Contact: Cassandra Bosco
Washington, DC, March 3, 2004 – Bombardier Flexjet, a subscriber to the National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) General Aviation (GA) Desk at the FAA Air Traffic Control System Command Center since August 2001, marks a new milestone for business aviation operators in becoming the first non-scheduled operator to successfully transmit flight intent data to the FAA’s host ATC system.
Scheduled airlines have had the capability since 1996 to electronically communicate flight intent messages to FAA ATC, including daily flight schedules, changes, updates, cancellations and other pertinent company information that may affect their operations in the National Airspace System (NAS). Until now, non-scheduled operators have not had the ability to participate in this electronic data sharing.
In addition to being a GA Desk subscriber, Bombardier Flexjet also is among the first business aviation representatives to be involved in the FAA/Industry Collaborative Decision Making (CDM) Process. In sharing flight intent data, Bombardier Flexjet is helping the air travel system and all air travelers by giving the FAA more predictable information with which to make traffic flow management decisions that include non-scheduled operator intentions. This data also can be used to improve strategic planning and to better analyze high-demand situations that may result in fewer delays to both Bombardier Flexjet and other CDM NAS operators.
Bombardier Flexjet is the first of what will be several more non-FAR Part 121 operators and flight plan service providers to connect to the FAA over the next several months. This growing data sharing will significantly increase the FAA’s ability to manage the National Airspace System more efficiently, and it strongly demonstrates the business aviation community’s commitment to participate as a full partner with airlines in traffic flow management.
NBAA established the GA Desk in August 2001 to represent the aviation interests of its Member Companies to the FAA Air Traffic Control System Command Center staff and various ATC facilities throughout the United States. The GA Desk is a Member service that provides representation and participation in real-time national airspace flow control and decision-making. The GA Desk staff not only represents the interests of NBAA Members in general, as part of their basic Membership dues, but also provides additional services on a subscription basis. For more information, visit www.nbaa.org/gadesk.
NBAA represents the aviation interests of more than 7,500 companies that own or operate general aviation aircraft as an aid to the conduct of their business, or are involved with business aviation. NBAA Member Companies earn annual revenues approaching $5 trillion — a number that is about half the gross domestic product — and employ more than 19 million people worldwide. The NBAA Annual Meeting & Convention is the world’s largest display of civil aviation products and services.
Members of the media may receive NBAA Press Releases immediately via e-mail. To subscribe to the NBAA Press Release e-mail list, fill out and submit the online form found on the web at www.nbaa.org/news/pr/subscribe.
International Business Aviation Council Ltd.