NBAA Update Archive

Bookmark and Share

NBAA Update #01-02
Monday, November 19, 2001

FEDERAL OFFICIALS REMAIN JITTERY REGARDING GA SECURITY
Daily meetings with Federal officials reveal a continuing sense of anxiety regarding general aviation security. GA security is a new issue in Washington, is relatively uncoordinated between Federal agencies, and is clouded by air carrier security issues and strategies, which NBAA argues are inapplicable to general aviation. Federal officials' sense of anxiety about GA security stems from a lack of consensus as to the actual threat. Remarkably, the business aviation community's diversity, capabilities, individualism and anonymity are perceived, in the wake of September 11, as security risks. This is a challenging situation that NBAA is working on many fronts. For more information, contact info@nbaa.org.

REQUEST FOR MEMBER ASSISTANCE IN COORDINATING AIRSPACE-ACCESS EFFORTS
NBAA continues to address the remaining airspace-access issues affecting business aviation operations following the events of September 11. NBAA commends and appreciates the participation of various NBAA Member Company government affairs officials who have been involved in the effort to restore full airspace access for business aviation operators, particularly Part 91 operations at Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA). However, NBAA asks Member Companies to coordinate their activities so that our community can be even most effective. Please contact Pete West at pwest@nbaa.org to share your feedback or report on your efforts.
www.nbaa.org/emergency.htm

PRESIDENT SIGNED AVIATION SECURITY BILL INTO LAW TODAY
On Friday, November 16, Congress passed an aviation security bill that primarily addresses the federalization of airport security screeners, among other topics. President Bush signed the bill into law this morning at Reagan Washington National Airport. Provisions that specifically affect general aviation include war risk insurance, flight school security and general aviation security programs; further details are available on the NBAA Web site.
www.nbaa.org/gov

NBAA, MEMBERS, SUBMIT COMMENTS ON FRACTIONAL OWNERSHIP NPRM
Friday, November 16 was the deadline for public comments on the FAA's Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) on Fractional Ownership. NBAA's comments, along with more than 200 other expected submissions, made several recommendations to clarify and revise the proposed rules. The Association also addressed emerging security issues following the events of September 11. A copy of NBAA's comments is available on the Association's Web site. www.nbaa.org/fractional

DOMESTIC RVSM IS A CERTAINTY
Due to ongoing Member-reported delays in Western Atlantic Region Reduced Vertical Separation Minima (RVSM) certification, Members are advised to plan for and equip for Domestic RVSM (DRVSM) as soon as possible. RVSM is one of the many solutions being applied around the globe to safely increase capacity in airspace that is becoming progressively more congested. Those who delay preparation for this emerging standard in the United States are not likely to be fully active in the National Airspace System. NBAA will continue to monitor and report on DRVSM in future issues of NBAA Update and NBAA Digest, and on the Web site.
www.nbaa.org/member/rvsm

GOVERNMENT OF ICELAND PROHIBITS PLANNED ATC STRIKES
The government of Iceland has stepped in to prevent announced strikes by Icelandic air traffic controllers. Any Icelandic air traffic controllers that do not report to work as assigned will be dismissed. No strikes are expected in the near term. The strikes, which were to have begun November 15, could have affected as many as 500 flights a day.
www.nbaa.org/intl

IRS EXTENDS EXCISE TAX DEPOSIT DATE FOR OPERATORS OF AIRCRAFT FOR HIRE
IRS Notice 2001-77 extends the deposit date for air transportation excise taxes from November 15, 2001, to January 15, 2001, for "eligible air carriers."
www.nbaa.org/taxes

IRS EXPANDS DISASTER RELIEF FOR DEPRECIATION OF PURCHASES, INCLUDING AIRCRAFT
The IRS has issued Notice 2001-74 that expands the possible depreciation benefit provided under Notice 2001-70. If either the third quarter or fourth quarter of a taxpayer's taxable year includes September 11, the taxpayer can use the half-year convention for depreciation, instead of the mid-quarter convention, regardless of when during the year depreciable property is placed in service.
www.nbaa.org/taxes

MAINTENANCE & OPERATIONS SESSIONS SET FOR NBAA CONVENTION
NBAA is hosting a variety of Maintenance & Operations (M&O) Sessions in conjunction with the NBAA 54th Annual Meeting & Convention on December 12 to 14 in New Orleans. The M&Os analyze current issues relative to airframe, engine, avionics and component manufacturers and enable Convention Attendees to meet with manufacturers to discuss operator concerns. This year's M&O Session participants include Bombardier Aerospace, Cessna Aircraft Company, Dassault Falcon Jet Corp., Gulfstream Aerospace, Honeywell, Inc., Pratt & Whitney Canada and Raytheon Aerospace. Direct any questions about M&Os to Eli Cotti at ecotti@nbaa.org.
www.nbaa.org/2001/progschedule.htm

OEM MANUFACTURERS ARE WELL REPRESENTED AT NBAA STATIC DISPLAY
Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) will be well represented at the NBAA 54th Annual Meeting & Convention. Corporate demonstration aircraft from companies such as Airbus Industrie, BAE Systems, B/E Aerospace Inc., Boeing Business Jets, Bombardier Aerospace, Cessna Aircraft Company, Dassault Falcon Jet Corp., EADS Socata, Embraer, Explorer Aircraft, Inc., Fairchild Dornier, The New Piper Aircraft, Inc., Piaggio America and Pilatus Business Aircraft, Ltd. will be on Static Display at Lakefront Airport. To exhibit at the Static Display or for more information, contact Bill Miller at bmiller@nbaa.org. A full list of indoor and outdoor Convention Exhibitors is posted on the NBAA Web site.
www.nbaa.org/2001/exhibitorshome.htm

TAX COMMITTEE TO HOST INFO SESSIONS ON NBAA CONVENTION FLOOR
The NBAA Tax Committee will host Informational Sessions at a Tax Booth (#8846) located on the exhibit floor during the NBAA 54th Annual Meeting & Convention. Topics of discussion include FAR Part 91.50 and FAR Part 135; registration and foreign ownership; ownership and leasing structures; personal use of employer-provided aircraft; states sales and use taxes; Federal excise taxes; depreciation and like-kind exchange; whole, joint and fractional ownership; and aircraft insurance. For details, contact Greg Jackson at gjackson@nbaa.org.
www.nbaa.org/2001/taxbooth_schedule.htm

NBAA RELEASES SCHEDULERS & DISPATCHERS CONFERENCE DETAILS
The NBAA 13th Annual Schedulers & Dispatchers Conference will be held January 13 to 16, 2002, in Orlando, FL in conjunction with three Schedulers Professional Development Programs on January 12 and 13. This Conference provides the most up-to-date information on issues directly related to the role of the scheduler/dispatcher in the corporate flight department. Attendance for the 2001 Conference was a record breaker with more than 1,100 registered Attendees and more than 150 Exhibiting Companies, and an even greater turnout is expected for 2002. Contact Lydia Newsome at lnewsome@nbaa.org to register or Linda Peters at lpeters@nbaa.org to exhibit. Program details are available on the NBAA Web site at: www.nbaa.org/seminars/sdc

TWO UPCOMING ATC USER DIALOGUES IN TEXAS AND DC AREA
NBAA Members are invited to two upcoming NBAA ATC User Dialogues. The November 28 event, held in Addison, TX (Dallas/Ft. Worth area), will include FAA representatives from FAA Southwest Region Headquarters, Ft. Worth Center, Dallas TRACON, Dallas Tower, Love Field Tower and other local towers. The December 3 event, held at Reagan Washington National Airport in Arlington, VA, will include FAA representatives from FAA Headquarters; FAA Eastern Region Headquarters; Washington Center; Washington, Baltimore, Dulles and Richmond TRACONs; and associated Tower facilities. Attendees also will receive a briefing from the FAA on the Potomac TRACON airspace proposals that will be introduced to the region starting in 2004. Both events are free. To attend either event, contact Bob Lamond at rlamond@nbaa.org.
www.nbaa.org/airspace/user_dialogue_schedule.htm

NBAA MEMBERSHIP AND FLEET NUMBERS
NBAA reports that its Membership has grown to 6,891 Members with a total fleet of 9,062 aircraft.
www.nbaa.org/membership