NBAA Update Archive

NBAA Update #05-02
Monday, January 10, 2005

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. Subscribe for free or review the archives at www.nbaa.org/update. Send your comments about NBAA Update to update@nbaa.org. Send address changes to membership@nbaa.org.

Business Aviation News & Issues

NBAA Lauds FAA Determination That Landing Fees at SMO Are Discriminatory
NBAA welcomes a decision from the FAA finding that the landing-fee structure at Santa Monica Airport (SMO) unjustly discriminates against certain types of aircraft. The decision was made in response to a complaint filed with the FAA in 2004 by NBAA and two Member Companies. "The determination made by the FAA is great news for anyone opposed to discriminatory landing fees in the United States," said NBAA President and CEO Ed Bolen. "Santa Monica Airport has been unfairly discriminating against business aircraft operators, in violation of Federal law. We commend the FAA for upholding the law and supporting the concept of fair and equal access for all airport users." For more information, visit:
http://www.nbaa.org/news/pr/2005/20050106-001.php

NBAA's Bolen to Give Industry Briefing in Honolulu Tomorrow
NBAA President and CEO Ed Bolen and NBAA Staff will host a reception and industry briefing on January 11 at Honolulu International Airport (HNL) to share recent developments and upcoming issues facing the business aviation industry. For more information, contact NBAA's Douglas Carr at dcarr@nbaa.org.

After Arrest, Investigation Into Laser Incidents Continues
Federal authorities continue to investigate several recent reports of lasers striking aircraft cockpits, including one involving a Citation on approach into Teterboro (TEB) on December 29. Last week, the FBI, under anti-terrorism statutes, charged a New Jersey resident with aiming a laser at a charter jet, then shining a laser beam at a helicopter investigating the charter incident. The FAA reportedly is working on a set of recommendations for pilots to guard themselves against laser attacks. NBAA believes that anyone found to have attempted to interfere with the safe operation of an aircraft should be held fully responsible. Members are urged to report any laser incursions to authorities. For more information, contact NBAA's Mark Larsen at mlarsen@nbaa.org.

Jan. 20 RVSM Implementation Date Quickly Approaching
As the upcoming implementation date for Reduced Vertical Separation Minimum (RVSM) in the United States, Canada, Mexico, South America and the Caribbean quickly approaches, NBAA would like to inform its Members that updates recently have been made to the RVSM web pages on the NBAA web site. The updated information includes operational and maintenance templates, background information on RVSM, a timeline and links to other RVSM resources. Direct RVSM questions to the NBAA Operations Service Group at info@nbaa.org or visit the NBAA RVSM web page at:
http://www.nbaa.org/ops/cns/rvsm

Members Reminded of Equipment Suffix Changes for RVSM
Members are reminded that equipment suffix changes have resulted due to implementation of domestic RVSM on January 20. Notice to Airman GEN04006, titled "Revised Aircraft Equipment Suffix Table for FAA Flight Plans," should be referenced for guidance and can be found online at:
http://www.faa.gov/ntap/NTAP04DEC23/GEN04006.htm

SIFL Rates Calendar Year 2005 Not Yet Available
The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) establishes the Standard Industry Fare Level (SIFL) rates twice a year, which are necessary when applying the IRS's aircraft special valuation formula to compute the value of non-business transportation aboard employer-provided aircraft as required by the IRS Rules Section 1.61-21(g). The SIFL rates are usually released approximately a month and a half after they are effective. Once NBAA receives the rates for the first half of calendar year 2005, they will be posted online and released in NBAA Update. For more information about SIFL rates, download the NBAA Personal Use Handbook at http://www.nbaa.org/taxes or attend the upcoming NBAA Regulatory Issues Forum on January 28 in Miami Lakes, FL. To register, visit:
http://www.nbaa.org/cs/regforum/20050128

Dates Secured for European Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition from 2006 to 2009
NBAA and the European Business Aviation Association are pleased to announce that European Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition (EBACE) dates have been confirmed for 2006 through 2009 at the Geneva Palexpo Conference Center. EBACE is the only European exhibition to focus exclusively on business aviation. For more information, visit:
http://www.ebace.aero/welcome/pressroom/20050110.php

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Regional News

Ski Mountain Airport Slot Reservation System Summary
The Ski Mountain Airport Slot Reservation System is run annually from late November to mid-April to control the IFR arrival rates into Aspen-Pitkin County/Sardy Field (ASE), Eagle County Regional Airport (EGE), Rifle/Garfield County Field Airport (RIL), Montrose Regional Airport (MTJ), Telluride Regional Airport (TEX) and Grand Junction Walker Field Airports (GJT). Because there generally is more demand than capacity at these airports, particularly at the holidays, operators often experience frustrations when attempting to use the slot reservation system. While it is impossible to increase capacity at these airports to meet the demand, NBAA has compiled and addressed some of the most common complaints Members have had about the system in an article, available online at:
http://www.nbaa.org/ops/airspace/ski

DC-Area Traffic Management Initiative for Presidential Inauguration
In conjunction with this month's Presidential inauguration on January 20, traffic flow into Dulles International (IAD) and Baltimore Washington International (BWI) airports will be controlled by the General Aviation Airport Program (GAAP), which the FAA brought online in November as a method of trying to reduce the number of special traffic management programs. Operators are strongly encouraged to advise the FBO of their intentions during this period; they also should consider contacting Manassas (HEF), Leesburg (JYO), Frederick (FDK) or other local airports for parking. It is anticipated that Dulles will fill up with business jets and at some point will no longer accept any non-scheduled traffic. The inauguration has been declared a national security event and a flight advisory has been published by the FAA detailing flight restrictions in the Washington ADIZ/FRZ. The advisory can be found online at:
http://www.faa.gov/newsroom/inaugaration/flight_advisory.pdf

Route Changes From New York to Washington Dulles
Effective January 20, the FAA's New York Air Route Traffic Control Center is requesting that all jet operators departing from Newark International (EWR), LaGuardia (LGA), Teterboro (TEB), Morristown Municipal (MMU) and Westchester County (HPN) airports to Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD) file the following routing with a requested altitude of FL200: PARKE V457 LRP then the appropriate STAR to IAD. Due to procedural issues between NY Center and the NY TRACON, filing PARKE J6 LRP to IAD will cause a discrepancy in flight plan processing. PARKE J6 may still be filed for all other destinations. For more information, contact NBAA's Bob Lamond at rlamond@nbaa.org.

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NBAA News

VF Corporation Named Flight Department of the Year
NBAA congratulates the staff of Member Company VF Corporation of Greensboro, NC, on being named Pro Pilot magazine's Flight Department of the Year for 2004. Chosen for this honor by a group of its peers, VF Corporation was selected based on excellence in training, safety and flight operations best practices. The company's aviation department consists of 23 aviation professionals, 20 based at Piedmont Triad International Airport (GSO) and three at Charles B. Wheeler Downtown Airport (MKC). They fly some 2,700 hours annually throughout North America, Europe, the Caribbean and Latin America. For more information, contact NBAA's Dean Saucier at dsaucier@nbaa.org.

Nominations for NBAA's Highest Awards Due Feb. 25
NBAA is accepting nominations for its two most prestigious awards, the 2005 Meritorious Service to Aviation Award and the 2005 John P. "Jack" Doswell Award. NBAA Members are strongly encouraged to submit nominations for both awards to NBAA by February 25. Award winners will be officially recognized at the Annual Gala of the NBAA 58th Annual Meeting & Convention in November 2005. For more information, including nomination guidelines, visit:
http://www.nbaa.org/awards

Travel$ense Release 3.72 Update
NBAA has released a new update for Travel$ense, a software program designed to help management better analyze and understand business travel. This update adapts to changes in the reservation system used by Travel$ense that prevented users from obtaining comparable airline flights and pricing information. To download the update, visit:
http://www.nbaa.org/ops/adm/travelsense/update

Applications for Next CAM Exam Due Next Monday
Through the certification process, NBAA and the Certified Aviation Manager Governing Board (CAMGB) seek to raise the level of professionalism and quality of management within flight departments. The next Certified Aviation Manager (CAM) Examination will take place on March 3 in Miami, FL, in conjunction with the NBAA Leadership Conference. Applications for the exam should be submitted no later than next Monday, January 17. For more information, visit:
http://www.nbaa.org/cam

Advertising Opportunities in NBAA Membership Directory
NBAA is accepting insertion orders for the 2005 NBAA Directory of Member Companies, Aircraft & Personnel. The 2005 edition will be available in print and CD-ROM formats, and 20,000 copies will be delivered to business aviation professionals throughout the world. For more information about this and other NBAA advertising opportunities, contact NBAA's Benjamin Schwalen at (202) 783-9266 or bschwalen@nbaa.org or visit:
http://www.nbaa.org/advertise

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