NBAA Update Archive

NBAA Update #03-18
Monday, May 5, 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.

DHS ISSUES SECURITY ALERT FOR GENERAL AVIATION PILOTS/AIRPORTS
On May 1, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) issued Advisory 03-019 based on new information and analysis from the new Terrorist Threat Integration Center. This extraordinary public document is one of the few that begins to detail the U.S. government's security concerns regarding general aviation aircraft and is recommended reading for all NBAA Members. Citing recent reports that al-Qaida was in the late stages of planning an aerial suicide attack against the U.S. Consulate in Karachi, the DHS urges GA operators worldwide to be vigilant for unusual activity on and around airports. In the United States, report all suspicious activities to the Airport Watch Hotline at (866) GA SECURE or (866) 427-3287. Download the advisory in Word and PDF formats from the NBAA Security web page at:
www.nbaa.org/ops/security/#advisory03-019

NBAA DEEPLY TROUBLED BY ARBITRARY AND PUNITIVE PRESIDENTIAL TFR NOTAMs
Last Friday, the FAA issued NOTAM FDC 3/3349 for President Bush's visit to Little Rock, AR earlier today. All GA operations were prohibited during the two-hour, 45-minute period of the TFR. Previous Presidential TFRs issued during the heightened Code Orange threat level, such as NOTAM FDC 3/2374, allowed for the ingress and egress of aircraft, provided they were on either a VFR or IFR flight plan, were squawking an ATC-assigned discrete beacon code and maintained constant two-way radio contact with ATC. This new TFR, issued during Code Yellow, prohibited all GA operations below 18,000 feet within 13 nm of 344346N/921328W or the LIT318003.8. "The inconsistency of issuing more restrictive TFRs during lower levels of alert is deeply troubling," said NBAA President Jack Olcott. NBAA has objected strongly to this as-yet unsubstantiated change in Federal security policy. For more information, visit:
www.nbaa.org/airspace/restrictions

EBACE2003 OPENS THIS WEEK WITH RECORD EXHIBITORS; BLAKEY TO KEYNOTE
EBACE2003, to be held from May 7 to 9, 2003, in Geneva, Switzerland, will feature approximately 614 exhibits at Geneva Palexpo, 36 aircraft on Static Display at Geneva International Airport, 11 Informational Sessions and eight Maintenance & Operations (M&O) Sessions hosted by original equipment manufacturers. Exhibitors are at record levels, up nearly 9 percent over last year's final EBACE2002 numbers. Highlights will include a keynote address by FAA Administrator Marion C. Blakey during the Opening General Session on May 7 and the prestigious EBACE Awards Reception and Banquet on May 8. For more information, visit:
www.ebace.com/welcome/pressroom/20030505.htm

NBAA MEMBERS URGED TO COMMENT ON PART 135 REGULATORY REVIEW
Last Tuesday, April 29, the NBAA FAR Part 135 Committee met with Katherine Perfetti, FAA National Resource Specialist for 135 Operations, on the upcoming regulatory review of Parts 135 and 125. Scheduled to commence in mid-June with the first meeting of the Committee, Perfetti advised that outcomes are expected to include completion of the regulatory review and proposed recommendations, potential interim special regulation for large airplanes and potential rescinding of Part 125. NBAA Members are strongly urged to comment on the regulatory review and issue papers as they are developed. For more information, download a PDF file of the Notice of Regulatory Review as it appeared in the February 3 Federal Register at:
www.nbaa.org/ops/03-2416.pdf

CERTIFIED AVIATION MANAGER (CAM) PROGRAM APPLICATION NOW AVAILABLE
NBAA seeks to raise the quality of management within flight departments through a business aviation certification process known as the Certified Aviation Manager (CAM) Program. The CAM Examination will be offered for the first time this October in Orlando, and NBAA will recognize the first group of Certified Aviation Managers in late 2003. Individuals who wish to take the CAM Exam must qualify by submitting a CAM Application package to NBAA at least 90 days before the scheduled exam administration date. A CAM Program Guide and Application form is now available for download from the CAM web site at:
www.nbaa.org/cam

WHERE CAN I FIND FEDERAL AVIATION REGULATONS ONLINE?
The National Archives and Records Administration has developed an Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (e-CFR) web site at http://www.access.gpo.gov/ecfr that offers free access to the Federal Aviation Regulations (FARs). Users will find all Federal Aviation Regulations from Part 1 to Part 199 by visiting that web site and selecting "Title 14-Aeronautics and Space." For more information, contact the NBAA Operations Service Group at info@nbaa.org.

BUSINESS AVIATION SAFETY CONFERENCE SLATED FOR OCTOBER
Bombardier Learjet is scheduled to hold its annual Safety Standdown October 28 through 30 in Wichita. The seminar, which features a number of noted safety experts, is free of charge to operators of any type of business aircraft. Topics slated to be discussed include inflight medical emergencies (including CPR and defibrillator use), aircraft ditching and evacuation procedures, fatigue countermeasures for corporate pilots, aviation psychology, advanced aircraft maneuvering, and professional airmanship. Astronaut Gene Cernan has been invited to be a dinner speaker during the conference. For more information, contact Learjet's Bob Agostino at bob.agostino@learjet.com or Dave Ryan at david.ryan@learjet.com, or visit:
www.nbaa.org/safety/LearjetSafetyStanddown.htm

TSA NOTICE TO TWELVE-FIVE OPERATORS REGARDING CONTRACTORS/VENDORS
On Friday, May 2, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) released a notice for operators regulated under the Twelve-Five Standard Security Program (TFSSP). The TSA states that it has received requests from several aircraft operators to approve contractors and vendors for the development and/or conduct training on their behalf. TSA does not endorse any particular training contractor or vendor, but will allow the aircraft operator to use contractors and vendors subject to four conditions. To review the original TSA notice, which includes these conditions, visit the NBAA web site at:
www.nbaa.org/ops/security/charter/TFSSP.htm

FAA MOVES FORWARD WITH PLANS FOR LAAS
The FAA is moving forward with a satellite navigation landing system that will improve aircraft safety during airport approaches and landings. The Local Area Augmentation System (LAAS) enables pilots to guide planes safely into busy airports in bad weather and will significantly enhance the safety and efficiency of air travel by increasing the accuracy, availability, continuity and integrity of the information received from the Global Positioning System (GPS) constellation of satellites. LAAS represents FAA's continued transition from a ground-based navigation system to one that integrates aircraft performance and satellite technology. For more information, visit www.faa.gov/index.cfm/apa/1062 or contact NBAA's Bob Lamond at rlamond@nbaa.org.

MANASSAS REGIONAL AIRPORT RUNWAY CONSTRUCTION
Extensive airport construction is planned for Manassas Regional/Harry P. Davis Field (HEF) in Manassas, VA this summer. On June 16, the Runway 16L threshold will be displaced 700 feet, leaving 5,000 feet of usable runway from June 16 until the total closure of Runway 16L on or about July 21, for a period of approximately 55 days. The ILS is being decommissioned because of the 16L threshold displacement and associated construction. For more information contact the airport's Joe Lee at jlee@ci.manassas.va.us or NBAA's Harry Houckes at hhouckes@nbaa.org.

TULSA INTERNATIONAL AND JONES RIVERSIDE RECEIVE FEDERAL GRANT MONEY
The City of Tulsa will receive $273,000 in Federal grant money left from a 1998 grant by the FAA to the Oklahoma Aeronautics Commission (OAC). The money will benefit airport projects at Tulsa International Airport (TUL) and Jones-Riverside Airport (RVS), one of the most active general aviation airports in Oklahoma with over 500 based aircraft and 322,000 operations a year. TUL will receive $143,000 to help pay for a runway-lighting upgrade and the rehabilitation of 14 connecting taxiways and portions of a perimeter road. RVS will receive the other $130,000 to help pay for the installation of perimeter fencing, identification and direction signs, new runway lights, and the extension of a taxiway and airport access road. For more information, contact NBAA's John Balsiger at jbalsiger@nbaa.org.

LAKEFRONT AIRPORT LISTENING SESSION CANCELLED; NEW DATE FOR COMMENTS
The Listening Session for NBAA Member Companies originally scheduled for Friday, May 9 at New Orleans Lakefront Airport (NEW) has been cancelled. The comment period has been extended by the FAA until May 23 to allow the public more time to consider the proposal and to provide comments. Member Companies may review Docket No. #FAA-2003-14246 and submit comments directly via the DOT Docket Management System web site at http://dms.dot.gov. NBAA Staff will monitor the FAA's public hearing on Saturday, May 10 and report relevant announcements via NBAA Update. For more information, contact NBAA's Jeff Gilley at jgilley@nbaa.org.
www.nbaa.org/airports/NEW/

NBAA ANNOUNCES NEW FIRST CENTURY OF FLIGHT AWARDS
The NBAA Board of Directors has selected Serge Dassault, David Ewald, Jerome F. Lederer, Ray H. Siegfried II and John Tucker to receive a special NBAA First Century of Flight Award during the NBAA Awards Banquet on Thursday, October 9 in Orlando. The First Century of Flight Award recognizes these five individuals for their significant contributions to the advancement of aviation since the advent of powered flight 100 years ago. For more information, visit:
www.nbaa.org/public/news/pr/2003/20030501-024.php

NBAA ANNOUNCES RECIPIENTS OF UAA BARDEN AVIATION SCHOLARSHIP
NBAA has awarded a total of $5,000 in scholarship funds to five students who seek to advance their professional development.
www.nbaa.org/public/news/pr/2003/20030501-023.php

YOUR EMPTY SEATS CAN BE POWERFUL MEDICINE
By letting a cancer patient use an empty seat on your corporate aircraft, you can enable that patient to access critical treatment they might otherwise have to forgo. Often a clinical trial or specialized regimen is only available at one medical center, perhaps thousands of miles from a patient's home. Sometimes a patient must return weekly or monthly. Transportation costs can quickly add up to an impossible burden for a patient whose illness has already caused financial stress. Join with Corporate Angel Network (CAN) to provide cancer patients with free transportation to recognized treatment centers. It's easy and costs you nothing. To add your name to CAN's roster of 500 top U.S. corporations, call (914) 328-1313. To see current destinations and date range of rides needed, please visit:
www.corpangelnetwork.org/corporate/seats.html