Today, we conclude our two-part discussion about mental wellness in business aviation with some encouraging news. As NBAA and other industry associations work with Congress to include guidance on pilot mental health issues in the upcoming FAA reauthorization bill, FAA Federal Air Surgeon Dr. Susan Northrup recently announced that the agency will revise its procedures to encourage anyone needing help dealing with mental health challenges to get it. “It’s important that pilots understand that reaching out for help — and even getting a diagnosis — is not the end of their career,” emphasizes LiftAffect’s Matt McNeil.
Smaller Part 91 operators face the same challenges as their larger counterparts, but they do so with fewer resources. That makes it important for the aviation manager to not only set the right example, but for everyone in the department to lead from their respective positions to create a safe and professional operation.
Aircraft refurbishments continue to be in high demand, with new paint, cabin refreshes and connectivity solutions just a few of the popular upgrades available for business aircraft. Many times, it's ideal to combine this work with scheduled maintenance or overhauls, so planning ahead and scheduling refurbishment during maintenance downtime is as important as ever.
NBAA joined with five industry associations in submitting comments on the FAA's notice of proposed rulemaking on the operation of advanced air mobility vehicles in the National Airspace System. While the NPRM represents significant progress toward the start of commercial AAM operations as soon as 2025, industry stakeholders noted a few concerns.
Runway incursions and wrong surface events continue to challenge the aviation community, as seen in the NTSB's recently issued final report on a February 2023 incident in Boston in which a business jet departed without clearance and passed in front of an airliner approaching to land on an intersecting runway. Learn how the FAA, NTSB and NBAA are working together to mitigate these issues.
International Business Aviation Council Ltd.