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NBAA Update #04-01
Monday, January 5, 2004

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.

FLIGHT OPS FAQs NOW ONLINE
The NBAA Operations Service Group (OSG) receives many questions pertaining to flight department operations via e-mail and telephone. For answers to these questions, business aviation operators now may access NBAA's new Flight Department Operations Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) web page, which contains not only questions received by the OSG but also answers and operational guidance that has appeared in past issues of NBAA Update. For more information, visit:
http://www.nbaa.org/ops/faq

FAA EXTENDS ETOPS COMMENT DEADLINE
According to FAA officials, the deadline for comments relating to the FAA's proposed ETOPS rule is being extended for 60 days. The new deadline is March 13 and should appear in tomorrow's Federal Register. The FAA's proposed rule would require aircraft operated under FAR Part 135 to remain within 180 minutes of an airport unless approved for extended operations. For more information, contact NBAA's Mike Nichols at mnichols@nbaa.org.

PERSONAL USE OF EMPLOYER-PROVIDED AIRCRAFT
When an employer provides an aircraft to an employee for personal use, the employee may be taxed on the fringe benefit that is received. The Internal Revenue Code allows employers to choose one of two methods to determine the value of the benefit: Fair Market Value (charter rate) or the Standard Industry Fare Level (SIFL). The SIFL rates, which are updated twice per year, are used in a formula to determine the value of the fringe benefit received. The new SIFL rates for the period of January 1, 2004, through June 30, 2004, are expected to be provided by the U.S. Department of Transportation near the end of February 2004. Contact NBAA's Mike Nichols at mnichols@nbaa.org to be added to NBAA's SIFL Rate Alert e-mail list. For more information, visit:
http://www.nbaa.org/taxes

EXPECT TFRs FOR UPCOMING VIP TRAVEL
Operators should anticipate temporary flight restrictions (TFRs) for upcoming VIP travel on January 5 in St. Louis, MO; January 5-7 in Morgan City, LA; January 8 in Knoxville, TN; January 8 in Palm Beach, FL; and January 9-12 in Crawford, TX. For more information, visit:
http://www.nbaa.org/ops/airspace/restrictions

SCHEDULERS & DISPATCHERS CONFERENCE BEGINS NEXT WEEK
More than 1,400 people are expected to attend the NBAA 15th Annual Schedulers & Dispatchers Conference next Monday to Wednesday in Savannah, GA. The Conference will feature a record 236 Exhibiting Companies -- an increase of 22 percent over last year's total of 193 -- who will market products and services of interest to business aviation schedulers and dispatchers. This event will provide the most up-to-date information on issues directly related to the role of the professional scheduler and dispatcher in the corporate flight department, featuring breakout sessions and workshops on topics of interest for beginners to experts. In addition, four NBAA Schedulers Professional Development Program (SPDP) Courses will be held on the Saturday and Sunday prior to the Conference. For more information, visit:
http://www.nbaa.org/cs/sdc

31ST ANNUAL INTERNATIONAL OPERATORS CONFERENCE DETAILS NOW ONLINE
The NBAA 31st Annual International Operators Conference, to be held March 22 to 25 in Anaheim, CA, offers valuable information on every issue that challenges a pilot on an international trip. Experts from around the world will provide insight on topics ranging from flight planning to navigational systems to security and medical issues. This Conference is hosted by the NBAA International Operators Committee, which aids the Association's Member Companies in the facilitation of their international flight operations. For more information, review the agenda online at:
http://www.nbaa.org/cs/ioc

HOW DO I APPLY FOR AN EXEMPTION TO A FEDERAL AVIATION REGULATION?
The regulations governing the rulemaking process are found in Part 11 of Title 14, Code of Federal Regulations (CFR). Any person affected by a regulation in 14 CFR may petition for an exemption from any rule issued by the FAA under its statutory authority. Operators may submit a petition for exemption via mail or the internet. The FAA requests operators to petition at least 120 days in advance of needing the exemption. A petition for exemption must include the sections of 14 CFR from which you seek an exemption, as well as extent of and the reason you seek the relief. A link to information on petitioning for an exemption can be found on the FAA's web site at:
http://www.faa.gov/avr/arm

NBAA ANNOUNCES TWO MAINTENANCE MANAGEMENT WORKSHOPS FOR 2004
NBAA announces a new Maintenance Management Workshop, to be held March 11 in West Palm Beach, FL, and August 25 in Seattle, WA, in conjunction with NBAA Business Aviation Regional Forums. Organized by the NBAA Maintenance Committee, these Workshops will provide aviation maintenance managers an opportunity to learn the latest information on issues affecting the maintenance community. Topics to be addressed include Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) issues, environmental and aviation regulations, personnel and asset management, aircraft reliability and productivity measures. For more information, visit:
http://www.nbaa.org/news/pr/2004/20040105-001.php

CERTIFIED AVIATION MANAGER EXAM APPLICATION DEADLINE IS JAN. 20
If you are an existing or aspiring aviation manager, your successful completion of the NBAA Certified Aviation Manager (CAM) Examination will recognize your knowledge and management skills. The CAM Exam is intended to raise the quality of management within flight departments and help shape the future of the business aviation industry. The next CAM Exam will be administered on Thursday, February 26 at the Anaheim Marriott in Anaheim, CA following the NBAA Leadership Conference. Those interested in sitting for the February exam must complete the application process and have all necessary items to NBAA by Tuesday, January 20. For more information or to access the CAM Exam Application, visit the CAM web site at:
http://www.nbaa.org/cam

TREE REMOVAL ISSUE THREATENS DANBURY, CT MUNICIPAL AIRPORT
The FAA and the state of Connecticut are willing to pay 97 percent of the $4,500,000 price tag to have trees removed from Danbury Municipal Airport (DXR), but Danbury, CT politicians are unwilling to pay the remaining $110,000. Without the tree removal, the FAA warned the city that it would have to displace the thresholds of two airport runways. The longest runway is just over 4,400 ft., and any displacing of the thresholds could jeopardize the use of the airport by certain aircraft. Until the trees are cut down, the FAA will not contribute to maintenance or repair costs at the airport. For more information about this issue, contact NBAA's Dean Saucier at dsaucier@nbaa.org.

REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS: 2004 NBAA HUMAN FACTORS PROGRAM
NBAA requests proposals for a Human Factors Program, which will be presented in conjunction with the NBAA 57th Annual Meeting & Convention, to be held October 12 to 14, 2004, in Las Vegas. The Program will be related to human factors issues in business aviation, such as fatigue, crew resource management, automation in the cockpit, maintenance human factors and others. Proposals must be submitted to NBAA by March 1. For more information, contact NBAA's Jay Evans at jevans@nbaa.org or visit:
http://www.nbaa.org/rfp

REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS: 2004 NBAA FLIGHT ATTENDANTS CONFERENCE
NBAA requests proposals for one- or two-hour presentations to be given at the NBAA 9th Annual Flight Attendants Conference, to be held June 18 to 19 in Anaheim, CA and hosted by the NBAA Flight Attendants Committee. Conference Attendees generally are corporate flight attendants in search of career-development information and opportunities. Presentation topics may include cabin safety, food handling, food service, passenger safety and management issues related to the duties and responsibilities of the corporate flight attendant. Proposals must be submitted to NBAA by February 2. For more information, contact NBAA's Jay Evans at jevans@nbaa.org or visit:
http://www.nbaa.org/rfp

PROPOSAL DEADLINE FOR AIRPORT ADVOCACY MATERIALS EXTENDED TO JAN. 12
NBAA requests qualifications and proposals by companies to produce both audiovisual and printed materials designed to create community support for business aviation and the airport infrastructure that business aviation depends upon. The deadline for qualifications and proposals to be sent to NBAA has been extended to next Monday, January 12. Further details are available for download in PDF format online at:
http://www.nbaa.org/rfp

CORPORATE AVIATION MANAGEMENT CONFERENCE, FEB 24-25 IN ANAHEIM
Join NBAA in Anaheim, CA on Tuesday, February 24 and Wednesday, February 25, to learn about practical practices for being a more effective manager of a more productive team -- your flight department. Day One will be led by the renowned Drs. Kevin and Jackie Freiberg, authors of "GUTS! Companies That Blow the Doors Off Business-as-Usual" (Currency, December 2003) and the best-selling "NUTS! Southwest Airlines' Crazy Recipe for Business and Personal Success" (Broadway Books, 1998). Day Two is packed with discussions and sessions that focus on practical applications and problem solving. For more information, review the agenda online at:
http://www.nbaa.org/cs/camc/2004

NOMINATIONS REQUESTED FOR BUSINESS AVIATION'S MOST PRESTIGIOUS AWARDS
During his lifetime, the late John P. "Jack" Doswell served as a U.S. Air Force pilot, director of operations for FlightSafety International, founder of American Standard, Inc.'s corporate flight department, and enthusiastic member of the business aviation community. In 1987, NBAA created an award in his name to honor the high standards he set for lifelong individual achievement on behalf and in support of the aims, goals and objectives of business aviation. Recent Doswell Award winners include Byron M. "Skip" Reed II (2003), J. Robert Duncan (2002) and Myron W. Collier (2001). NBAA is now accepting nominations for both the Doswell Award and the Meritorious Service to Aviation Award. For more information about both awards and how to submit a nominations package, visit:
http://www.nbaa.org/awards

AN EMPTY SEAT IS A LOST OPPORTUNITY
You can help Corporate Angel Network transport a cancer patient to critical treatment by providing an empty seat on your regularly scheduled flight. All patients are ambulatory and suitably dressed. Call Corporate Angel Network at (914) 328-1313; they do all the work. To see a current list of cancer patient "rides needed," including city-to-city destinations and date range, visit:
http://www.corpangelnetwork.org/corporate/seats.html