Against Overwhelming Opposition, Officials Move to Dismantle BARR Program
NBAA strongly denounced a decision, announced by government officials late Friday afternoon, to push ahead with what has been dubbed a "Paparazzi Protection Rule" – a plan to virtually eliminate the decade-old Block Aircraft Registration Request (BARR) program for the operators of private aircraft. "We are outraged at the government's move," said NBAA President and CEO Ed Bolen. "As we've said repeatedly, there can be no legitimate reason for a government agency to facilitate the monitoring of wholly private activity by anyone with an Internet connection. This incomprehensible policy reversal gives anyone in the world – terrorist, criminal, tabloid stalker, business competitor – the equivalent of an Internet homing device to track the movements of citizens and companies in real time." Bolen went on to reject the government's claim that publishing an airplane tail number doesn't reveal the identity of the travelers aboard. Learn more.

Update on Non-Citizen Trust Aircraft Registration
As NBAA previously reported, the FAA will hold a public meeting on June 1 in Oklahoma City, OK to discuss non-citizen trust aircraft registration issues. NBAA has been actively engaged in an industry coalition to prepare a unified position in preparation for this meeting. NBAA's Vice President of Operations, Education & Economics Mike Nichols will attend the meeting to represent the business aviation industry's perspective and communicate the important role non-citizen trusts play. For more information, contact the Association at info@nbaa.org.

What Are the Proper Transponder Settings While on the Ground?
Based on observations during en-route inspections, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has noticed that some operating procedures direct pilots to select the traffic advisory/resolution advisory (TA/RA) transponder setting during all surface movements. This procedure is not consistent with FAA guidance and can cause frequency congestion that may degrade Traffic Collision Avoidance System (TCAS) II performance. Except when approaching or taxiing onto an active runway, pilots should set the transponder to "XPNDR" or "ON," which will make the aircraft visible to surface surveillance systems without causing frequency congestion or other unintended consequences. Briefly turning TCAS on in the "TA-ONLY" or "TA/RA" setting before crossing an active runway is still a good best practice to check for the presence of aircraft on short final approach. Review the FAA notice.

All Operators Encouraged to Participate in SMS Survey
The NBAA Domestic Operations Committee has developed a short survey to help identify issues related to implementing a safety management system (SMS). The survey is intended both for operators who have enacted an SMS and those that have not. Committee members will share the results of the survey, as well as their own experiences implementing an SMS, in an education session at the NBAA 64th Annual Meeting & Convention (NBAA2011). Begin the survey now.

New York Aviation Caucus Now Has Over 100 Members
Formed last year by state lawmakers committed to protecting aviation jobs in their districts, the New York Legislative Aviation Caucus this month grew to more than 100 members – nearly half the legislature. When the caucus co-chairs have sought to recruit fellow legislators to join, they used data provided by the NBAA Business Aviation Fact Book. Learn more.

General Aviation Tax Relief Progresses in Maine Legislature
As NBAA previously reported, legislators in Maine have introduced a bill that would bring significant improvements to the state's sales and use tax policies for general aviation aircraft. Under Bill 946, nonresidents would be able to bring their recently purchased aircraft to Maine without being subject to use tax. An amendment was recently added to the bill that would also exempt all sales of aircraft and repair parts from the state sales and use tax. The committed advocacy efforts of NBAA Members in Maine have been critical to moving this legislation forward. Get the latest status of the legislation on NBAA's state taxes page.

Scheduler/Dispatchers' Role Crucial on International Trips
As business aircraft fly to more diverse countries and challenging geopolitical issues require increasing caution, scheduler/dispatchers have to start preparing for an international mission much farther in advance. "As the world gets smaller and we are now flying to countries that we may not have visited before, it is imperative that we do our homework," said David Small, flight operations administrator for Cox Enterprises. The scheduler/dispatcher's role in preparing for international trips is covered in the latest edition of Business Aviation Insider, sponsored by Baldwin Aviation and Universal Weather & Aviation. Read more.

NBAA to Participate in New Bombardier Safety Standdown Asia
Bombardier is expanding its highly acclaimed Safety Standdown program to Asia, launching its premier event on Thursday, June 9 at the Le Royal Meridien Shanghai in Shanghai, China. The event is offered free of charge to all aviation professionals, regardless of what aircraft they operate, and it provides the very latest in aviation safety. NBAA is pleased to participate in Safety Standdown Asia as a presenter. View the agenda and register now.

Volcanic Activity Reminds Operators to Plan Ahead
Business aviation flights into Iceland, Scotland and some areas of northern Europe were impacted recently by the ash cloud spewing from Iceland's Grimsvotn Volcano, which began erupting May 21. Though activity from the volcano has since diminished, and the ash cloud has dissipated over most affected areas, ash concentrations high enough to affect flights have been reported. While conditions are expected to continue to improve into the first week of June, operators flying into the U.K, northern Europe and Baltic regions anytime soon are being advised to closely monitor volcanic activity for ash clouds, which can be damaging to aircraft. Learn more.

South Dakota Makes Extraordinary Bid for Businesses Aviation
"Aviation is welcome here." That's the message from Pat Costello, South Dakota's secretary for economic development. "Our leading industries are agriculture and tourism, but we'd like aviation to be up there too, one day," Costello reports. To foster that vision, South Dakota's legislature passed House Bill 1233 this year. "HB 1233 simply limits the product liability for aviation manufacturers and their components," Costello said. "It allows companies to manage their risk." Listen to a related NBAA Flight Plan podcast or read more.

Brunswick Fly-In Celebrates Historic Airport's Return to Civilian Use
Barely three months after its conversion in early April to a general aviation facility, the former Brunswick Naval Air Station (NHX) – now Brunswick Executive Airport (BXM) – plans to celebrate its return to civilian status by hosting the 1st Annual Brunswick International Fly-In. "The Fly-In accomplishes a couple of things," said Steve Levesque, executive director of the Midcoast Regional Redevelopment Authority (MRRA), which owns and operates BXM. "We're promoting the airport and we're using it as a springboard to showcase Maine as a fly-in destination." Learn more.

Exhibit Opportunities Expanded at White Plains Regional Forum
Following high demand by wait-listed Exhibitors, NBAA has expanded the amount of exhibit space available at the White Plains Regional Forum on June 8. New indoor and outdoor space is now available for vendor displays and static aircraft at New York's Westchester County Airport (HPN). This Business Aviation Regional Forum, a day-long learning and peer networking venue for local leaders, is less than two weeks away. Act now to secure your spot.

FAA Holding Chicago Area Customer Forum Next Month
The FAA will hold a Chicago Area Customer Customer Forum on June 22 from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at the agency's Great Lakes Regional Office near O'Hare International Airport (ORD). The forum will bring together local air traffic facilities, airlines, general aviation operators and military operators to focus on the interdependencies of the National Airspace System and other important issues. The National Weather Service and the City of Chicago Aviation Department will also participate. Learn more and register online.

Tell NBAA About Your Favorite Membership Experience
NBAA's Membership Month wraps up this week, but there's still time to share your favorite Membership experience for a chance to win an Apple iPad. All month, NBAA has been asking Members to share what they love about NBAA or the Member benefit they value most and featuring selected video testimonials online. For a chance to win, complete the online form with your story by tomorrow, May 31.

Stay Up-to-Date on Legal Changes With Friday's Tax Seminar
NBAA is holding its annual Business Aviation Taxes Seminar in San Francisco, CA this Friday, June 3. Legal and financial experts from NBAA's Tax Committee will lead education sessions on ownership structures, personal use, depreciation and capitalization, state aviation taxes and more. This intermediate-to-advanced level seminar is the best single source for flight department financial personnel and their legal and accounting advisers to stay up to date on the ever-changing tax environment. Register now.

Learn Tips and Tools for Business Aircraft Transactions
NBAA is holding a Business Aircraft Transactions Conference on June 9 and 10 in New York, NY. The two-day event is packed with sessions on overcoming the challenges of the current market, such as access to financing, asset recovery, over-insurance, foreign ownership and more. One session will discuss the FAA's proposal to severely limit the Block Aircraft Registration Request (BARR) program. In another, experts will discuss "Maximizing the Opportunities and Minimizing the Pitfalls." Register now.

NBAA Headquarters Closed for Memorial Day Holiday
NBAA offices will be closed today, Monday, May 30, in observance of the Memorial Day holiday, and they will reopen on Tuesday, May 31.