NBAA Update Archive
NBAA Update #03-21
Monday, May 26, 2003
NBAA Update is the National Business Aviation Association's weekly e-mail newsletter, providing the latest operational, regulatory and political news for the business aviation community. Send your comments about NBAA Update to update@nbaa.org.
NATIONAL THREAT LEVEL RETURNS
TO ORANGE
On May 20, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) raised the national threat level to Orange/High,
and in response the FAA issued several Code Orange Notices to Airmen (NOTAMs). Officials said
the decision to raise the threat level was made because of recent attacks overseas and intelligence
"chatter" indicating the possibility of further attacks in the United States. NBAA
urges Members to be vigilant for unusual activity on and around airports. Any suspicious activity
should be reported immediately to the Airport Watch Hotline at (866) GA SECURE or (866) 427-3287.
Further, Members always should check NOTAMs and TFRs before flying. For more security information,
review the NBAA Security web page at www.nbaa.org/ops/security.
For the latest news on evolving Code Orange NOTAMs, visit the NBAA home page at:
www.nbaa.org
TAX CUT BILL INCREASES
BONUS DEPRECIATION ON NEW AIRCRAFT
The final version of the tax cut legislation, now awaiting President Bush's signature, contains
an increase in the bonus depreciation percentage from 30% to 50%. NBAA and the General Aviation
Manufacturers Association were at the forefront of the effort to convince Congress to make
this change. The details are as follows: 50 percent bonus depreciation will be available for
new property (the purchaser has to be the first to use the asset) acquired after May 5, 2003
and before January 1, 2005. (The original 30 percent bonus depreciation provided that property
had to be purchased before September 11, 2004.) There must not have been a binding contract
in existence before May 6, 2003. The placed-in-service rules remain the same as for 30 percent
bonus depreciation. For most Part 91 operators, the property must be placed in service before
January 1, 2005. For more information, contact NBAA's Pete West at pwest@nbaa.org
or visit:
www.nbaa.org/gov/hr2_bonusdepreciation.htm
HOUSE BILL INCLUDES NBAA-SPONSORED
ENHANCEMENT FOR SMALL COMMUNITIES
On May 21, a bill to reauthorize the FAA passed the House Transportation and Infrastructure
Committee with an innovative provision sponsored by NBAA to increase air service to small
communities. H.R. 2115, the Flight 100 - Century of Aviation Reauthorization Act would allow
on-demand air charter operators using turbine-powered or multi-engine piston powered aircraft
with 10 or fewer seats to sell individual seats at a negotiated price on flights between non-commercial/non-hub
airports and other airports. "This is the type of creative thinking needed to lead us
into the second century of flight," said NBAA President Jack Olcott. For more information,
visit:
www.nbaa.org/pr/2003/20030522-029.htm
NBAA FORUM & STATIC
DISPLAY COMES TO NEW YORK IN LESS THAN TWO WEEKS
The New York Business Aviation Forum & Static Display will be held at Republic Airport
(FRG) in Farmingdale, New York on Thursday, June 5. Over 40 aircraft, including the latest
aircraft from almost every major business aircraft manufacturer, will be on display along
with more than 50 Exhibitors inside the terminal. All members of the business aviation community
are welcome to attend this complimentary event, which will feature a dozen informational briefings
throughout the day, but Attendees must register in advance. To register, or to participate
as an Exhibitor or Sponsor, visit www.nbaa.org/seminars/baf or
contact NBAA's Benjamin Jones at bjones@nbaa.org. For more information, visit:
www.nbaa.org/pr/2003/20030522-028.htm
CORPORATE TRAVEL
SURVEY INDICATES SARS CONCERNS MAY BE WANING
A recent survey of travel managers indicates that the number of corporations banning travel
to Asian countries because of the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) epidemic may have
peaked. In early May, the Radnor, PA-based Business Travel Coalition polled more than 1,800
travel managers from major corporations in the United States, Canada and Europe and found
that 59 percent of the companies had banned travel to Asia, a drop of two percentage points
from mid-April. Some 33 percent of the companies surveyed were simply providing guidance and
travel advisories regarding travel to Asia. The remaining 8 percent had taken no action or
were considering a travel ban. The three nations most frequently included in the travel bans
were China (96 percent), Hong Kong (93 percent) and Singapore (81 percent). For the latest
information on SARS, visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention web site at www.cdc.gov/ncidod/sars
or the World Health Organization web site at: www.who.int/csr/sars/en
WHERE CAN
I FIND AVIATION ACCIDENT REPORTS?
The FAA has a web page that provides access to preliminary accident and incident data that
has been received by the Office of Accident Investigation during the last 10 business days.
The FAA accident and incident data is available at www.faa.gov/avr/aai/iirform.htm.
In addition, the NTSB maintains an aviation accident database at www.ntsb.gov/ntsb/query.asp,
where users can find information from 1962 and later about civil aviation accidents and selected
incidents within the United States, its territories and possessions, and in international
waters. An interactive search capability is available by performing a "database query."
In addition, the NTSB maintains a monthly list of accidents sorted by date, which is updated
daily. For more information, contact the NBAA Operations Service Group at info@nbaa.org.
FAA ENHANCED SURFACE MARKINGS
PROGRAM UPDATE
Last year, the FAA initiated a project, titled Enhanced Surface Markings, to investigate various
applications of enhanced airport surface markings to improve pilot situational awareness in
the runway holding position environment. A demonstration of enhanced airport surface markings
is underway at T.F. Green International Airport (PVD) at Providence, RI. For more information,
visit:
www.nbaa.org/airports/PVDmarkings.htm
NBAA STRONGLY SUPPORTS
FUNDING OF MINNEAPOLIS RELIEVER AIRPORTS
NBAA participated in a May 15 hearing before the Metropolitan Airport Commission (MAC) in
Minneapolis, MN, to address the importance of the MAC's reliever airport system. In a May
9 letter to the MAC, NBAA also strongly supported the need for funding of this reliever airport
system, noting that the six reliever airports in the MAC system are important destinations
for business aircraft operators. For more information, contact NBAA's Pete West at pwest@nbaa.org
or Jeff Gilley at jgilley@nbaa.org; download the letter
in PDF format at www.nbaa.org/govt/letters/20030509MAC.pdf;
or visit:
www.nbaa.org/pr/2003/20030515-026.htm
NBAA COMMENTS ON PROPOSED LAKEFRONT
AIRPORT PRIVATIZATION PROGRAM
On Friday, May 23, NBAA submitted its comments on FAA Docket FAA-2003-14246, the Lakefront
Airport Privatization Program, stating that privatization of services is a proven concept
and, if structured properly, can provide value. However, government responsibility and oversight
must not be allowed to erode, and Federal assurances of access at reasonable cost must be
maintained. For more information and to review NBAA's comments, visit:
www.nbaa.org/airports/NEW
NBAA CONTINUES OPPOSITION TO CALIFORNIA ASSEMBLY BILL
694
NBAA and its Members in California continue their opposition to the state's Assembly Bill
(AB) 694. Sponsored by California Assemblyman Lloyd Levine, AB 694 would change the exemption
requirements for the state's 7.5 to 8.5 percent sales and use tax on aircraft sales and leases.
New owners or lessees would be required to keep their aircraft out of the state for double
the current time to qualify for exemption. Passage of the law would increase the time-out-of-state
to six months, both increasing the cost of the transaction and significantly reducing revenues
to California's business aviation service industry. NBAA believes passage of AB 694 would
have a chilling effect on our industry and would negatively affect California's economy. For
more information, contact NBAA's Dan Burkhart at dburkhart@nbaa.org.
NBAA COMMENTS
ON BURBANK AIRPORT PART 161 PROJECT
On May 2, NBAA submitted additional comments to the Burbank-Glendale-Pasadena Airport Part
161 Project Comment Docket to call attention to the FAA's recent action regarding the Naples,
FL Part 161 Study and how that action may relate to the current situation at California's
Burbank-Glendale-Pasadena Airport (BUR). Specifically, a recent FAA Determination stated that
the ban on Stage 2 aircraft operations imposed at Naples Municipal Airport (APF) violates
the Federal Aviation Act and Federal grant assurances. Download NBAA's comments in PDF format
at:
www.nbaa.org/airports/BUR/NBAAcomments20030502.pdf
AIRPORT EXPLORATORY STUDY AUTHORIZED FOR STUART, FL AIRPORT
A $100,000 airport exploratory study recently was authorized to examine Martin County, FL's
options for closing, relocating, or constraining the operation and growth of Witham Field
(SUA) in Stuart, FL, which currently supports more than 225 based aircraft, including 14 jet
aircraft, and accommodates just over 120,000 annual flight operations. NBAA is eager to work
with Martin County officials regarding noise abatement and other matters but the Association
does not support action that will constrain the utility of the airport. NBAA Staff recently
met with Martin County officials, and then later met with FAA Orlando Airports District Office
officials to review SUA's federal grant obligations. For more information, contact NBAA's
Harry Houckes at hhouckes@nbaa.org or Jeff Gilley at
jgilley@nbaa.org.
VAN NUYS TRAFFIC UP, MOVEMENTS DOWN
AT MOST HUBS
Traffic at California's Van Nuys Airport (VNY), a center of business aviation activity in
the Los Angeles basin, grew nearly nine percent in the 12 months ending in January 2003, according
to the most recent statistics released by Airports Council International. VNY ranked eighth
in aircraft movements during that period while traffic at many U.S. hub airports declined
substantially during the same time frame. Movements at Boston Logan dropped 14 percent, and
traffic at Los Angeles International dipped more than 10 percent. Cincinnati (22.7) and Salt
Lake City (8.4 percent) were the only hubs that recorded sizable traffic increases. For an
overview of issues related to Van Nuys Airport, visit:
www.nbaa.org/airports/VNY
AVOID TRAVEL DELAYS IN DOVER, DE THIS WEEK
Since Dover International Speedway in Delaware is this week's NASCAR race venue, air traffic
in and around Dover Air Force Base will increase and congestion and delays are possible at
surrounding airports, including New Castle County (ILG) and Sussex County (GED) in Delaware
and Newnam Field (ESN) in Maryland. Most of the increase in traffic will be caused by arrivals
on Thursday, May 29 and Friday, May 30. There also will be a departure "push" in
the afternoon and evening on Sunday, June 1. Operators should plan for short- to no-notice
delays if Code Orange is still in affect during this timeframe. For more information, contact
NBAA's Dean Saucier at dsaucier@nbaa.org.
ATC NORTHEAST REDESIGN UPDATE
At a recent Connecticut Business Aviation Group meeting, Timon Kalpaxis from NY TRACON reported
on the Northeast Redesign effort, which aims to increase efficiency and enhance safety in
some of the most congested airspace in the United States. Through the Northeast Redesign,
ATC has added and will continue to add new arrival and departure tracks, simple RNAV procedures,
and consolidation of terminal and enroute facilities and centers. To date, the FAA has visited
30 communities that could be affected by redesign to gauge the impact of restructuring on
the environment. For more information, contact NBAA's Dean Saucier at dsaucier@nbaa.org
or NBAA's Bob Lamond at rlamond@nbaa.org.
NEW YORK CITY'S 34TH STREET HELIPORT TO REMAIN OPEN
The New York City Economic Development Corporation announced a contract for AvPorts, the FBO
at the 34th Street Heliport in New York City, which will allow the heliport to remain open
and operational. AvPorts will remain in place for the next 10 years and make a proposed $2.2
million in capital improvements. However, due to the heliport's location in a densely populated
area, special restrictions will apply regarding hours of operation and limits on takeoffs
and landings. The heliport serves tens of thousands of business travelers each year. For more
information, contact NBAA's Dean Saucier at dsaucier@nbaa.org.
DOWNTOWN NEWARK, NJ HELIPORT CLOSED
Until further notice, the Downtown Newark, NJ Heliport, will be closed. For more information,
contact NBAA's Dean Saucier at dsaucier@nbaa.org.
OKLAHOMA AERONAUTICS COMMISSION APPROVES RESOLUTION CONCERNING
MEIGS
The Oklahoma Aeronautics Commission (OAC), an organization promoting the interests of general
aviation and pilots, supports efforts to reopen Chicago's Merrill C. Meigs Field (CGX) and
condemns Mayor Richard M. Daley for destroying the airport on March 31. Meigs provides valuable
general aviation access to Chicago, is an integral part of the city's disaster relief plan
and provides medical airlift transportation needs. In addition, the Federal government lists
Meigs in the National Plan of Integrated Airport System, a program of airports eligible to
receive Federal grants, identifying its important role within the national air transportation
system. For more information, contact the OAC's Erin Wright at (405) 604-6900 or NBAA's John
Balsiger at jbalsiger@nbaa.org.
2002-2003 BALCHEN/POST
AWARD WINNERS ANNOUNCED
At the 37th Annual International Aviation Snow Symposium on May 7 in Buffalo, NY, awards were
presented to airport snow crews for their dedicated efforts in maintaining their airports
in safe and operational status during the 2002-2003 winter season. The winner for Small General
Aviation airport was Floyd Bennett Memorial Airport, Queensbury, NY; honorable mention went
to Salt Lake City Municipal Airport II, Salt Lake City, UT. The winner for Large General Aviation
Airport was Willow Run Airport Ypsilanti, MI; honorable mention went to Allegheny County Airport
West Mifflin, PA. NBAA serves on the awards selection committee and commends this year's winners.
For more information and a full list of winners, visit:
www.necaaae.org/balchen03.htm
TAKE PART IN THE 2003 NBAA COMPENSATION
& BENCHMARK SURVEY
The NBAA Compensation & Benchmark Survey was developed to help NBAA Member Representatives
and their company salary administrators evaluate their flight departments by providing a comprehensive
review of aviation department personnel salaries and operational data. The 2003 NBAA Compensation
& Benchmark Survey will be based upon participants' salary data as of January 1, 2003,
and operational data from calendar year 2002. To take part in the 2003 Compensation &
Benchmark Survey, NBAA Members should visit:
www.nbaa.org/surveys/cbs
MAINTENANCE
COMMITTEE HAS SUCCESSFUL CONFERENCE AND SCHOLARSHIP RAFFLE
More than 100 Attendees and about 40 Exhibitors gathered in Charlotte, NC last week for the
NBAA Maintenance Management Conference (MMC), which featured a fundraising raffle to benefit
the 2003 MMC 100 Years of Powered Flight Scholarship. The NBAA Maintenance Committee, in conjunction
with corporate sponsor Richard Childress Racing, will raffle a Snap-on Roll Cab Toolbox valued
at nearly $7,500. Participants may enter the raffle by August 14, and the winning raffle ticket
will be drawn on August 15. To download a scholarship application, visit www.nbaa.org/scholarships.
To participate in the Snap-on Roll Cab Toolbox Raffle, complete the online raffle form at:
https://secure.nbaa.org/public/cs/mmc/2003/raffle.php
NBAA 7TH ANNUAL GOLF CLASSIC
TO BENEFIT PALMER HOSPITAL IN ORLANDO
The NBAA 7th Annual Chairman's Charity Classic golf tournament will benefit Orlando's Arnold
Palmer Hospital for Children & Women, a facility dedicated exclusively to serving the
special needs of children and women. This year's scramble-format event will be held on Sunday,
October 5, at Champions Gate Golf Resort near Orlando, in conjunction with the NBAA 56th Annual
Meeting & Convention, to be held October 7 to 9 at the Orlando/Orange County Convention
Center. To register for or sponsor the Chairman's Charity Classic, contact NBAA's June DeFontes
at jdefontes@nbaa.org. For more information, visit:
www.nbaa.org/pr/2003/20030522-027.htm
CAM EXAM SCHEDULED FOR OCTOBER 6 IN ORLANDO
NBAA will offer the Certified Aviation Manager (CAM) Exam for the first time on the morning
of Monday, October 6, in Orlando, FL. Individuals interested in taking the CAM Exam must submit
a completed CAM Application and any required documents to NBAA at least 90 days prior to the
scheduled exam administration date. Applications for the October 6 CAM Exam date must be mailed
to NBAA postmarked no later than Tuesday, July 8. Upon submission of the CAM Application,
the applicant can expect notification of qualification to sit for the CAM Exam within 60 days.
For more information about the CAM Program or to download the application in PDF format, visit:
www.nbaa.org/cam
NBAA DISPATCH NEWSLETTER NOW AVAILABLE
ONLINE
The May issue of NBAA Dispatch, the newsletter for business aviation schedulers and dispatchers,
contains the latest NBAA Schedulers & Dispatchers (S&D) Committee news, including
information about the 2003 S&D Conference, 2003 Scholarship winners and new Committee
members. The issue also contains regional group news, software advice and other tips for professionals
in this field. Review the issue online at:
www.nbaa.org/dispatch/2003/01
WRIGHT AGAIN VIRTUALLY
RECREATES DEVELOPMENT OF WRIGHT FLYER ONLINE
To celebrate the work and achievements of Wilbur and Orville Wright, the "Wright Again"
project invites elementary, middle, and high school students to follow the technical development
of the first successful powered airplane, the 1903 Wright Flyer. Wright Again is available
on the Internet at http://www.wrightagain.com for
all students and teachers to access. Starting with Wilbur Wright's first documented interest
in powered flight on May 30, 1899, Wright Again follows the brothers' successes and setbacks
on the path to the first flight on December 17, 1903. For more information, visit:
http://www.wrightagain.com
