NBAA Update Archive

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NBAA Update #03-25
Monday, June 23, 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.

A FAREWELL MESSAGE FROM JACK OLCOTT
"It is with appreciation for the opportunities of the last 11 years and with great respect for NBAA's Membership that I step down from the presidency of your Association," writes outgoing NBAA President Jack Olcott. "Thank you for the privilege of occupying the corner office of the best Association serving the finest individuals in aviation." Read Olcott's final President's Perspective message at:
www.nbaa.org/news/update/2003/pres03-25.php

NBAA SAFETY COMMITTEE TO LAUNCH SERIES ON ENHANCING OPERATOR SAFETY
NBAA and its Safety Committee encourage Association Members to adopt a strong, proactive safety program and culture as an essential foundation for a world-class business aviation operation. Whether the operation involves multiple aircraft across many locations or a single aircraft at one location, a few simple strategies have been demonstrated to effectively manage risk and instill safety. Over the next several weeks, the NBAA Safety Committee will publish a series of key recommendations aimed at assisting business aircraft operators in developing and nurturing a superior safety program. Watch next week's NBAA Update issue for the first of the Safety Committee's Top Ten Safety Recommendations. Members also are encouraged to visit the NBAA Safety web site for general guidance at:
www.nbaa.org/safety

PRESIDENTIAL TFRs CONTINUE TO MATERIALIZE
When the President of the United States travels to a location other than Washington, DC, the U.S. Secret Service (USSS) and TSA request that the FAA impose airspace restrictions over the venue. Generally, these Presidential Temporary Flight Restrictions (TFRs) are issued one to two days before they go into effect and minimal advance notice is given to the flying public. Because these TFRs typically prohibit general aviation within 10 nm and up to 18,000 ft. of a defined point, business aviation flights are adversely effected. Operators are urged to check NOTAMs carefully and daily when operating in airspace affected by Presidential TFRs, because each one is tailored to unique conditions and circumstances. NBAA continues to work with Congress, the FAA, TSA, and other security agencies to minimize the impact of Presidential TFRs. For more information about airspace restrictions, visit:
www.nbaa.org/airspace/restrictions

FAA NOW PUBLISHING VICE PRESIDENTIAL TFRs
In addition to the Presidential TFRs that have been proliferating recently, the FAA is now publishing Vice Presidential TFRs at the behest of the U.S. Secret Service. Vice Presidential TFRs are not new, but they have been used so infrequently and in such "low impact" areas in the past that they were not noticed. Today, two appeared -- in Richmond, VA and at Hanscom Field, MA. While smaller in scope (3 nm and 3000 ft. for today's) they are still restrictive to general aviation and will require operators to have the same level of diligence in avoiding them as the larger Presidential TFRs. NBAA will continue to monitor and publicize these TFRs, but as usual, operators always should check NOTAMs before filing flight plans. For more information about airspace restrictions, visit:
www.nbaa.org/airspace/restrictions

FAA KICKS OFF WORK ON REWRITE FOR FAR PART 125/135
The FAA held its first three-day meeting of the Part 125/135 Aviation Rulemaking Committee (ARC) during the second week of June. FAA tasked the ARC with determining the future of Part 125 and with updating Part 135 to reflect changes in the marketplace, technology and international standards. While the ARC is far from recommending any changes to the existing regulatory structure, many ARC members generally agree with conceptual changes proposed during the meeting. Additionally, the FAA will reopen the public comment until the ARC's next meeting, scheduled for August 19 to 21. NBAA encourages Members to submit comments and concerns regarding the "Part 135/125 Regulatory Review" docket online at http://dms.dot.gov/submit/dspSubmission.cfm, reference Docket ID# 13923. For more information, contact NBAA's Doug Carr at dcarr@nbaa.org.

NBAA MEMBERS ENCOURAGED TO PARTICIPATE IN GA SURVEY
The FAA has recently contracted with PA Consulting to undertake the data collection phase of the General Aviation and Air Taxi Activity Survey (GA Survey) for calendar year 2002. The contractor has forwarded a postcard to registered aircraft owners in this year's sample advising them of options for completing the survey via either online or hardcopy methods. NBAA Members selected for this year's sample are encouraged to participate and reminded of this year's shortened response period. Review GA Survey data results for calendar year 2001 activity at www.api.faa.gov/gasurvey2001/index.htm.

FEDEX MAINTENANCE TAX CASE UPDATE
The controversy between FedEx and IRS on whether off-wing maintenance is a deductible repair or a capitalized expenditure continues as a U.S. District Court rejected FedEx's summary judgment motion on what is a unit of property under the repair regulations. For more information, visit the NBAA Tax, Finance & Insurance web site at:
http://www.nbaa.org/taxes

WHAT IS THE AIRPORT RESERVATION OFFICE?
The Airport Reservation Office (ARO) coordinates slot reservations for unscheduled operations into high-density traffic airports (HDTAs) and airports restricted by special traffic management programs (STMPs). To fly into an HDTA, users may make a reservation utilizing the ARO's interactive computer system (e-CVRS) via phone at (800) 875 9694 or web at www.fly.faa.gov/ecvrs. To fly into an airport with a STMP, users may make a reservation utilizing the ARO's interactive computer system (e-STMP) via phone at (800) 875-9755 or web at www.fly.faa.gov/estmp. Users may contact the ARO at (703) 904-4452 if they have a problem making a reservation using the automated interfaces. For more information, visit the e-CVRS or e-STMP web sites listed above or contact the NBAA Operations Service Group at info@nbaa.org.

CHICAGO O'HARE ATC GUIDE HAS BEEN UPDATED
The FAA Great Lakes Region air traffic staff has updated the ORD ATC Guide, a 10-page document containing valuable information with which all operators into O'Hare International Airport (ORD) and surrounding airports should be familiar. The guide includes an overview of basic ATC functions, Chicago Center arrival information, Chicago TRACON, ORD airport operations, ORD runway incursion hotspots, ORD runway configurations, severe weather avoidance program and frequently asked questions. Download the ORD ATC Guide in PDF format from http://att5.faa.gov. For more information about business aviation airports, visit:
www.nbaa.org/airports

NBAA FILES BRIEF IN NAPLES APPEAL
NBAA, joined by the General Aviation Manufacturers Association, filed its post-hearing brief in the Naples case last Monday, June 16. The case is an administrative appeal taken by the Naples (FL) Airport Authority from the FAA Determination that the ban on Stage 2 operations at Naples Municipal Airport (APF) violates Federal law and grant assurances. An FAA hearing officer will issue an initial decision, which then will be reviewed by the FAA's Associate Administrator for Airports. A final decision by the FAA is expected in the late summer. For more information or to download the full FAA Director's Determination, visit:
www.nbaa.org/ops/airports/apf

GREATER ST. LOUIS DINNER HONORED OLCOTT AND FOCUSED ON SECURITY
On June 6 in St. Louis, MO, the Greater St. Louis Business Aviation Association (GSLBAA) presented outgoing NBAA President John Olcott with an award recognizing his dedication to business aviation and his support of regional business aviation groups such as the St. Louis group. The award was presented by Mike Mueller, GSLBAA president, during an NBAA REACHBAC dinner before about 130 members of the St. Louis business aviation community. In addition, special guest William Switzer, St. Louis TSA director, spoke about business aviation security issues. For more information about this event or other news in the Midwest region, contact NBAA's John Balsiger at jbalsiger@nbaa.org.

CAM STUDY GUIDE NOW AVAILABLE; APPLICATIONS FOR OCT. 6 EXAM DUE JUL. 8
The NBAA Certification Steering Committee is pleased to announce the release of the Certified Aviation Manager (CAM) Study Guide, designed to help prepare an individual to take the Certified Aviation Manager Examination, which will be offered for the first time on Monday, October 6, 2003, in Orlando, FL. Individuals interested in taking the October 6 CAM Exam must submit a completed CAM Application and any required documents to NBAA postmarked no later than Tuesday, July 8. For more information, visit:
www.nbaa.org/pr/2003/20030623-034.htm

STATE AVIATION TAX REPORT WEB SITE HAS BEEN UPDATED
The NBAA State Aviation Tax Report contains useful information about state aviation taxes in the United States. Each state's information is organized according to the following categories: sales and use taxes on aviation, taxes on fuel, aircraft registration fees and personal property taxes. Each report also includes state aviation and tax department contact information. This publication is only available online in PDF format from the NBAA web site. Download the latest version at:
www.nbaa.org/ops/taxes/state

PRE- AND POST-CONVENTION SEMINAR DETAILS NOW ONLINE
NBAA will host nine pre- and post-Convention Seminars in conjunction with the NBAA 56th Annual Meeting & Convention, to be held October 7 to 9, in Orlando, FL. The pre- and post-Convention Seminars are as follows: 12th Annual Tax Conference, Emergency Response Workshop, Management Fundamentals for Flight Departments Workshop, Human Factors Workshop on Fatigue Management, Inspection Authorization (IA) Renewal Course, Maintenance Manual Workshop, Flight Operations Manual Workshop and two Professional Development Program Courses. For more information about each event or to download registration forms in PDF format, visit:
www.nbaa.org/seminars

ONLY TWO WEEKS LEFT TO COMPLETE NBAA COMPENSATION & BENCHMARK SURVEY
The 2003 NBAA Compensation & Benchmark Survey is currently in progress with a deadline of July 7 for entries. To take part in this online survey, NBAA Member Representatives should visit:
www.nbaa.org/surveys/cbs

NBAA GOLD WING AWARD APPLICATIONS DUE JULY 18
The NBAA Gold Wing Award is presented annually for excellent, accurate and insightful reporting on issues related to business aviation (use of general aviation aircraft for business purposes) by trade or nontrade media in print, web-based, or broadcast formats. The NBAA Gold Wing Award recognizes journalism's important role in reporting the significant contributions of business aviation to the national economy. Applications for the 2003 NBAA Gold Wing Award are due July 18, 2003. Entries should have appeared in print, online, or on-air between June 30, 2002, and June 30, 2003. For more information, visit:
www.nbaa.org/pr/2003/20030623-033.htm

NEW TRAVEL$ENSE UPDATE SUPPORTS CORPORATE SHUTTLE ANALYSIS
The new Travel$ense Release 3.66 update allows users to analyze corporate shuttle operations by including a quantity field for each passenger added to a trip. Up to 30 passenger types can be added per trip leg, and up to 100 "copies" of each passenger type can be included in calculations, theoretically allowing for analyses of trips with up to 3,000 passengers. Download the Travel$ense Release 3.66 update at:
www.nbaa.org/T$/update3_66.htm

YOU CAN PROVIDE A VALUABLE COMMUNITY SERVICE
Corporate Angel Network arranges free air transportation for cancer patients traveling to treatment using the empty seats on corporate jets. Thanks to the generosity of 500 of America's finest corporations, Corporate Angel Network has arranged more than 14,000 flights since its founding in 1981. Your company can get involved too. To review a current list of cancer patient "rides needed," including city-to-city destinations and date range, visit:
http://www.corpangelnetwork.org/corporate/seats.html