October 9, 2012
Online registration is now available for the Cross-Borders Issues Conference, to be held in Canada’s capital city of Ottawa, Ontario, on Dec. 6 and 7, 2012.
The conference, co-sponsored by NBAA and the Canadian Business Aviation Association (CBAA), will bring together government officials and industry experts on border-related concerns, and address common challenges faced by operators transporting business aircraft passengers across the border between the United States and Canada.
Conference sessions will include tips on the proper utilization of Canada’s trusted traveler program and compliance with U.S. Advance Passenger Information System requirements; how to address cabotage restrictions and their impact on flights in both countries; and a focus on economic and regulatory issues affecting cross-border flights.
New for this year, the conference will also cover some of the most talked about issues in business aviation, such as the European Union Emissions Trading Scheme (EU-ETS) and use of iPads on the flight deck.
CBAA President and CEO Sam Barone noted that the conference will assist operators in both countries with sorting out often challenging regulations and practices.
“Nothing in aviation remains constant, especially when dealing with complex regulatory issues and customs, security and border issues,” said Barone. “Sometimes you have the old regulatory framework that has to deal with new situations, or vice-versa.
“On top of this, you also have different officials in different parts of both countries interpreting things differently,” he added. “The Cross-Border Issues Conference helps make these complex areas easier to understand, so trans-border operations flow more smoothly.”
Sharing the longest border in the world, at more than 5,500 miles, Canada and the United States are also top trading partners, with more than $1.5 billion in goods moving across the border each day. Business aviation plays a vital role in this relationship by enabling businesses to quickly move people and products across the border – making it essential that both organizations work together, in Barone’s words, “to ensure a northern continental voice for business aviation.”
NBAA Senior Manager of Finance and Tax Policy Scott O’Brien noted that interaction between regulators and attendees at the conference has led to positive changes.
“As a direct result of last year’s conference, business aircraft carrying more than 15 passengers are now allowed to clear customs at Toronto Pearson International Airport,” said O’Brien. “Officials from the Canada Border Services Agency learned from operators at the conference that the passenger limitation was making it difficult to do business in Canada, and they acted quickly to make the change.”
International Business Aviation Council Ltd.