NBAA Update Archive
NBAA Update #03-51
Monday, December 22, 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. Subscribe for free or review the archives at www.nbaa.org/update. Send your comments about NBAA Update to update@nbaa.org.
DEPARTMENT OF
HOMELAND SECURITY RAISES THREAT LEVEL TO ORANGE
On Sunday, December 21, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) raised the domestic threat
advisory to Code Orange or High, citing a "substantial increase in the volume of threat
related intelligence reports." DHS Secretary Tom Ridge mentioned in his remarks that
terrorist organizations are still interested in using aircraft in a terrorist attack, but
offered no specifics. NBAA is urging its members to continue practicing the three basics of
a security plan by locking your aircraft, challenging strangers and remaining vigilant. For
the list of NBAA Best Practices for Business Aviation Security, visit:
http://www.nbaa.org/ops/security/bestpractices
NOTAMs ISSUED
IN RESPONSE TO CODE ORANGE
Several NOTAMs have been issued in response to the change in national security alert status
to Code Orange. NOTAMs 3/2030, 3/2031 and 3/2033 affect operations into the Washington DC
ADIZ. NOTAM 3/2035 suspends all waivers to NOTAM 3/1862, which limits aircraft operations
near sporting events. In addition, several 91.141 TFRs are in effect for VIP travel on December
20 through January 5 in Jackson Hole, WY; December 22 in Alexandria, VA and Seattle, WA; and
December 22 through 26 in Hagerstown/Thurmont, MD. For more information, visit:
http://www.nbaa.org/ops/airspace/restrictions
DON BALDWIN
JOINS THE WHITEWIND COMPANY; REMAINS NBAA CHAIRMAN
NBAA Chairman of the Board Donald E. Baldwin has accepted a position on the Board of NBAA
Member The Whitewind Company. Baldwin has resigned his current position with the Coca-Cola
flight department effective December 30, 2003. In accordance with the NBAA Bylaws, Baldwin
will retain his chairmanship with no interruption in leadership. For more information, visit:
http://www.nbaa.org/news/pr/2003/20031212-083.php
FEC ISSUES NEW RULES
REGARDING CANDIDATE TRAVEL COMPENSATION
The Federal Election Commission (FEC) has developed new rules regarding the rates and timing
of payments for travel on behalf of political committees and candidates on non-commercial
aircraft. These rules establish a uniform payment process covering all Federal election travel
on either government or private aircraft, regardless of whether the transportation is provided
by a corporation, labor organization, individual, partnership, limited liability company or
other entity. The effective date for most of the regulations is January 14, 2004. For more
information, contact NBAA's Doug Carr at dcarr@nbaa.org,
or visit:
http://web.nbaa.org/member/ops/taxes/carriage
NBAA TO MEET WITH FAA THIS WEEK ABOUT ELT COMPLIANCE FOR
TURBOJETS
Effective January 1, 2004, all U.S.-registered civil airplanes of less than 18,000 lbs. maximum
payload, including turbojet-powered aircraft, are required to have an Emergency Locator Transmitter
(ELT). Exceptions to this requirement can be found in 14 CFR Part 91.207, but for all practical
purposes Part 91 operations will require ELTs. NBAA and other aviation groups will meet with
the FAA tomorrow to address supply shortages in some ELT models causing installation delays
that cannot be completed prior to January 1. Due to the uncertainty of FAA's eventual decision,
NBAA recommends that Members submit individual petitions via the Web at http://dms.dot.gov
for exemption from the rule (Docket No. FAA-2000-8552), addressing their individual reasons
for non-compliance. For more information, contact NBAA's Douglas Carr at dcarr@nbaa.org.
NBAA LAUNCHES ITS 2004
REGIONAL FORUM SERIES IN WEST PALM BEACH ON MAR. 10
NBAA will launch its 2004 Business Aviation Regional Forum series at Jet Aviation at Palm
Beach International Airport (PBI) on March 10. Essentially shortened versions of the NBAA
Annual Meeting & Convention, Regional Forums bring together industry personnel at locations
across the United States to address issues germane to that particular geographic region and
to showcase products and services of Association Members. Forums feature indoor exhibits,
a static display of aircraft and a full slate of informational seminars. NBAA is now accepting
Exhibitor applications and Attendee registrations for the West Palm Beach event on March 10.
For more information about exhibiting at, attending and sponsoring the Regional Forums, e-mail
forums@nbaa.org or visit:
http://www.nbaa.org/forums
HOW CAN I AVOID DELAYS
WHEN FLYING BETWEEN FLORIDA AND THE NORTHEAST?
During the winter months, and more specifically on weekends and days associated with holidays,
the increased volume of traffic to and from Florida terminals and the northeast can result
in departure and enroute delays to all National Airspace System (NAS) operators. Operators
may be able to avoid delays by using offshore routes. Initially filing preferred routes but
indicating "offshore capable" in the remarks section of the flightplan will allow
ATC to move operators to these routes instead of assigning long departure delays. Filing flightplans
early -- if possible no less than three hours in advance -- also will help ATC anticipate
extra volume and make effective and appropriate traffic management decisions. Recommended
routes to file can be found on NBAA's web site at:
http://www.nbaa.org/ops/airspace/holiday
FAA TO TERMINATE HOUSTON 250 KNOT SPEED TEST
Effective January 1, 2004, the FAA will terminate the Houston 250 knot speed test. This test
program, which has been ongoing for several years, allowed jet aircraft to depart airports
within the Houston Class B airspace and accelerate to speeds in excess of 250 knots before
reaching 10,000 feet MSL. Houston Class B airspace will revert back to the standard FAR speed
limit of 250 knots at or below 10,000 ft MSL on January 1, 2004. The test was concluded, in
part, because the FAA could not provide conclusive data that bird strikes pose an equal or
lesser threat to operations below 10,000 feet in excess of 250 knots than to operations above
10,000 at similar speeds. For more information, contact NBAA's Bob Lamond at rlamond@nbaa.org.
ADVICE FOR USING CUSTOMS SERVICE AT NEW JERSEY'S TETERBORO
Operators using New Jersey's Teterboro Airport (TEB) should choose the Customs clearance facility
closest to their final on-airport destination to prevent unnecessary runway crossings or taxiing
against the normal traffic flow. If unfamiliar with TEB, operators should contact the FBO
they will be using for directions to the nearest Customs facility. Due to staffing issues,
there may be times when the Customs inspector must travel between the two locations and some
minor delay may occur. For more information, contact NBAA's Dean Saucier at dsaucier@nbaa.org.
AGRICULTURE CLEARING REMAINS AVAILABLE IN LANAI, HAWAII
In November, NBAA reported that the Hawaiian Department of Agriculture would no longer clear
aircraft on the Island of Lanai in Hawaii. Since then several NBAA Members communicated with
the State of Hawaii and subsequently the Department of Agriculture agreed to continue agriculture
clearance operations on Lanai. NBAA continues to urge Members to ensure this service availability
through their Hawaiian FBO or handlers during the flight-planning process. For more information,
contact NBAA's Dan Burkhart at dburkhart@nbaa.org.
CONNECTICUT AIRPORT COMMUNITY CONCERNED BY CONSTRUCTION
NEAR OXC
At Connecticut's Waterbury-Oxford Airport (OXC), a contractor was successful in changing the
town of Oxford, CT's zoning regulations and will be allowed to build within the airport's
65 DNL footprint. The developer plans on building 94 residential units at the middle marker
of the primary runway. Town officials changed the Oxford zoning regulations despite opposition
by the Connecticut DOT, FAA, NBAA and other regional planning agencies. NBAA, OXC and the
Connecticut Business Aviation Group continue to work to prevent the construction of these
homes. For more information, contact NBAA's Dean Saucier at dsaucier@nbaa.org.
RUNWAY AT MANASSAS REGIONAL AIRPORT RETURNED TO SERVICE
Runway 16L/34R has been returned to service at Manassas Regional Airport (HEF) in Virginia.
However, some work remains to be done on the runway, so there may be periods of 15-minute
prior permission required (PPR) as well as times of outright closure. Use extra caution when
operating on Runway 16L/34R and Taxiway Bravo as there will be considerable numbers of personnel
and equipment working on and around these areas during the coming weeks. For more information,
contact Joe Lee, HEF airport operations, at jlee@ci.manassas.va.us,
or NBAA's Harry Houckes at hhouckes@nbaa.org.
MASSACHUSETTS' HANSCOM FIELD HAS NEW AIRCRAFT OPERATING
FEE SCHEDULE
Laurence G. Hanscom Field Airport (BED) in Bedford, MA has a new aircraft operating fee schedule.
The fees include: landing fee: $1.50 per 1,000 lbs.; Customs fee: $150 to $310 depending on
weight; night landing surcharge: $329 for any aircraft landing between 11:00 p.m. and 7:00
a.m. For more information, contact NBAA's Dean Saucier at dsaucier@nbaa.org.
NBAA MEMBER KOCH AVIATION
EARNS OSHA STAR STATUS
Koch Aviation became the nation's first corporate flight department to achieve STAR status,
the most prestigious designation under the U.S. Occupational Health and Safety Administration's
(OSHA) Voluntary Protection Program (VPP). OSHA awarded the STAR VPP certification to Koch
Aviation after an in-depth review of the facility's safety and health programs, operations
performance and safety record. In 2003, Koch Aviation received a Corporate Business Flying
Safety Award for 55 years of accident-free flying. Operators are encouraged to review NBAA's
Prototypical Business Aviation Safety Program Manual, which includes OSHA compliance information,
at:
http://www.nbaa.org/ops/safety/manual
DEADLINE FOR 2004 REGIONAL
FORUMS SPEAKING PROPOSALS IS JAN. 15
A limited number of speaking opportunities are available for the 2004 NBAA Business Aviation
Regional Forums. Presentations should be timely, current and of general interest to the business
aviation community. NBAA also is accepting proposals for maintenance training sessions that
will run concurrently to the general sessions at each Regional Forum. More information and
an application/call for entry can be found online at:
http://www.nbaa.org/forums
HOTEL SPACE ADDED FOR 2004 SCHEDULERS
& DISPATCHERS CONFERENCE
Due to high demand for the 15th Annual Schedulers & Dispatchers Conference on January
10-14, 2004, in Savannah, GA, the Mulberry Inn has been added to the list of hotels with special
Conference rates. Along with the Savannah Marriott Riverfront and the Hyatt Regency Savannah,
the Mulberry Inn is located across the Savannah River from the Savannah Convention Center.
Water taxi and NBAA shuttle buses will be available for Conference attendees. For more information,
contact the Mulberry Inn at Tel: (912) 238-1200, or visit:
http://www.nbaa.org/cs/sdc
AVIATION INSURANCE
DISCUSSED IN UPCOMING NBAA SEMINARS
At the top of many flight department managers' list of concerns is aviation insurance. NBAA
will address aviation insurance and financial risk management during a one-day Seminar on
January 22 in New Orleans. Attendees will learn about aviation insurance contracts and coverage,
their role in managing aircraft operations risk and how to minimize financial risk exposure.
For companies with fractional ownership interests, a discussion of aviation insurance will
be included in the January 20 Seminar in Van Nuys, CA which will focus on the new fractional
ownership rule and changes to FAR Part 135. For more information, contact NBAA's Mike Nichols
at mnichols@nbaa.org or visit:
http://www.nbaa.org/seminars
NOMINATIONS REQUESTED
FOR BUSINESS AVIATION'S MOST PRESTIGIOUS AWARDS
NBAA is now accepting nominations for its two most prestigious awards, the Meritorious Service
to Aviation Award and the John P. "Jack" Doswell Award. Past recipients of the Meritorious
Service Award include Sam B. Williams (2003), James D. Raisbeck (2002) and Paul H. Poberezny
(2001), and past recipients of the Doswell Award include Byron M. "Skip" Reed II
(2003), J. Robert Duncan (2002) and Myron W. Collier (2001). All nominations packages are
due to NBAA by February 15, 2004. Learn more about how to submit a nominations package at:
http://www.nbaa.org/awards
WRIGHT AGAIN CELEBRATES
CENTENNIAL OF FLIGHT
Last Wednesday marked the 100th anniversary of the first powered flight, achieved by the Wright
brothers on the dunes of Kill Devil Hills, NC. To celebrate the work and achievements of Wilbur
and Orville Wright, the Wright Again project and web site invite elementary, middle, and high
school students to follow the technical development of the first successful powered airplane,
the 1903 Wright Flyer. Starting with Wilbur Wright's first documented interest in powered
flight on May 30, 1899, Wright Again follows the brothers' successes and setbacks on the path
to the first flight on December 17, 1903. Wright Again is a collaboration between NBAA and
Cislunar Aerospace, The Franklin Institute and Science Museum, NASA Ames Research Center Fluid
Dynamics Branch, and the High Performance Computing, Education, and Research Center at the
University of New Mexico. For more information, visit:
http://www.wrightagain.com
