NBAA Update Archive

NBAA Update #06-44
Monday, October 30, 2006

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. Send address changes to membership@nbaa.org.

Business Aviation News & Issues

NBAA's Ed Bolen Voices Industry Concerns With New DOT Secretary Mary Peters
In a meeting today with new Department of Transportation Secretary Mary Peters, NBAA President and CEO Ed Bolen voiced concerns from the business aviation community about issues surrounding the forthcoming FAA reauthorization, and the importance of strengthening the nation's aviation system for all users. "The meeting provided a good opportunity to underscore the united opposition to user fees among all general aviation groups, including NBAA Members," Bolen said. NBAA prepared a briefing book for Sec. Peters that dispels some common misperceptions about general aviation and FAA funding. To view the briefing book, visit:
http://www.nbaa.org/govt/FAAReauthBriefingBook20061026.pdf

NBAA Advises Members on Part 135 Operational Control Update
NBAA has learned that FAA intends to release its revised Operational Control Operations Specification (OpSpec) for Part 135 certificate holders on November 30. The OpSpec will apply to operators with greater than "Basic" Part 135 authorization. The new OpSpec outlines in detail existing regulations that comprise the Agency's view of Operational Control systems and limitations. In response to industry request and Inspector workload, the FAA established a 60-day implementation period for certificate holders to show compliance with the OpSpec. The OpSpec implementation period is not relief from existing FAA regulations. NBAA reminds certificate holders that they must maintain operational control for Part 135 flights and comply with all applicable regulations, or they may face potential FAA enforcement action. For more information, visit:
http://web.nbaa.org/member/ops/part135/wetlease

FAA Issues Notice About Safety Management Systems
NBAA advocates that flight departments implement a Safety Management System (SMS) for aircraft operations. Earlier this year FAA encouraged the aviation industry to consider the benefits of an SMS and the development and implementation of associated principals. To support this initiative, FAA issued Advisory Circular 120-92 on the subject of SMS in June 2006. On October 11, the FAA published Notice 8700.49, which provides guidance to FAA Inspectors and industry personnel in the use of AC 120-92. While implementation of an SMS may seem onerous to operators at the first assessment, those who have implemented an SMS have found significant benefit as a result. The International Standard for Business Aircraft Operations (IS-BAO) is an SMS tool for business aircraft operators, from single aircraft/single-pilot operations to large flight departments. For more information on IS-BAO, visit http://www.ibac.org. To download AC 120-92 and Notice 8700.49, visit:
http://www.nbaa.org/safety

FAA Promotes Free NASA On-Line Icing Courses for Pilots
FAA's Safety Team last week announced the availability of a free, on-line course "A Pilot's Guide to Ground Icing" that has been updated for all pilots - including business aviation pilots. The layered presentation allows users to access information relevant to their particular operation. The course was created by a public-private partnership including U.S. and foreign government aviation agencies, companies, and educational institutions. Also available is "A Pilot's Guide to In-Flight Icing," which is intended primarily for general aviation pilots who fly aircraft certified for flight in icing. With an operational focus, this course provides tools pilots can use to deal with in-flight icing. Both courses are available on-line at:
http://aircrafticing.grc.nasa.gov/courses.html

NBAA Offers Members a New Form for Submitting ATC Feedback to FAA
NBAA's web site now provides Members a mechanism for submitting air traffic feedback to the FAA. The FAA Systems Operations Feedback web page allows Members to comment directly to FAA Directors of Tactical Operations (DTOs) about operational issues on recent flights. The DTOs are interested in hearing from NBAA Members on tactical issues where Members feel ATC services were above average, or where ATC service was not adequate. This form should be used to submit comments about the service provided by a particular controller or ATC facility. To access the FAA Systems Operations Feedback form, visit:
http://www.nbaa.org/ops/airspace/dto

Tips for Certificate Holders: Managing and Enhancing Your FSDO Relationship
As a certificate holder, you have to stay safe, compliant, and make enough money to stay in business. Are those goals mutually exclusive? Much of the answer to that question depends on your relationship with your FAA Flight Standards District Office (FSDO) and, in particular, Inspectors. A new article prepared for NBAA Members, entitled "Tips for Certificate Holders: Managing and Enhancing Your FSDO Relationship," offers extremely useful advice for certificate holders, including fractional programs, charter operators and repair stations on how to manage and enhance your FSDO Relationships. The author, a Member of NBAA's Part 135 Committee, has experience as both an FAA Inspector and a certificate holder. View the article at:
http://web.nbaa.org/member/ops/part135/20061030fsdo.php

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Regional News

SDRAA to Host Airport Panel Discussion This Wednesday
The San Diego Regional Airport Association (SDRAA) will host a panel discussion entitled "The Future of Aviation in San Diego - Opportunities and Consequences" on November 1. Professor Alan Gin, USD Economics Professor; Xema Jacobson, Executive Committee Member, San Diego Airport Authority; Dennis Burks, Chairman ASAP 21; and Rear Admiral (Ret.) Jack Batzler, savemiramar.org will discuss the aviation needs of San Diego today and over the next 15 years. On November 7, local voters will vote on Proposition A, which will determine whether voters support the San Diego County Regional Airport Authority's recommendation of MCAS Miramar location for development of a commercial airport. The discussion will be held at 11:30 am on Wednesday, November 1 at Offices of Luce Forward, 11988 El Camino Real, Suite 200, San Diego, CA. Please RSVP to SDRAA via Danielle Gano at (760) 591-0700. For more information, contact Dave Richter at drichter@sdraa.org or NBAA's Dan Burkhart at dburkhart@nbaa.org.

Midwest Schedulers and Dispatchers Annual Fall Session This Thursday
The Midwest Schedulers and Dispatchers will hold their annual fall session from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Thursday, November 2. It will be held at Midway Hotel Center, Hilton Garden Inn, 6530 South Cicero Avenue, Chicago, IL, (708) 496-6530. Networking and appetizer hour, sponsored by Rent-A-Chef, will start at 6:00. At 7:00 guest speaker, Erin O'Donnell, Managing Deputy Commissioner for Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW), will discuss airport security. Door prizes and announcements will conclude the session at 8:00. Please RSVP via e-mail to mwsdinfo@yahoo.com. For additional information, contact NBAA's Bob Quinn at bquinn@nbaa.org.

Greater St. Louis Business Aviation Association Will Hold Meeting on Nov. 3
The Greater St. Louis Business Aviation Association will host a meeting and luncheon on Friday, November 3, beginning at 11:30. The event will be held at the Midwest Aviation Center, 525 Turbine Ave., Chesterfield, MO. The meeting is sponsored by Gulfstream and Midwest Aviation Center, and a Gulfstream G150 and G450 will be on display. Cost is $10.00 per person to help assist non-sponsored luncheons. Please contact Bev Lebenhauer at bevlehenbauer@sbcglobal.net or call (314) 845-3102 by noon Wednesday, Nov. 1 to RSVP. For additional information, contact NBAA's Bob Quinn at bquinn@nbaa.org.

NBAA Regional Forum Comes to Long Beach in Three Weeks
On November 16, NBAA will bring its Business Aviation Regional Forum series to Long Beach, CA. AirFlite at Long Beach Airport (LGB) will host this day-long learning and networking experience designed to meet the needs of the regional business aviation community, and to provide an introduction to local business leaders interested in learning more about business aviation. The Long Beach event will feature approximately 60 Exhibitors and nearly 30 aircraft on display. There will be sessions on FAA, NTSB and DOT investigations; international flight planning; and state tax issues for business aviation, with emphasis on issues relevant to California and neighboring states. Indoor and static display exhibit space is still available. To register as an attendee or purchase exhibit space, visit:
http://www.nbaa.org/cs/forums/20061116

Special Traffic Management Procedures for Miami NASCAR Event, Nov. 19
In conjunction with the Ford 400 NASCAR race in Miami, FL, operators are reminded to check NOTAM information for detailed procedures at airports in the Miami area for November 14 through 19. For more information, contact NBAA's Harry Houckes at hhouckes@nbaa.org.

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NBAA News

NBAA2007 to be Part of Centennial Celebration of Georgia's Aviation and Aerospace Industry
In 2007, the NBAA Annual Meeting & Convention (NBAA2007) will be held in Atlanta, GA at the Georgia World Congress Center and Fulton County Airport on September 25, 26 and 27. Also in 2007, the state of Georgia is commemorating the hundredth anniversary of the aviation and aerospace industry in that state. The birth of the aviation and aerospace industry in Georgia began in 1907 when Ben T. Epps, father of business aviation icon Pat Epps, designed and built his own monoplane and flew it across a cow pasture in Athens, GA. Since that historic flight, aviation and aerospace have become essential to Georgia, delivering a major impact on the state's economic growth and prosperity. As plans for Georgia Flight 100 begin to take shape, the Governor's Office, Epps Aviation, NBAA and other organizations -- big and small -- are getting into the spirit. Gulfstream has agreed to sponsor a cornerstone of the celebration -- a full-color commemorative book entitled Flight: The History of Aviation in Georgia. "We're proud to be a part of this Centennial Celebration of Flight in Georgia," said NBAA President and CEO Ed Bolen. "The business aviation community in Georgia is historically rich and one of the most sophisticated in the world. We'll team with NBAA Members to celebrate this milestone through the NBAA Annual Meeting & Convention."

Benchmark Results Available for 2006 NBAA Survey
Compiled operational benchmark data is now available for the 2006 NBAA Compensation & Benchmark Survey. The results include information regarding aircraft utilization, maintenance, international travel, fuel use, flight department policies, and charter. The results are based upon survey responses from 904 aviation departments. Online access to the compiled results of the survey is available at no cost to survey participants. Participants may purchase hard copies of the survey results for $75. NBAA Member Representatives who did not participate in the survey may purchase online access to survey results for $75 and hard copies for $150. Survey results are not available to non-Members. NBAA Member Representatives who already have online access to the survey results may login immediately to view the benchmark results. For more information, visit:
http://www.nbaa.org/surveys/cbs

Deadline for Barden Aviation Scholarship Applications This Week
Through NBAA's UAA Janice K. Barden Aviation Scholarship, NBAA annually awards $5,000 to five undergraduates studying aviation-related curricula at NBAA and University Aviation Association (UAA) member institutions. Each student receives $1,000. The deadline to apply for the 2006 scholarship is November 1. This scholarship is named for Janice Barden, who has been active in the aviation community for decades and has served as chair of the NBAA Annual Meeting & Convention Local Committee more than any other person in NBAA history. To download the scholarship application, visit:
http://www.nbaa.org/education/scholarships/barden

Travel$ense 3.78 Update Released
On October 25, NBAA released version 3.78 of its business travel productivity-tracking software, Travel$ense. This update adapts to changes in the reservation system used by Travel$ense that prevented users from obtaining airline flight and fare data in some cases. Travel$ense is a tool to help management better analyze and understand business travel by automatically calculating the actual business hours, productivity, trip expenses and family time saved by traveling via business aircraft versus airline alternatives. For more information, visit:
http://www.nbaa.org/ops/adm/travelsense/update

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