NBAA Update Archive

NBAA Update #02-10
Monday, March 11, 2002

TSA CHIEF MAGAW MEETS WITH NBAA BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Eight weeks into his job, Under Secretary of Transportation for Security John Magaw met last week with NBAA's Board of Directors for more than an hour to discuss national security concerns as they relate to business aviation. In an informal series of presentations over lunch, each Member of the Board briefed Magaw on their operations, concerns and the interests of NBAA Members. Magaw told the NBAA Board that he would hire an individual within the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) to be the point of contact for "your community," and that restoring access for qualified operators to DCA would be among his priorities.
www.nbaa.org/ops/security/

HUNDREDS OF CHARTER MANIFESTS TRANSMITTED TO U.S. CUSTOMS VIA NBAA.ORG
The NBAA Advance Passenger Information System (APIS) Submission Service allows Part 135 operators to comply with new requirements to electronically transmit passenger and crew manifest to U.S. Customs. Since March 4, hundreds of trips have been submitted via the NBAA APIS Submission Service, potentially saving charter operators millions of dollars in fines. The NBAA APIS Submission Service, available at no cost to NBAA Members and non-Members, was developed as an interim solution to the problem, until the U.S. Customs Service can develop its own permanent, Web-based solution.
https://www.nbaa.org/part135/customs

HOUSE HEARS PLANS FOR CHICAGO CAPACITY EXPANSION
On Wednesday, March 6th, Illinois Representatives Hyde, Visclosky, Jackson, Jr., Indiana Representative Weller, Chicago Mayor Daley and Illinois Governor Ryan testified before the House Transportation and Infrastructure Aviation Subcommittee on plans to expand capacity at Chicago's O'Hare International Airport, build a third regional airport in Peotone, Illinois, and maintain Meigs field for up to twenty-five years. A bill submitted by Illinois Representative Bill Lipinski, H.R. 3479 would codify the Daley/Ryan agreement, preventing future Chicago mayors and Illinois governors from abandoning the project. Ryan was vocally supportive of Meigs Field throughout the hearing. A companion bill, S. 1786, introduced by Illinois Senator Durbin, contains nearly identical language for the Daley/Ryan agreement. Both bills still face several votes before being signed into law. For more information, contact NBAA's Doug Carr at dcarr@nbaa.org.

NBAA ANNOUNCES WEB-BASED FORMAT FOR 2002 COMPENSATION & BENCHMARK SURVEY
The NBAA's Corporate Aviation Management Committee (CAMC) has announced a new web-based version of the 2002 Compensation & Benchmark Survey. The online survey form will be available to NBAA Member Representatives in April. Steve Hawkes, CAMC Chairman said "This will revolutionize how NBAA surveys it's membership and will ultimately lead to the ability to securely access this important information twenty-four hours a day and seven days a week." NBAA Member representatives will be contacted in early April with instructions for completing the survey.

DEPRECIATION BENEFIT CREATED BY JOB CREATION AND WORKER ASSISTANCE ACT
The bonus depreciation provision that was signed into law by the President March 8 as part of the Job Creation and Worker Assistance Act of 2002 allows a special depreciation allowance of 30 percent of the adjusted basis of property, such as aircraft, in the first year it is placed in service. The depreciable basis of the property is reduced by the 30 percent allowance before calculating the regular depreciation allowance for the first and subsequent years. Review the Joint Committee on Taxation's technical explanation of the Job Creation and Worker Assistance Act of 2002 at:
www.nbaa.org/taxes/

PUBLIC COMMENT ON TSA'S TWELVE-FIVE PROGRAM DUE BY APRIL 23
A final rule released February 15, 2002, by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and known as the Twelve-Five Program, requires charter operators using aircraft with a MGTOW equal to or greater than 12,500 pounds to conduct Fingerprint-Based Criminal History Record Checks (CHRC) on all flightcrew members by December 6, 2002, and to incorporate procedures within their security programs that restrict access to the cockpit. TSA released Twelve-Five Program as a final rule, but will consider seriously all
comments received by April 23, 2002.
www.nbaa.org/ops/security

NEW MEMBERS SOUGHT FOR NBAA PART 135 COMMITTEE
The NBAA Part 135 Committee is seeking new members and invites any employee of an NBAA Member Company involved with charter operations to consider joining the Committee. The Part 135 Committee is involved in any issue that applies to the charter community. Meetings are held twice a year, one of them during the NBAA Annual Meeting & Convention. Anyone interested in
becoming a member of the Part 135 Committee will be invited to attend a Committee meeting. For more information, contact NBAA's Eric Ramsdell at eramsdell@nbaa.org.
www.nbaa.org/committees/farpart135

CALL FOR MEMBERS: NBAA DIAMOND BEECHJET SUBCOMMITTEE
The NBAA Technical Committee is searching for new members to join its Diamond Beechjet Subcommittee. Owners, operators, pilots, mechanics and associated service organizations of Diamond Beechjet aircraft who also are employees of NBAA Member Companies are eligible to join. Subcommittee members meet twice a year. If you would like to become a member, contact Subcommittee Vice Chair Paul Foster at (800) 821-7992 or paulf@exbe.com or Eli Cotti at ecotti@nbaa.org. For more information about Subcommittee
activities, visit:
www.nbaa.org/committees/tech/beechjet

NEW JERSEY PROPOSES ADDITIONAL CITIZEN REVIEW FOR AIRPORT EXPANSIONS
The New Jersey State Legislature recently introduced a measure that would require certain counties to establish County Airport Expansion Citizen Review Boards. The measure, Assembly No. 289, sponsored by Assemblyman Reed Gusciora and Assemblywoman Bonnie Watson Coleman, would require each county considering expansion of a county-owned airport to establish a County Airport Expansion Citizen Review Board. Final decisions regarding expansion would require Board input. NBAA is contacting state officials to determine how this measure would improve the current public input process for airport expansion projects. For more information, contact NBAA's Doug Carr at dcarr@nbaa.org.

IOWA STATE FUNDING FOR AIRPORT PROGRAMS AT RISK
Iowa lawmakers are continuing their discussions over the fate of public airport safety and improvements programs. Less than two weeks ago, the joint House-Senate Transportation, Capital and Infrastructure Appropriations Subcommittee began consideration of the 2003 fiscal year Transportation Appropriations Bill that would eliminate all aviation programs funded by the state's general fund. If approved, funding for nearly $2.1 million that supports aviation improvement, commercial air service marketing, aviation weather, runway marking windsock and emergency facilities programs would disappear. NBAA's Midwest Regional Representative John Balsiger participated at an Iowa Airports Day program at the Iowa State House last Monday, raising the aviation funding issue directly with state lawmakers. A significant part of the business at every airport in Iowa comes from corporate and business aircraft, with NBAA's 61 Iowa Members flying from nearly every airport in the state. For more information, contact NBAA's John Balsiger at jbalsiger@nbaa.org.

POTOMAC TRACON ISSUES ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT (EIS)
In conjunction with the pending activation of the new Potomac Consolidated TRACON, the FAA has issued for comments a draft EIS.
www.nbaa.org/airspace/potomac_tracon_eis.htm

FAA UPHOLDS TEB WEIGHT RESTRICTION
The FAA's Eastern Region Airports Division issued an informal determination finding that the 100,000-pound weight restriction at Teterboro Airport (TEB) in New Jersey does not violate the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey's obligations under the Federal grant assurances. The Port Authority's rule requiring prior permission for aircraft weighing above 100,000 pounds to use Teterboro Airport effectively denies the use of Teterboro by large transport aircraft such as the Boeing Business Jet.
www.nbaa.org/airports/TEB

APRIL 8 BRIEFING ABOUT GA ACCESS TO DCA
On Monday, April 8, NBAA will hold its fourth briefing on the status of general aviation access to Reagan National Airport. At the March 4 NBAA DCA briefing, Lee Longmire of the TSA's Aviation Security Policy Office said that by the April 8 briefing either a solution or a schedule would be in place to restore GA access to DCA. This free event is open to all interested parties and will be hosted by Signature Flight Support at DCA. NBAA representatives will be available to answer questions about general aviation issues and about the Association's Security Letter of Authorization (SLOA) proposal. To attend, submit an RSVP by March 29 to NBAA's Marie Wilkins at mwilkins@nbaa.org.
www.nbaa.org/airports/DCA

CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE CONSIDERS REDUCING STATE AVIATION BUDGET
California has an $11.2 billion transportation budget, with aviation users paying more than $167 million in annual taxes, and aviation contributing nearly $90 billion to the state's economy. However, in an effort to shore up budget deficits, California legislators have asked budget analysts to identify areas of excess and recommend budget reductions; as a result, about 68 percent of California's $8 MM Aeronautics Fund is "on the block." The Aeronautics Fund supports airport land use planning, airport improvement grants and loans, airport safety inspections and permitting, and Aeronautics Division payroll. Airports served by commercial services will be least affected by such budget cuts. NBAA anticipates needing help from its California Members in the form of letters, e-mails, or faxes to legislators and policy makers; watch future issues of NBAA Update for details as this situation evolves. For more information, contact NBAA's Dan Burkhart at dburkhart@nbaa.org.

VAN NUYS STAGE 2 NON-ADDITION RULE NOW BEING ENFORCED
Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA) in California is now enforcing the Van Nuys Airport (VNY) Stage 2 Non-Addition Rule, which became law on April 18, 2000. If an operator's aircraft noise level is equal to or exceeds 77 dBA and is not a VNY-based aircraft and exempt, the operator only may visit VNY on 30 days per calendar year. Airport staff will attempt to notify operators that are approaching the 30-day limit, but they are not required to make this notification, and operators that exceed the 30-day limit are in violation. Operators are exempt if they are visiting VNY for aircraft maintenance; however, they must apply for and receive approval from airport management. NBAA Members should contact their VNY service provider to facilitate this process. For further information, contact NBAA's Dan Burkhart at dburkhart@nbaa.org or Jeff Gilley at jgilley@nbaa.org.

EXPECT DELAYS IN AUGUSTA AREA FOR MASTERS GOLF TOURNAMENT
Members should expect various levels of delay operating into and out of the Augusta area during the upcoming Masters Golf Tournament from April 8 to 15. In the past the FAA has requested a significant amount of overtime hours for air traffic controllers in that operational area to better handle the increased amounts of traffic generated by the Masters. Unfortunately, due to drastic budget cutbacks, Southern Regions' request for authorized overtime hours for controllers has been denied. As a result, there will be normal day-to-day manning levels in ATC facilities for the Masters and air traffic delays should be expected. For more information, contact NBAA at info@nbaa.org.

NASCAR SCHEDULE MAY AFFECT DARLINGTON, SC TRAFFIC
There should be only minimal congestion in the Darlington, SC area this weekend since most NASCAR race teams will be driving to the Carolina Dodge Dealers 400 at Darlington Raceway on March 17. However, spectator traffic composed of approximately 50 aircraft could add some delays into and out of Darlington County Jetport (UDG). Most spectators will fly into the race on the evening of Saturday, March 16 and depart the evening of Sunday, March 17. For more information, visit www.nascar.com/races or contact NBAA's Dean Saucier at dsaucier@nbaa.org.

REGIONAL GROUP HELPS NYC HELIPORT OPERATIONS CONTINUE
Thanks in large part to the efforts of the Eastern Region Helicopter Council (ERHC), helicopter operations will continue at the East 34th Street Heliport in New York City for another 10 years. The City Council approved the special zoning permit for 10 years, which had been vehemently opposed by the Helicopter Noise Coalition. NBAA also petitioned the city regarding the need to continue the operations of all NYC heliports. For more information, contact NBAA's Dean Saucier at dsaucier@nbaa.org.

TRI-STATE SCHEDULERS AND DISPATCHERS MET IN PHILADELPHIA
The Tri-State Schedulers and Dispatchers Association (TSDA) held a business luncheon meeting last week at Berwind Inc. on Philadelphia International Airport (PHL). The 15 attendees heard presentations by NBAA and Universal Weather & Aviation representatives. TSDA comprises schedulers and dispatchers from Delaware, Maryland and New Jersey, but luncheon attendees visited from as far away as Washington, DC. If you are interested in joining the TSDA, contact Sharon Martin of Berwind Corp at (215) 365-5252 or smartin@berwin.com, or NBAA's Dean Saucier at dsaucier@nbaa.org.

BUSINESS AVIATION SECURITY BRIEFING IN FT. LAUDERDALE AREA, MARCH 20
Global Aerospace Underwriting Managers (Associated Aviation Underwriters) and Universal Weather & Aviation will host their fourth Business Aviation Security Briefing on Wednesday, March 20 from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at the Sheraton Suites Plantation, 311 North University Drive, Plantation, FL, (954) 452-3223. Ed Williams of Global Aerospace/AAU, Dick Kimm of Universal Weather & Aviation and consultant "Pen" Pendarvis will present sessions on international terrorism, FAR Part 91 and 135 security, FAA and other
security issues, and weakest links, threats and risks. Pre-registration is mandatory for this free event, which includes refreshments and lunch. For details or to register contact Ed Williams at ewilliams@global-aero.com or NBAA's Harry Houckes at hhouckes@nbaa.org.

FLIGHT ATTENDANT SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATIONS DUE APRIL 1
The NBAA Flight Attendants Committee is dedicated to promoting education and training as a means for corporate flight attendants/flight technicians to enhance their professional careers. To support this position, NBAA and 11 corporate sponsors will give Flight Attendant Scholarships to 21 aspiring and current flight attendants/flight technicians. Scholarship applications are due to NBAA by April 1. For more information or to download an application, visit:
www.nbaa.org/scholarships