NBAA Update Archive

NBAA Update #08-40
Monday, October 06, 2008

NBAA Update is the National Business Aviation Association's weekly e-mail newsletter, providing the latest operational, regulatory and legislative 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

NBAA2008 Opens Today in Orlando
The NBAA 61st Annual Meeting & Convention (NBAA2008) opens today at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, FL, where 27,247 Attendees have already registered at the start of the three-day show. This week, 1,100 Exhibiting Companies will provide side-by-side comparisons of their products and services, and 139 state-of-the-art business aircraft will be featured at the Static Display of Aircraft on nearby Orlando Executive Airport (ORL). In addition, more than 100 Information Sessions are being held on a wide range of topics of interest to the business aviation community. Learn more at:
http://www.nbaa.org/2008/schedule

Be Advised of New International NOTAMs Effective Nov. 1
Effective November 1, two new notices to airmen (NOTAMs) regarding U.S. entry and overflight requirements will become effective. NOTAM 8/2189 will cover U.S.-registered aircraft with a maximum certificated takeoff weight of 100,309 pounds or less. Under the new NOTAM, these aircraft are still authorized to operate to or from, within or transit the territorial airspace of the U.S. as long as all applicable regulations governing the flights are met. It will not be necessary for U.S.-registered aircraft that are 100,309 pounds or less to obtain an airspace waiver. NOTAM 8/2136 will also cover U.S.-registered aircraft over 100,309 pounds. Under the second new NOTAM, these aircraft must obtain a TSA waiver or be authorized under an approved Transportation Security Administration (TSA) Aviation Security Program when operating to or from or overflying the territorial airspace of the U.S. For additional information, contact the NBAA Operations Service Group at info@nbaa.org or review the full NOTAMs at:
http://www.nbaa.org/ops/security/waiver/

NBAA2008 Online Convention News Bureau Features Continuous Show Coverage
NBAA's Online Convention News Bureau provides on-site, online coverage of NBAA's Annual Meeting & Convention. For those unable to attend this year's show, this resource will feature stories and multimedia – including photos, webcams, podcasts and PowerPoint presentations – depicting highlights from the world's largest purely civil aviation trade show. Podcasts from today's Media Kick-off Breakfast and Opening General Session should become available shortly, but the current News Bureau site is already content-rich with news from the Convention and valuable information on safety, security, taxation and other issues. Watch the Convention as it unfolds by visiting the NBAA2008 News Bureau throughout the week at:
http://www.nbaa.org/2008

NBAA Playground Build Brings Aviation-Themed Playground to Orlando Community
In conjunction with the NBAA 61st Annual Meeting & Convention (NBAA2008), the Association yesterday once again joined with KaBOOM!, a non-profit group that envisions a great place to play within walking distance of every child in America, as well as with Orlando-based BBA/Signature Flight Services for this year's project. The aviation-themed playground was completed in eight hours, with the help of nearly 300 volunteers from the business aviation and local communities. This year's Park Build marks the second year of what has become an annual project, following last year's build near Fulton County Airport-Brown Field (FTY) in Atlanta, GA.

Air Taxi Executives and Experts to Speak at NBAA2008 Tomorrow
Air taxi executives and industry experts will be on hand at the NBAA 61st Annual Meeting & Convention to address the current market for very light jets (VLJs) and technologically advanced aircraft (TAAs) in air taxi operations during the TAAs and VLJs in Air Taxi Operations session on Tuesday, October 7 from 9:00 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. in room S320CD. Ed Iacobucci of DayJet, William Herp of Linear Air, Stephan Hanvey of SATSair, Michael Klein of Open Air, Randy Burdette of the Virginia Department of Aviation and Joe Leader of the Air Taxi Association will all be on the panel moderated by NBAA Senior Vice President of Operations & Administration Steve Brown. For more information, visit:
http://www.nbaa.org/2008/schedule

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Regional News

Government Accountability Office: FAA Lacks Authority for Airport Slot Auctions
Last week, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) issued a report concluding that the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) lacks the legal authority to conduct airport arrival and departure slot auctions. The GAO report responds to a proposal by the FAA for conducting slot actions at the three New York-area commercial airports to address airport congestion. "Although general aviation is but a tiny and declining fraction of activity at New York-area hub airports, we have long believed that slot auctions for these airports could later be applied to airports elsewhere, limiting access for our operators," said NBAA President and CEO Ed Bolen. "NBAA has participated in an Aviation Rulemaking Committee that has provided a variety of effective measures other than slot auctions for reducing congestion, and we're disappointed that those ideas appear to have been set aside in favor of auctioning slots. We agree with the GAO's conclusion, and we will continue to promote effective ways to reduce congestion and enhance the efficiency of the nation's aviation system."

NBAA2008 Brings $37.2 Million to Orlando Economy
NBAA's 61st Annual Meeting & Convention has returned to Orlando this year and with today's challenging economic climate, the Orlando Visitor's Bureau is glad to welcome the Convention back to Orange County. Tourism generates 23 percent of total employment, or approximately 380,000 jobs, in the Orlando tri-county area.

NBAA Closely Watching Developments on Access At Van Nuys, Public Meeting Tomorrow
A recent development regarding California's Van Nuys Airport (VNY) has raised concern among the business aviation community. Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA), owner and operator of VNY, plans to propose an ordinance disallowing certain aircraft from flying into and out of the airport, following a Draft Environmental Impact Report (DEIR) to evaluate the potential impact associated with what LAWA calls the VNY "Noisier Aircraft Phaseout Project". The project proposes to phase out aircraft generating takeoff noise in excess of 77 dBA. Business aircraft certificated as stage 2, and possibly stage 3, would be affected. The proposal initiates a lengthy evaluation process that ultimately requires review and decision by the FAA. A public meeting about the project will be held tomorrow, Tuesday, October 7, from 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. at Van Nuys FlyAway in the upstairs conference room, 7610 Woodley Avenue, Van Nuys, CA. For more information, contact Karen Hoo at (310) 646-3853 x 1003. The DEIR is available at:
http://www.lawa.org/vny/vnyEnvironment.cfm

2008 Bombardier Safety Standdown in Just a Few Weeks
The 2008 Bombardier Safety Standdown, held in partnership with NBAA, the FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board, is in two weeks, taking place from October 20 to 23 in Kansas City, MO, at the Hyatt Regency Crown Center. As one of the leading business aviation safety events, the Bombardier Safety Standdown will focus on improving human performance in aviation. For additional information, visit:
http://www.safetystanddown.com

FAA to Hold Denver Customer Forum Oct. 22
The Denver Air Traffic Control (ATC) Tower, Terminal Radar Approach Control (TRACON) and Air Route Traffic Control Center (ARTCC) will present a customer forum at Denver International Airport (DIA) on October 22, from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. The meeting will focus on improved fuel efficiency through enhancements to ATC operations. Other topics will include a Denver area navigation update, a traffic management advisory update, improved taxi times and enhancements to DIA deicing/snow removal operations and Denver ARTCC's ski country airport operations. The meeting will be held at the terminal building on the 6th floor of the DIA press room near the northwest corner. RSVP by October 15 to the FAA's Jeff Tichenor at jeff.tichenor@faa.gov. For more information, contact NBAA's Steve Hadley at shadley@nbaa.org.

KCBAA to Hold Annual Charity Event This Month
The Kansas City Business Aviation Association (KCBAA) will hold its annual charity event, an afternoon of sporting clays and trap shooting at Powder Creek Shooting Park on Friday, October 24. Proceeds from this event will benefit several local charity organizations, including Angel Flight Central, Challenge Air and the KCBAA Scholarship Endowment fund. The event begins with a luncheon at 11:30 a.m. and ends with an award ceremony at 5:00 p.m. For additional information, contact NBAA's Bob Quinn at bquinn@nbaa.org, or visit the KCBAA web site at:
http://www.kcbaa.org

SFBAA Annual Meeting to Support Scholarship Fund and Charities
The South Florida Business Aviation Association (SFBAA) will hold its Annual Meeting and Fundraiser in less than three weeks, on Friday, October 24 at the Boca Raton Resort and Club in Boca Raton, FL. As in years past, a portion of the proceeds from this event will support SFBAA's scholarship fund and charitable activities. For more information, contact SFBAA's Tracy Gough at tgough@wfscorp.com, or visit:
http://www.sfbaa.org

Las Vegas McCarran Runway Closure Begins Nov. 1
Runway 25L/07R at Las Vegas McCarran International Airport (LAS) is scheduled to be closed from November 1, 2008 until May 1, 2009 due to construction. The runway closure is expected to have a major impact on arrival and departure rates, and delays in and out of the airport are likely during the construction. Various traffic management initiatives including miles in trail, ground stops and ground delay programs are anticipated. Nearby alternate airports are Henderson Executive (HND) and North Las Vegas (VGT). Both have modern facilities and reliable ground transportation options, and it is likely that operators can significantly reduce delays by utilizing one of these alternate airports. Additional details can be found at:
http://www.nbaa.org/member/ops/airspace/regional/western/

SRQ Airport Will Hold RNAV Procedures Kick-Off Meeting Next Month
Sarasota/Bradenton International Airport (SRQ) will hold an RNAV Procedures Kick-Off Meeting in three sessions from November 5 to 6 at the airport. The first session on November 5 will include an 18-step RNAV development process and discussion of the benefits of RNAV standard instrument departures (SIDs) and standard terminal arrival routes (STARs). The second session, also on November 5, will focus on developing a draft of RNAV SIDs/STARs for SRQ. Session three, on November 6, will continue the development workshop and is open to operational air traffic control personnel and airport users who wish to provide input. The meeting location at the airport is 1123 General Spaatz Boulevard in Sarasota, FL. For more information, contact the FAA's Jack Schroeter at jack.ctr.schroeter@faa.gov or NBAA's Harry Houckes at hhouckes@nbaa.org.

Coming Soon: First Annual Salt Lake Business Aviation Safety Day
The greater Salt Lake City business aviation steering committee invites operators to participate in the upcoming Business Aviation Safety Day, to be held at Million Air Salt Lake City on Wednesday, November 5. Topics will include winter operations for ground and flight crews, runway safety for business aviation operators and safety standdown fundamentals. NBAA President and CEO Ed Bolen will be a featured speaker at the event, along with Patrick Morley of the Utah Division of Aeronautics, Walter Randa of Leading Edge and the FAA's Mike Meigs. For more information, check future issues of NBAA Update or contact NBAA's Kristi Ivey at kivey@nbaa.org.

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NBAA News

New NBAA Web Site Is Coming Soon – Preview Available
In an effort to continue providing the best possible services to Members, and to better represent the breadth and diversity of the business aviation community, NBAA announces the approaching completion of a redesigned NBAA web site at NBAA2008 in Orlando. The redesigned site, due to launch later this fall, places a high emphasis on ease of use and efficient navigation. "It all comes down to usability," said NBAA's Jason Wolf, director, internet communications. "Our Members told us the web site is a great resource, but sometimes it could be difficult to find what they were looking for. We're doing this redesign to dramatically improve the experience of using of the site."

Special Editions of NBAA Update to Be Published During NBAA2008
Following the traditional Monday release of NBAA Update on the first day of NBAA's 61st Annual Meeting & Convention, two special editions will be released on Tuesday and Wednesday during NBAA2008 to provide the latest Convention news, as well as information about the Association and sessions taking place on-site in Orlando. NBAA Update, the Association's free weekly e-mail newsletter, reaches more than 19,000 industry professional every week, providing the latest operational, regulatory and legislative news for the business aviation community, as well as information about the Association and upcoming NBAA events. For more information, visit:
http://www.nbaa.org/update

Wright B Flyer Debuts at NBAA2008
There aren't many structural differences between the newest Wright B Flyer look-a-like and the original aircraft that Orville and Wilbur Wright used to introduce a country to aviation. Wright "B" Flyer Inc., a Dayton, Ohio-based nonprofit dedicated to recreating historic moments in aviation, unveiled the newest flyer today during the NBAA Annual Meeting & Convention (NBAA2008) in Orlando, FL. The "Silver Bird," nicknamed for the metal skeleton, will be on static display inside the Orange County Convention Center for the duration of the Convention.

NBAA 12th Annual Chairman's Charity Classic Raises Over $30,000 for NBAA Charities
NBAA's 12th Annual Chairman's Charity Classic Golf Tournament, held on Saturday, October 4, raised more than $30,000 for NBAA Charities, a fund established to support assistance for entities using business aircraft for humanitarian efforts, including Angel Flight America, the Corporate Angel Network, ORBIS and Veterans AirLift Command. A total of 220 golfers played in this year's tournament, held at ChampionsGate Golf Club near Orlando, in conjunction with NBAA2008. The event was generously supported by nearly 20 sponsors. To learn more about NBAA Charities, visit:
http://www.nbaa.org/charities

Ascend in Business Aviation with NBAA's Professional Development Program
Now in its tenth year, NBAA's Professional Development Program (PDP) is proud to announce that over 7,000 courses have been completed to-date by professionals in the business aviation industry seeking to advance their careers. With 16 approved course providers and over 50 course offerings, the PDP is fulfilling its promise of offering quality education and career advancement opportunities for the business aviation community

Latest Issue of Business Aviation Insider Now Online
The September/October issue of Business Aviation Insider, NBAA's official Member publication, is now available online. In this issue, sponsored by GE, NBAA interviews Member Martin Lind of Water Valley Land Company on how business aviation has helped his business succeed. The issue also contains a message from NBAA President and CEO Ed Bolen on the current issues that will be the focus of the 61st Annual Meeting & Convention; tips for saving fuel at a time of record aviation fuel prices; and announcements about NBAA's upcoming events, including the new Light Business Airplane Exhibition & Conference; among other features. The issue began mailing at the end of September and Members will receive their issues soon, if they haven't already. To review the issue online now, visit:
http://www.nbaa.org/insider

October Issue of Quick Turns Newsletter Now Online and Mailed
The October issue of Quick Turns, NBAA's newsletter for business aviation maintenance personnel, is now available online and has been mailed to members. The issue, sponsored by Honeywell, features an article by Dr. Tony Kern, CEO of Convergent Performance that describes the latest generation of maintenance human factors programs, dubbed "Maintenance Reliability Certification" (MRC). MRC features an online event reporting and analysis program, a requirement for most safety management systems. The online system can be set up for direct feedback to the company or anonymously pooled with other operators for benchmarking purposes. The MRC also puts equal attention on standardizing best practices through a competition where best ideas are pulled from the front lines of maintenance, dispatch and operations. Review the online issue at:
http://www.nbaa.org/quickturns

NBAA Schedulers & Dispatchers Committee Now Accepting 2009 Applications
The NBAA Schedulers & Dispatchers (S&D) Committee is now accepting applications for those interested in joining the committee. The S&D Committee was founded to further professional growth and development for scheduling and dispatch professionals. The S&D Committee works with NBAA staff to plan the Annual Conference and works on scholarship and training award opportunities, the Schedulers Professional Development Program (SPDP), regional group assistance and many other initiatives to heighten awareness of the contributions made by scheduling and dispatch professionals. Applications will be accepted from October 6, 2008 through February 16, 2009. For more information, contact NBAA's Jo Damato at jdamato@nbaa.org or visit the S&D Committee Counter this week at NBAA2008 at the NBAA Headquarters, booth number 3100. To apply to join, visit:
http://www.nbaa.org/committees/sched

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