NBAA Update Archive

NBAA Update #02-48
Monday, December 2, 2002

TSA MOVING TO NEW DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY
President Bush last week signed into law a bill creating a new Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and nominated former PA Governor Tom Ridge as this Cabinet-level agency's first secretary of homeland security. NBAA had encouraged support on Capitol Hill for the creation of the DHS, which will combine over 20 Federal agencies, including the year-old Transportation Security Administration (TSA), Immigration and Naturalization Service and U.S. Customs Service, and should improve the decision-making process for aviation security initiatives. NBAA also is supporting President Bush's choice of Asa Hutchinson, former Arkansas congressman and current Drug Enforcement Administration administrator, as the new DHS under secretary for border and transportation security. For more information, contact NBAA's Pete West at pwest@nbaa.org.

FAA DELAYS FORMATION OF NEW RULEMAKING COMMITTEE
The FAA has delayed the first meeting of an ambitious new Aviation Rulemaking Committee that will review several regulatory parts, including Parts 91, 121, 125 and 135. The FAA delayed the meeting, originally scheduled for January 14 to 16, due to limited funding authorized by Congress' continuing resolution. The FAA likely will delay rescheduling the first meeting until after Congress returns on January 7. NBAA expects to participate on the committee, which will spend approximately two years on the project. For additional information contact NBAA's Doug Carr at dcarr@nbaa.org.

AIRPORT WATCH HOTLINE OPERATIONAL TODAY
A toll-free phone number to report suspicious activity at an airport -- 1-866-GA-SECUR (1-866-427-3287) -- became operational today. The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is funding and operating the 24/7 anti-terrorism hotline, while the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) has created a training video, posters and pamphlets that provide examples of suspicious activities, outline steps aviators can take to help law-enforcement organizations and offer precautions operators can take to help improve airport security. Calls to the hotline go to the National Response Center, which already fields emergency calls for 19 Federal agencies. For more information, visit www.aopa.org/asn/watch.html or contact NBAA's Eric Ramsdell at eramsdell@nbaa.org.

U.S. CUSTOMS WITHDRAWS 2001 RULEMAKING ON GA OPERATIONS
The U.S. Customs Service today published in the Federal Register its withdrawal of the rulemaking they had proposed in August 2001. Citing "enhanced security concerns," the service also has permanently withdrawn, without the advice, council or consent of the industry, the General Aviation Telephonic Entry (GATE) Program. Customs anticipates issuing a new proposal in the near future; NBAA will notify Members when new Notices of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRMs) are available. For more information, download the relevant Federal Register pages in PDF format at:
www.nbaa.org/member/customs

BIRD STRIKE DATA NOW AVAILABLE ON FAA WEB SITE
The National Wildlife Strike Database is now available on the FAA's web site at www.faa.gov. The new information, which is provided by the FAA Technical Center, is designed to provide users with data that will allow them to better understand and practice wildlife-hazard mitigation at airports through wildlife control. The site includes an overview of the bird-strike problem, the latest 12 months of statistics regarding wildlife strikes and several links to other international web sites that offer bird-strike information. For more information, visit http://wildlife-mitigation.tc.faa.gov/public_html/index.html or contact NBAA at info@nbaa.org.

NEW RNAV ROUTINGS IMPLEMENTED IN CALIFORNIA
The FAA has implemented new RNAV routings, available for all RNAV-equipped/turbojet aircraft. These routings affect jet departure aircraft from California's Burbank-Glendale-Pasadena (BUR), Van Nuys (VNY) and Ontario International (ONT) airports to California's San Jose International (SJC) and San Francisco International (SFO) airports. These routes were developed by the Bay-to-Basin Enroute Redesign Project, which is part of the National Airspace Redesign. These routes affect only RNAV-equipped aircraft. For more information, contact Brent Shively at (661) 265-8240 or Bruce Bates at (661) 265-8216, or visit the NBAA web site at:
www.nbaa.org/airspace/CA_RNAV.htm

SPACE SHUTTLE LANDING, SATELLITE LAUNCH COULD AFFECT FLIGHT OPERATIONS
Aircraft operators planning to fly over central Florida this Wednesday, December 4 should be aware that the Space Shuttle Endeavour is expected to land at Kennedy Space Center around 4:00 p.m. EST. As usual, aircraft operators planning to fly in the region on that date should check NOTAMs to determine what flight restrictions will be in effect during the shuttle landing and during the launch of a NASA satellite from Cape Canaveral that evening around 9:45 p.m. EST. For more information, contact NBAA at info@nbaa.org.

FAA HOST COMPUTER PROBLEMS AFFECT PHL STARs
Due to FAA HOST computer problems, the FAA has issued NOTAMs making the Philadelphia International Airport (PHL)-area BOJID ONE and SPUDS ONE RNAV Standard Terminal Arrival Routings (STARs) "not authorized" until further notice. For more information about business aviation airspace/air traffic issues, visit:
www.nbaa.org/airspace

POTOMAC TRACON NOW OPEN
The FAA officially opened the Potomac TRACON (PCT) on Sunday, December 1. PCT is located in Vint Hill, VA, approximately 20 miles southwest of Dulles International Airport (IAD), and will eventually consolidate controllers from the Dulles, Baltimore, Andrews Air Force Base, Reagan National and Richmond TRACONs into one facility. Airspace changes will take effect in mid to late 2003 in conjunction with this move, and NBAA will detail those changes as implementation nears. In the meantime, operators can expect some intermittent delays or restrictions in and around the Washington, DC terminal airspace as controllers transition to the new equipment in PCT. For more information, visit the NBAA web site at:
www.nbaa.org/airspace/potomac200212.htm

AVIATION SECURITY IN AFRICA CONTINUES TO BE OF CONCERN
NBAA's International Operators Committee (IOC) cautions Members to be alert when traveling to the African subcontinent, particularly after recent incidents in Mombasa, Kenya. Operators should be on high alert for threats such as abductions and kidnappings. Operators also are encouraged to work with proven handling and flight-support companies to ensure secure travel. For more information, contact IOC member Ed Boyo, of Landover Aviation in Lagos, Nigeria, at bm_aviation@landovercompany.com, or NBAA's Bill Stine at bstine@nbaa.org.

INDONESIA RVSM INTRODUCED
As of November 25, Indonesia has implemented Reduced Vertical Separation Minima (RVSM) in its airspace starting with a level-band of FL 350 to FL 390. After an initial three-month evaluation trial and favorable safety assessment, flight levels possibly will be increased to FL 310 to FL 390. For more information, contact NBAA's Bill Stine at bstine@nbaa.org.

FAA SEEKS AVIATION WEATHER USER INPUT
The FAA will hold an informal public meeting to seek aviation weather user input from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. on Wednesday, December 18, FAA Headquarters, 9th Floor Conference Room, 1575 Eye Street, Washington, DC. The objective of this meeting is to provide an opportunity to discuss the use of the Current Icing Potential (CIP) product and provide input to FAA's plans for implementing this new weather product. For more information, contact NBAA's Bob Lamond at rlamond@nbaa.org.

NBAA REPRESENTED AT FBI TRAINING CONFERENCE THIS WEEK
The FBI has invited NBAA to participate in its Airport Agents Training Conference this week in Annapolis, MD. NBAA Senior Vice President, Operations Bob Blouin will brief the agents during the General Aviation Security and Threats-Issues session, which will highlight the security culture of general aviation operations. NBAA will emphasize that its Members Companies have been practicing industrial security for decades and that its Members' best practices include fundamental actions such as always locking aircraft when unattended. For more information, contact Blouin at rblouin@nbaa.org.

SCHEDULERS & DISPATCHERS CONFERENCE TO INCLUDE SECURITY FORUM
The NBAA 14th Annual Schedulers & Dispatchers Conference, to be held February 2 to 5 in Anaheim, CA, will include a Security Forum that focuses on the scheduler/dispatcher's role in ensuring the safety and security of aircraft, crews and passengers in the post-September 11 operating environment. Attendees will hear from a TSA airport director and a panel of corporate security experts and flight department members, who will share their roles in the aviation security process. For more information about the Conference, visit:
www.nbaa.org/seminars/sdc