Source: http://nata.aero/eNewsletters.aspx?newsid=886
Timestamp: 2018-10-16 12:52:57
Document Index: 358880819

Matched Legal Cases: ['art 91', 'art 135', 'art 135', 'art 135', 'art 135', 'art 135']

March 28, 2011 Volume 10 Issue 13
2011 Day On The Hill and Committee Meetings - Washington, DC - 05/04/2011
Line Service Supervisor Training - Windsor Locks, CT - 05/24/2011
OSHA Safety and Health Training for Ground Ops - Windsor Locks, CT - 05/26/2011
2011 Air Charter Summit - Dulles, VA - 06/06/2011
Ø FAA Reauthorization Bill Slated For The House Floor This Week
Ø Urge Your Senator To Join The General Aviation Caucus
Ø FAA Releases RTTF Toolkit For Airport Sponsors
Ø FAA Targets General Aviation Safety
Ø FAA Addresses Public Aircraft Concern
Ø Air Charter Summit Agenda Announced
Ø NATA Summit To Raise Funds For Wounded Warriors
Ø Don’t Miss The Only OSHA 10-Hour Seminar In 2011!
Ø FET Overview Webinar Available For Purchase
Ø Environmental Compliance Minute – Fuel Spill Preparedness
Ø Fact of The Week – NextGen News
FAA Reauthorization Bill Slated For The House Floor This Week
The U.S. House of Representatives is expected to consider H.R. 658, the Federal Aviation Administration Reauthorization and Reform Act of 2011 on the floor of the House next week. The House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure approved H.R. 658 on February 16, 2011, while the Committee on Ways and Means and the Committee on Science, Space and Technology each amended portions of the bill that are in their jurisdiction. The House Committee on Rules will likely vote on a structured rule, which means that only certain amendments may be considered during the specified time for debate on the House Floor. Even with a structured rule, there could be numerous amendments filed. NATA will be watching the amendments closely in the event that one is brought forward that would negatively affect aviation businesses.
Urge Your Senator To Join The General Aviation Caucus
U.S. Senators Mark Begich (D-AK) and Mike Johanns (R-NE) established the General Aviation Caucus in the U.S. Senate during the previous Congress. Similar to the House General Aviation Caucus, the purpose of the Senate caucus is to work with industry stakeholders, pilots, aircraft owners and related government agencies to ensure a safe and effective environment for the general aviation industry. The caucus is open to all members of the U.S. Senate regardless of party affiliation and committee assignments.
General aviation contributes over $150 billion annually to local economies and is accountable for 1.3 million jobs. General aviation has a presence in every state, complete with over 230,000 general aviation aircraft that service nearly 19,000 small airports and regional hubs across the United States. It is important that Senators are aware of general aviation’s importance in their home states.
To reinvigorate the caucus for the 112th Congress, Senators Begich and Johanns are requesting their fellow senators to get involved with the Senate General Aviation Caucus, which currently has 30 members. To see if your Senator is a member or to call upon your Senator to join the Senate General Aviation Caucus, please click here.
FAA Releases RTTF Toolkit For Airport Sponsors
In conjunction with last week’s publication of the interim policy on residential through-the-fence (RTTF) agreements at federally obligated airports, the FAA has released an online toolkit to assist airport sponsors with compliance. The RTTF interim policy prohibits new RTTF agreements at federally obligated airports while allowing existing agreements to continue under closer oversight from the sponsor and the FAA. The online toolkit provides airport sponsors sample documents that can be used to complete RTTF Access Plans for existing RTTF access points as required by the interim policy. In addition to sample documents, the toolkit webpage provides direct links to the interim policy as well as FAA’s Compliance Guidance Letter, which “provides guidance to FAA's Airports personnel responsible for implementing the Interim Policy.”
NATA has long been concerned about the impact to the future expansion and utility of public-use airports from expanded application of RTTF agreements. The association believes that the FAA’s interim policy balances the rights of existing RTTF access users and the future utility of airports.
Click here to view the online FAA RTTF Toolkit.
FAA Targets General Aviation Safety
Last week, the FAA announced, via a news release, that it intends to focus on general aviation safety through a proactive, non-regulatory strategy. The FAA’s goal with this strategy is to “reduce the general aviation fatal accident rate per 100,000 flight hours by 10 percent over a 10-year period (2009-2018).”
While the FAA acknowledges that over the past decade the number of fatal general aviation accidents has declined, the total number of flight hours has also declined, leading to a static accident rate over the past three years. In 2010, the accident rate was “1.14 accidents per 100,000 hours flown, including 268 fatal accidents with 457 fatalities.”
According to the news release, the FAA’s renewed focus on general aviation safety will take the form of a “Safety Standdown”:
“Beginning in April, the FAA Safety Team is launching a safety standdown outreach effort to general aviation pilots and mechanics. A common practice in the military, a standdown focuses on education on a specific safety issue. More than 120 FAA staff plus approximately 3,000 volunteer safety representatives across the country will participate. The kick-off will be on April 2 in conjunction with the [AOPA] Sun 'n Fun Fly-in and Expo in Lakeland, Fla. FAAST team members will also hold more than 98 standdown events across the country during April. The March/April issue of the FAA Safety Briefing features the standdown.”
FAA Addresses Public Aircraft Concern
The FAA has published a notice addressing the status of aircraft that are operated by the civilian contractors of a government entity.
When an aircraft is considered to be a “public aircraft,” it is not subject to civil aircraft operating rules (e.g. FAR Part 91) or to FAA safety oversight.
Under federal law, the status of an aircraft as “public” can be determined on a flight-by-flight basis taking into consideration factors such as ownership, flight purpose, and persons on-board the aircraft.
The new policy states all contracted aircraft will be assumed to be civil aircraft, unless:
The contracting government entity provides the operator with a written declaration (from the contracting officer or higher-level official) of public aircraft status for designated, qualified flights;
The contracted operator notifies the FAA Flight Standards District Office (FSDO) having oversight of the operator (or the operation, as appropriate) that it has contracted with a government entity to conduct ``eligible'' public aircraft operations;
The contracted operator submits the written declaration to the FSDO with jurisdiction having oversight;
The flight(s) in question are determined to be legitimate public aircraft operations under the terms of the statute; and
The declaration is made in advance of the proposed public aircraft flight.
NATA believes that having clear, detailed policies in place for determining the civilian or public status of an aircraft and of specific flight operations is critical to ensuring compliance with federal laws related to public aircraft.
The FAA is accepting comments on the new policy until April 22, 2011.
Click here to view the FAA’s policy announcement as it appeared in the Federal Register.
Air Charter Summit Agenda Announced
NATA's 2011 Air Charter Summit provides an important opportunity to learn about the Part 135 regulatory landscape straight from government officials. Industry leaders will also get the latest intelligence, tactics and strategies from nationally recognized experts, be inspired, find new solutions to current business and economic challenges, and network one-on-one with their peers. The summit will take place June 6-8 at the Westfields Marriott in Chantilly, Virginia.
2011 Air Charter Summit Topics with Confirmed Speakers:
Most Frequently Issued FAA Part 135 Violations – Joe Conte, FAA and Paul Lange, Law Offices of Paul A. Lange
Open Forum with the FAA Part 135 Branch – John Duncan, FAA; Steve Kane, FAA; and Timothy Beglau, FAA
TSA Update – Brian Delauter, TSA
Twelve-Five Standard Security Program Session (TFSSP Operators Only)
Alleviating Part 135 Audit Confusion – James C. Christiansen, Hawker Beechcraft Corporation and Dennis Keith, Jet Solutions, LLC
Bankruptcy Has Its Clawbacks
Guidance for Working with Charter Brokers – Dayton Lehman, U.S. DOT and Kent S. Jackson, Jackson & Wade, LLC
Dinner with Guest Speaker CBS Sportscaster David Feherty
The Westfields Marriott is the host hotel. NATA summit attendees can take advantage of a discount rate of $159 plus tax. Make your hotel reservations online by Friday, May 13 to receive the NATA discount rate. Visit www.nata.aero/acs for event details, sponsorship opportunities, information on securing a table top display and a link to register today!
NATA Summit To Raise Funds For Wounded Warriors
NATA has partnered with the Veterans Airlift Command (VAC) to raise funds for wounded warriors. The VAC is a charitable organization that provides free air transportation to wounded warriors, veterans, and their families for medical and other compassionate purposes. NATA and VAC have established a special fund, NATA Wings for Warriors, for NATA members and friends to contribute to the organization.
Click here to read the NATA/VAC press release.
Make a personal or corporate contribution to the NATA Wings for Warriors fund by visiting www.veteransairlift.org/m/donate.aspx?campaign=NATAWFW2011
Share the VAC mission with fractional share owners and card program members. Ask them to donate unused flight hours to the VAC.
Give a corporate gift of flight hours to the VAC.
Visit the VAC display at the Air Charter Summit to learn more about the organization.
Help raise awareness of the VAC with your aircraft owner, pilot friends and colleagues.
Visit www.nata.aero/acs for more details and to register today!
Don’t Miss The Only OSHA 10-Hour Seminar In 2011!
Held Back-To-Back with Popular LSST Seminar in Windsor Locks
Safety & Health Training For Ground Operations Seminar – Only One In 2011
NATA’s Safety & Health Training for Ground Operations (OSHA 10-Hour) will be offered once this year on May 26-27 immediately following NATA’s popular LSST Seminar in Windsor Locks, Connecticut. NATA’s OSHA 10-Hour course has been specifically designed for all employees with safety and health responsibilities. Attendees will be introduced to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and general industry policies, procedures and standards, as well as gain a working knowledge of OSHA regulations. Our instructor will provide real-world OSHA guidance and aviation case studies. Attendees will be provided audit and checklist templates as well as the knowledge to implement and improve their facility compliance programs. Participants will receive a course completion certificate from NATA as well as a course completion card from OSHA.
Click here for more details and a link to register for NATA’s OSHA 10-Hour Course.
Line Service Supervisor Training Seminar – Only LSST In Northeast In 2011
NATA’s Line Service Supervisor Training Seminar will once again take place at the New England Air Museum in Windsor Locks, Connecticut, on May 24-25. This seminar, specifically designed for Line Service Supervisors, provides the training you need to become more proficient in strategic planning, supervising staff, motivating others, communicating and coaching a team. This high-impact, high-energy seminar includes guided group debates, role playing, interactive games and various case studies designed to take you to a new level of leadership. You will also take part in self-assessments to explore your strengths and weaknesses and their effect on your management style.
Don’t miss the chance to attend the LSST in Windsor Locks. Click here for more details and a link to register.
Visit www.nata.aero/event.aspx for information on future NATA events.
FET Overview Webinar Available For Purchase
Last week, air charter operators attended NATA’s FET Overview for Air Charter Operators webinar. If you were not able to participate live, you can still view the recorded webinar.
This one-hour webinar included an overview of the federal excise taxes (FET) encountered by Part 135 on-demand operators.
Click here to order the FET Overview for Air Charter Operators webinar and other webinars in the NATA E-learn series.
NATA Vice President of Government and Industry Affairs Eric R. Byer’s latest blog discusses how the association’s “Day on the Hill” helps advance NATA’s legislative agenda.
Environmental Compliance Minute – Fuel Spill Preparedness
Is your facility prepared to handle an aviation fuel spill?
One of the realities of storing and handling aviation fuel is that fuel spills happen! How prepared are your facilities, staff and equipment for handling a fuel spill on your ramp?
In this month’s Environmental Compliance Minute, presenter George Gamble of 2G Environmental talks about key steps in ensuring that your business is prepared to handle an aviation fuel spill!
Click Here To Watch the March Edition of
The Environmental Compliance Minute
Fact of The Week – NextGen News
This month the FAA released the 2011 NextGen Implementation Plan. According to the FAA, the NextGen Implementation Plan “provides an overview of the FAA’s ongoing transition to the Next Generation Air Transportation System. The Plan lays out the agency’s vision for transforming the way things work in our nation’s skies and at our nation’s airports by the end of the mid-term.”
According to the plan, the FAA is steadily progressing on NextGen implantation and “deployment of the ground infrastructure that will support Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) surveillance is on time and on budget.”
Click here to read the full 2011 NextGen Implementation Plan (large download).