C. Meigs Airport (CGX) in Chicago, is holding a series of local fundraisers to help support efforts to contest the city's recent closure of the waterfront facility. The first of the cocktail/buffet events was held yesterday. Additional meetings are scheduled for Sunday, May 4 at 6:00 p.m. in Aurora and Friday, May 9 at 6:30 p.m. in a southern suburban location yet to be determined. For more information about fundraising events, visit www.friendsofmeigs.org. For background information about Meigs Field issues, visit:
www.nbaa.org/airports/CGX

EAST COAST SWAP SEASON REMINDER
NBAA Members on the East Coast are reminded that the season for Severe Weather Avoidance Procedures (SWAP) is here, when ATC may move users on impacted routes away from congested airways to better manage traffic demand when few options exist. For traffic along north/south routes on the East Coast, qualified aircraft may take advantage of the A761 route to avoid inland congestion. Operators must be RVSM-capable and HF-equipped, though the HF requirement will be eliminated in the near future. In the "remarks" section of the flight plan, operators should make the notation "A761 capable," which will alert controllers that the aircraft is equipped and flightcrew trained in the use of HF and RVSM. For more information, contact NBAA's Dean Saucier at dsaucier@nbaa.org.

CODED DEPARTURE ROUTE SYSTEM TO BE USED FOR FLIGHTS FROM TETERBORO
In his presentation at the April Teterboro Users Group meeting, Charlie Bailey of New York TRACON noted that a coded departure route (CDR) system is on its way. The CDR enables flightcrews and ATC to use an eight-digit clearance to facilitate and speed up the clearance process. Rather than giving the entire routing to a destination such as FLL, departures will be able to use a code such as TEBFLL08. Additionally, combined with the predeparture clearance (PDC), the process is more streamlined and efficient. Currently, ATC will limit the CDR to 100 of the most frequented destination airports from Teterboro Airport (TEB) in New Jersey, but assuming success with the program, additional airports will be added. For more information, contact NBAA's Dean Saucier at dsaucier@nbaa.org.

TETERBORO USERS GROUP INSTRUMENTAL IN AIRPORT IMPROVEMENTS
The Teterboro Users Group (TUG) has been instrumental in a number of improvements at Teterboro Airport (TEB) in New Jersey, which will benefit all aircraft operating to/from TEB. RAILS on Runway 1 will be installed, as will a PAPI system on Runway 19. In an attempt to make pilots more aware of intersection hotspots, each FBO at TEB now has an enhanced color view of the intersection hotspots that a flightcrew member may take for current and future use. Wigwag lights at the intersections also are being considered. TUG membership is open to operators who may not be based at TEB. For more information about TUG or to join, contact TUG at qbwilly@optonline.net or NBAA's Dean Saucier at dsaucier@nbaa.org.

LISTENING SESSION RE: LAKEFRONT PRIVATIZATION PROGRAM, MAY 9
On Saturday, May 10, the FAA will hold a public meeting to receive comments concerning the merits of the New Orleans Lakefront Airport (NEW) Privatization Program. In order to facilitate a dialog between NBAA Members and American Airports Lakefront (AAL) in advance of the FAA hearing, Members are invited to a two-hour Listening Session on Friday, May 9 with AAL staff and legal counsel. An overview of the AAL proposal will be presented followed by a question-and-answer session. The Listening Session will be held on May 9 from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., Lakefront Airport Board Room, 2nd Floor, Airport Terminal Building. For more information about the May 9 meeting, contact NBAA's Jeff Gilley at jgilley@nbaa.org. For background information about NEW, visit:
www.nbaa.org/airports/NEW

IOWA BILL INCLUDES FUNDS FOR AVIATION SAFETY PROJECTS AND PROGRAMS
The joint Iowa House-Senate Infrastructure Appropriations Committee has given its approval to the 2003 Infrastructure Appropriations Bill, which includes more than $2 million for aviation. Included in the bill are funds for commercial airport vertical infrastructure, general aviation airport vertical infrastructure, and the airport improvement program and safety projects and programs. The return of the airport improvement program funds marks a turning point for aviation funding in Iowa. Just last June, the legislature and the governor cut all funding for aviation safety projects and program, but due to efforts by members of the Iowa Public Airports Association (IPAA), that funding is returning to the state budget. For more information, contact NBAA's John Balsiger at jbalsiger@nbaa.org.

PLANS FOR NEW BOISE REGIONAL BUSINESS AVIATION GROUP UNDERWAY
Last Thursday, April 24, NBAA hosted an organizational meeting attended by 32 individuals interested in forming a new Boise regional business aviation group. State aeronautics, FAA and TSA personnel were on hand to make presentations to the new group. Mike Pape, a pilot for Boise Cascade, will serve as president and other officers will be announced in the near future. The group still must approve the bylaws and give the organization an official name. For more information about the new Boise group or to join, contact NBAA's Paul H. Smith at psmith@nbaa.org.

ONLINE AVIONICS MANDATES SURVEY AVAILABLE VIA NBAA WEB SITE
A group of graduate students is conducting independent research into the effect of current avionics mandates on the business aviation industry. To assist in this effort, NBAA is hosting a web-based survey. Survey participants who respond by Monday, May 5, 2003, 5:00 p.m. Pacific will be eligible for a chance to win a $50 Barnes & Noble gift certificate. Individual responses will be strictly confidential. For more information, contact Joseph Dion at josephdion@global.t-bird.edu. To participate in the survey visit:
www.nbaa.org/surveys/avionics200304.htm

FAA EASTERN REGION'S FELDMAN TO SPEAK AT NEW YORK FORUM ON JUN. 5
NBAA will conduct its next Business Aviation Forum & Static Display on Thursday, June 5 at Republic Airport in Farmingdale, NY. This event will feature dozens of Exhibitors, more than 25 aircraft on Static Display and several Informational Sessions, including a special session for potential business aircraft operators. Opening remarks will be provided by Arlene Feldman, regional administrator for the FAA's Eastern Region. There is no charge to attend the Forum, which will begin at 7:30 a.m. on June 5 with a continental breakfast. For more information about exhibiting, contact NBAA's Benjamin Jones at bjones@nbaa.org. For more information about the Forum or to register online, visit:
www.nbaa.org/seminars/baf

NEW TWO-DAY TAX FORUM TO BE HELD IN WHITE PLAINS, NY, JUN. 12-13
The NBAA Tax Forum is designed to provide an introduction to a variety of issues affecting aviation operations, including operations under Part 91 of the FAA regulations, reimbursement under Section 91.501 of the FAA regulations, rules pertaining to personal and non-business use of an aircraft, Federal excise taxes, depreciation and insurance trends. This event is now provided in a longer, two-day format, which includes a workshop on state and local sales, use and property taxes and a workshop on international tax and operations issues. The full agenda is now available online; for more information or to register, visit:
www.nbaa.org/seminars/tf/tf_2003_06.htm

EAA COUNTDOWN TO KITTY HAWK TOUR WILL MAKE STOP A NBAA2003
The EAA Countdown to Kitty Hawk exhibit, which includes a replica of the Wright Flyer, will make a stop at the NBAA 56th Annual Meeting & Convention this October in Orlando.
www.nbaa.org/public/news/pr/2003/20030422-019.php

FRED MCINTOSH TO RECEIVE NBAA STAFF LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
The NBAA Board of Directors has selected former employee Fred McIntosh as the second recipient of the NBAA Staff Lifetime Achievement Award.
www.nbaa.org/public/news/pr/2003/20030425-020.php

NBAA PRESIDENT RECEIVES FSF BUSINESS AVIATION MERITORIOUS SERVICE AWARD
NBAA President Jack Olcott has received the 2003 Flight Safety Foundation (FSF) Business Aviation Meritorious Service Award, established in 1975 to recognize outstanding service and contributions to corporate aviation safety. The award cites Olcott as an eloquent champion of the role of business and corporate aviation in the transportation system of the United States and worldwide, and an outspoken advocate of the need for a safety-oriented management culture. This is the second time Olcott has won this award; he previously received this honor in 1983 when he worked for Business and Commercial Aviation magazine, where he served as editor and eventually publisher from 1978 through 1992. For more information, download the FSF press release in PDF format at www.flightsafety.org/news/nr03-14.pdf or contact NBAA at afreed@nbaa.org.

NBAA APPOINTED TO TSA AVIATION SECURITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE
NBAA has been named as a new member of the Department of Homeland Security's Aviation Security Advisory Committee (ASAC). Established in 1989, the ASAC was chartered to examine all areas of civil aviation security and provide advice and recommendations to Federal officials. For more information, contact NBAA's Bob Blouin at rblouin@nbaa.org.

2003 NBAA MEMBERSHIP DIRECTORY NOW AVAILABLE IN PRINTED VERSION
The NBAA Directory of Member Companies, Aircraft & Personnel contains a comprehensive listing of all NBAA Member Companies with their aircraft and flight department personnel. Separate sections include NBAA Member aircraft by tail number, Member aircraft by make and model, Members by geographical region, Members by products and services, and personnel broken out alphabetically as well as by occupation. A CD-ROM version of the 2003 edition will be mailed to all NBAA Members in May. A complimentary printed version of this publication also is now available to Members upon request (one copy per Member Company). For more information, contact NBAA's Benjamin Jones at bjones@nbaa.org.

GOING THEIR WAY? GIVE A CANCER PATIENT A LIFT
Do your corporate jets ever fly an empty leg? Do your planes ever take off with a seat or seats to spare? How about volunteering those seats to cancer patients traveling to or from treatment centers, if you happen to be going their way? Five hundred top corporations have already answered "Yes!" to these questions. They became participants in Corporate Angel Network (CAN), and you can too. CAN makes it easy. Using a proprietary and secure computer program, CAN volunteers match flights to patient requests, do all the paperwork and make all the arrangements. Call (914) 328-1313 for more information. For a current list of patient "rides needed," please visit:
www.corpangelnetwork.org/corporate/seats.html