NBAA Analyzing Obama's Just-Released Fiscal 2012 Budget Proposal
The White House this morning released its budget proposal for all federal agencies and programs for the government's next fiscal year (FY2012), and as always, the proposal contains guidance for agencies important to general aviation, including the Department of Transportation (DOT), Department of Homeland Security and other agencies. DOT officials have scheduled a meeting with aviation industry stakeholders to discuss the particulars included in the approximately 1,000 pages of budget documents produced by the Administration. NBAA representatives will attend the briefing with an eye toward the business aviation community's priorities, and will keep Members updated on what the budget proposal entails. View a copy of the budget.

NBAA Weighs In as House Moves on FAA Reauthorization
In testimony provided on February 9 to the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee's Subcommittee on Aviation, NBAA President and CEO Ed Bolen stressed the importance of continually modernizing the nation's air transportation system as part of Congress's focus on creating more jobs and expanding the economy. Business aviation is "a vital link in our transportation system and powerful engine for job creation and economic growth," Bolen's testimony states. House aviation leaders introduced their FAA reauthorization bill, the FAA Reauthorization and Reform Act of 2011 (HR 658), last Friday. Learn more and review Bolen's testimony.

Senate Advances FAA Reauthorization Measure
Last week, the Senate Finance Committee approved its version of an FAA reauthorization measure, which increases taxes on Jet-A fuel to 35.9 cents per gallon to help fund aviation system modernization. "The business aviation community has long said the best way for general aviation (GA) to help fund modernization is by building upon the proven, efficient GA fuel tax," said NBAA President and CEO Ed Bolen of the committee's action. "This bill mirrors previous FAA reauthorization proposals, in that it adjusts the fuel tax in lieu of introducing new user fees for general aviation." This week, the full Senate is expected to continue its consideration of FAA reauthorization. Review NBAA's position on aviation system modernization and learn more.

DOT Releases SIFL Rates for First Half of 2011
The Department of Transportation recently released Standard Industry Fare Level (SIFL) rates for the six-month period from January 1 to June 30. The rates are necessary when applying the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) aircraft valuation formula to compute values of non-business transportation aboard employer-provided aircraft. SIFL rates are used to impute the travelling employee's income for non-business flights as required by IRS rules. NBAA Members can access the SIFL rates and a personal use calculator. Review the rates.

In Georgia, Welcoming a New Airport
New airport construction happens so rarely, you can count the number of airfields built in the United States during the past decade on one hand, and have a few fingers left over. In this week's edition of the NBAA Flight Plan podcast, Blake Swafford, manager of the new Paulding County Northwest Atlanta Airport in Dallas, GA, says the facility will be good not just for the county, but for the regional area. Learn more.

NY State Assemblywoman Values NBAA Fact Book for Advocacy
The leaders of the New York Legislative Aviation Caucus are recruiting new members for the 2011 legislative session with informational resources provided by NBAA and the New York Aviation Management Association (NYAMA). In a letter inviting their colleagues to join, the caucus co-chairs enclosed the 2010 NBAA Business Aviation Fact Book and cited economic impact data provided by NYAMA. "The interest in the Aviation Caucus is a testament to the importance of aviation to many of my legislative colleagues," said one of the co-chairs, Assemblywoman Donna Lupardo (D). Learn more.

Navigating Today's Aircraft Market
As the business aircraft market enters its third year of excess inventory, flight department managers, chief pilots, CFOs and owner/pilots have a wide array of choices when it comes to changing or upgrading their aircraft. But experts in both new and pre-owned business aircraft transactions prescribe caution and common sense to counter any low-price fever. Business Aviation Insider, NBAA's bimonthly publication, has information and tips to help guide considerations about aircraft purchases. Learn more.

NBAA Welcomes China's Move Toward Open Airspace
Over the more than 3,000,000 square miles of U.S. land area, only a tiny volume of airspace is restricted for civilian flight, and much of that is available when not in use by the military. Over China's similarly sized landmass, virtually none of the airspace has been available for civilian flights, at least not without multi-layered government pre-approvals that have been known to take weeks. Now, that seems to be changing. Learn more.

Eurocontrol to Launch ETS Support Facility This Month
Eurocontrol soon will launch its European Union Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) Support Facility. For a fee, the ETS Support Facility will provide aircraft operators with a draft report of their annual emissions based on their flight data. This report must be verified by an independent third party auditor and can then be submitted to the operator's assigned authority by the March 31 deadline. Learn more about the Eurocontrol ETS Support Facility and the EU-ETS.

Thomas Accardi Appointed IBAC's New Manager for IS-BAO
International Business Aviation Council (IBAC) Director General Donald Spruston announced last week that Thomas Accardi was named IBAC's standards manager and will take over responsibility for the International Standard for Business Aircraft Operations (IS-BAO) program in mid-April. Current Standard Manager Katherine Perfetti will retire from the position having seen the program through four years of growth. Accardi has a lengthy history working on aviation safety and regulatory programs. Learn more about IS-BAO and Accardi by reading the IBAC press release.

Business Happens at Regional Forums, Starting With Boca Raton
NBAA's Regional Forums can be viewed as a condensed version of the Association's Annual Meeting & Convention, the world's largest civil aviation trade show, in that the regional events provide the elements most valued at the Convention: networking opportunities, education sessions, an exhibit floor and a Static Display of Aircraft. There is still time to register for the Regional Forum in Boca Raton, FL, and a new article features local businessmen and executives from Embraer Aircraft Corporation on the value they see in attending and exhibiting at the upcoming Regional Forum in South Florida. Learn more.

Aviators: New Instrument Procedures Released for Henderson Executive Airport
If you're flying to Henderson Executive Airport (HND) for the NBAA 64th Annual Meeting & Convention (NBAA2011) in Las Vegas, NV this October, be sure you review the first of several new IFR procedures for that airport. The first of these procedures is now available online, and is ready for pilots to request and use. As other procedures (SIDs and STARs) are published in the next few months, pilots should file for their use in flight plans in order to promote their familiarity within the aviation community ahead of NBAA2011. The overall initiative is the product of a highly effective collaboration between representatives with the FAA, the Clark County Department of Aviation, and NBAA and its local Member representatives. For more information, contact NBAA's Bob Lamond at rlamond@nbaa.org. Learn more.

NBAA's Las Vegas Convention Site Now Live
The web site for NBAA's 64th Annual Meeting & Convention (NBAA2011) – to be held October 10 to 12, in Las Vegas, NV – is now live, and is filled with information for Exhibitors, Attendees and others interested in learning more about the Association's exciting return to Las Vegas. Visitors to the site can access Exhibitor applications and information about the exhibit hall floor plan, the outdoor Static Display areas at the Las Vegas Convention Center (LVCC) and at Henderson Executive Airport, and more. The deadline for Exhibitor applications to be included in priority lottery is February 28. Don't miss out on the premier annual event for anyone whose passion or profession involves business aviation. Learn more.

NBAA Conference to Feature Real-World SMS Studies
For the first time ever, an education session at next week's NBAA Leadership Conference will unveil illuminating examples of safety management system (SMS) successes and failures in real-life flight departments. The presentation, by aviation consultant Peter Agur, Jr., is based on case studies of 58 flight departments and will include a snapshot of success or failure at nine of those companies. "You'll probably be surprised at what works and what doesn't," said Agur. Learn about this and other Leadership Conference sessions.

Maintenance Conference to Feature Author Giacinta Bradley Koontz
The NBAA 26th Annual Maintenance Management Conference keynote address will be given this year by award-winning author and aviation historian Giacinta Bradley Koontz, an expert on aircraft mechanics history. Koontz's keynote speech will highlight the life stories of the pioneering men and women who have maintained aircraft from Orville and Wilbur Wright's first airplane engine to today's modern aircraft. Read the press release.

Hawker 125 Series Technical Subcommittee Seeks Operator Input
The NBAA Hawker 125 Series Technical Subcommittee is seeking input regarding operation and services from operators of Hawker 125 series aircraft. NBAA's Technical Committee, comprising subcommittees organized by aircraft type, works to prevent aircraft equipment, operations and maintenance problems by sustaining a free-flowing exchange of information between NBAA Members and aircraft manufacturers. Complete the survey online.

Meritorious Award's Prestigious Recipient Roster Needs Your Nomination
For the past six decades, NBAA has presented its annual Meritorious Service to Aviation Award to an individual who has made significant lifelong contributions to aviation. Since the award was first presented in 1950, recipients have included Col. Charles A. Lindbergh (1953), helicopter pioneer Igor Sikorsky (1957), aeronautical chart maker E.B. Jeppesen (1965), Pan Am's Juan T. Trippe (1970), test pilot Scott Crossfield (1984), FlightSafety International founder Albert L. Ueltschi (1991) and, most recently, famed golfer and industry spokesman Arnold Palmer (2010). Nominations for this year's Meritorious Service to Aviation Award must be received by February 25. Learn more and submit your nomination today.