May 4, 2020
To our valued NBAA members,
As the business aviation community grapples with the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, NBAA continues to advocate for your interests. With this message, I want to make you aware of several recent, significant developments for our industry.
First, earlier this week, we were pleased to welcome the FAA’s response to our urgent request for extensions or exemptions on pilot medical certifications, training proficiency and a host of other pressing requirements for business aviation, with a Special Federal Aviation Regulation (SFAR). FAA Administrator Stephen Dickson announced the SFAR in his Apr. 29 address to start the Business Aviation Safety Summit, co-sponsored by NBAA. We welcome these much-needed accommodations, and will host an NBAA News Hour webinar with FAA officials on May 8 to discuss the details of the SFAR. Register to attend the webinar.
We received some additional good news in recent days, with Congressional passage of legislation to provide $310 billion in new funding for the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) to help small businesses, including those in NBAA’s membership. The program, administered by the Small Business Administration, is a key provision of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. NBAA advocated both for the CARES Act, and this much-needed new funding. Review the NBAA press release summarizing this relief. NBAA also continues to strongly advocate for timely processing and payment of general aviation air carrier payroll support funds from the Department of the Treasury. Read the letter from NBAA and industry groups to U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin.
The news on those two developments comes as NBAA is working on other types of financial relief for our members. For example, we’ve joined with five other general aviation (GA) groups to request that Congress implement temporary relief from federal excise taxes on fuel for non-commercial GA operators, until Jan. 1, 2021, the same timeframe granted to commercial operators in the CARES Act. NBAA has prepared a Contact Congress message you can use to alert your elected officials to this priority, and ask for their support. Submit your Contact Congress message now.
Additionally, in recognition of the industry’s long-standing focus on supporting worthwhile humanitarian initiatives, NBAA has announced a partnership with the American Hospital Association to activate our Humanitarian Emergency Response Operator (HERO) database for coordination of COVID-19 response capabilities. We have been encouraged by the willingness of member companies to offer their aircraft and other assets for assistance; if you would like to help, please visit our HERO website.
Finally, while not directly related to the current crisis, NBAA joined this week with the National Air Transportation Association (NATA) in welcoming the FAA’s release of guidance on a new standardized curriculum for Part 135 training that will improve safety and increase administrative efficiencies for on-demand operators. Both NBAA and NATA have long sought this change, and will work with the FAA on its implementation. Review the NBAA press release about this update to Part 135 training.
Of course, NBAA’s work in all these areas is only possible because of your support, which has been particularly critical in this unpredictable moment. NBAA will continue working on your behalf, and we will all emerge from this situation stronger and more united than ever. Thank you for your support.
Sincerely,
Ed Bolen
International Business Aviation Council Ltd.