NBAA, AOPA, EAA Challenge DOT on Move to Dismantle BARR
NBAA, the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) and Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) today announced that they will mount a legal challenge to the decision by the Department of Transportation (DOT) to dismantle the Block Aircraft Registration Request (BARR) program. The three associations will seek an injunction to prevent the decision from taking effect and will ask the courts to invalidate the new policy altogether. "The DOT's inexplicable decision last week to abandon a widely supported, congressionally enabled policy permitting private citizens to opt out of publicly available flight tracking applications leaves us no choice but to challenge the move in court," said NBAA President and CEO Ed Bolen. "This is an alarming development, with implications that extend well beyond private aviation." Learn more.

Fighting to Preserve the BARR Program
Following today's announcement from NBAA, AOPA and EAA, NBAA President and CEO Ed Bolen discussed the need for NBAA Members to ensure that Congress hears from the industry about the program's value. Language to preserve the BARR recently passed the House of Representatives, and Bolen urged NBAA Members to use the Association's Contact Congress resource to call upon legislators to preserve the House measure in a final FAA reauthorization bill. Bolen discussed the matter in today's NBAA Flight Plan podcast, and he will also discuss the matter on June 7 during a special edition of the Plane Talk Radio podcast, hosted by Stewart Lapayoker, P.A. Learn more and listen to the NBAA Flight Plan podcast.

Industry Groups Ask TSA to Help Minimize Losses Due to TFRs
NBAA President and CEO Ed Bolen and five other association leaders sent a letter June 2 asking the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) to develop ways to minimize the economic impact of Presidential temporary flight restrictions (TFRs) on general aviation operators. The letter to Administrator John S. Pistole asked for procedures that would allow those in general aviation to continue operating near normal levels while still addressing the security measures necessary to protect the President. Learn more.

FAA Non-Citizen Trust Task Force Meets With Industry
The FAA's Non-Citizen Trust Task Force met last week with representatives from across the aviation industry, including NBAA, to discuss the important role of non-citizen trusts and address the FAA's potential concerns regarding such trusts. The FAA has found that some operations of aircraft registered under non-citizen trusts have not met minimum safety requirements and this initiative is intended to assist the FAA in its oversight role. NBAA is committed to working with the FAA on this matter, while preserving the important function of non-citizen trusts. Learn more.

LightSquared Tests Reveal Potential Interference With GPS
Early reports from technical trials underway throughout the southwestern United States show that new 4G wireless broadband technology used by LightSquared, a potential cellular provider in the U.S., may interfere with Global Positioning System (GPS) signals, which are used commonly in aviation. An FAA advisory has already cautioned that "the GPS signal may be unreliable or unavailable" at the time of the tests. Learn more.

Industry Compensation & Benchmark Survey Results Now Available
Compiled data now is available for the 2011 NBAA Compensation & Benchmark Survey. The results are based upon survey responses from 716 aviation departments that provided compensation data for 4,106 employees. Online access to the survey results is available at no cost to survey participants. NBAA Member Representatives who did not participate in the survey may purchase online access to survey results for $175 and hard copies for $250. Survey results are not available to non-Members. Access the survey results.

Member Advocacy Defeats Tax Increase in Massachusetts
A legislative proposal to eliminate the sales tax exemption on aircraft in Massachusetts has been defeated, thanks to NBAA Members' decisive action. The Association helped mobilize Members and ensure business aviation was well represented at a public hearing on the proposal. The aviation community's advocacy helped in shelving the initial bill and in defeating an amendment to the state budget that would also have eliminated the tax exemption. "Thanks to the work of local aviation advocates, general aviation will continue to be a major contributor to the Massachusetts economy," said NBAA Northeast Regional Representative Dean Saucier. Learn more.

South Carolina Proclaims General Aviation Appreciation Month
South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley (R) last week issued a proclamation declaring June 2011 "General Aviation Appreciation Month" in the Palmetto State, making it the latest state to publicly recognize the value of all general aviation – including business aviation. "Aviation plays a vital role in the economy of South Carolina," wrote the governor in her proclamation, "providing many thousands of jobs and billions of dollars in economic activity." Read the full proclamation.

FAA Gets Laser-Focused on a Growing Problem
Alarmed at the increasing number of aircraft coming under attack by lasers on the ground, FAA chief Randy Babbitt last week outlined tough new civil penalties, invoking a rule normally used in the air. "These fines are a new tool that we're going to use in combating a rise in these laser events," Babbitt said in a June 1 news conference. "We think it's wholly appropriate that in these cases, the FAA uses its authority to apply civil penalties to these situations," said Doug Carr, NBAA's vice president for safety, security & regulation. Hear more from Babbitt and Carr in a special NBAA Flight Plan podcast and read more.

Accident Criminalization Hampers Safety Efforts
When two pilots involved in a mid-air collision over Brazil were last month found guilty of manslaughter by a Brazilian court, the industry was reminded that recent moves to treat aviation accidents as crimes can undermine safety by discouraging reporting and information-sharing that could prevent similar incidents in the future. "Anybody that flies internationally should be concerned about this anti-safety initiative," said Steve Brown, NBAA senior vice president for operations & administration, following the Brazilian court's ruling. Read the Business Aviation Insider online extra.

Santa Monica Gives Up Legal Challenge in Fight to Ban Large Aircraft
City of Santa Monica officials announced last week that they would not contest a federal court's ruling in favor of the FAA that the city could not ban "Category C and D" aircraft from Santa Monica Airport (SMO). NBAA, having filed a 'friend of the court' brief in support of the FAA's position, gladly welcomed the announcement. "The city's decision ensures that the job creation, economic activity, local investment and other benefits business aviation brings to the airport will continue," said NBAA President and CEO Ed Bolen. "It also clears the way for representatives from industry, the airport and the local community to refocus on effective ways to address all stakeholders' concerns." Learn more.

Chicago O'Hare Issues Runway Safety Alert
To accommodate the ongoing Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD) modernization program, Taxiways V and KK will be permanently closed and the north half of the northeast cargo ramp will be demolished beginning on June 30. Aircraft accessing the reduced ramp area, which includes the general aviation ramp, should be alert for runway crossing instructions. Due to the construction, increased crossings of Runway 27L and 32R will be necessary to access the GA ramp area. Review the safety alert.

Learn About Using Digital Charts at This Week's White Plains Forum
NBAA's White Plains, NY Regional Forum is this Wednesday, June 8 and it's not too late to register. The day-long learning forum on Westchester County Airport (HPN) features sessions on aircraft transactions, regional airspace issues, tire safety and more. In one session, Jeppesen will present "Best Practices for Transitioning from Paper to Digital Charts," including relevant FAA regulations and guidance on how to safely transition to a paperless flight deck. Register now.

Fantastic Results for Membership Month Campaign
NBAA's second "May is Membership Month" campaign finished last week in record fashion with the largest number of May applications in Association history. Additionally, Members shared more than 200 testimonials on their favorite NBAA experience, and more than 300 companies signed up for the "Member Benefit of the Day" promotion. "May is generally slower for Membership growth, so we maximized this time with a dedicated campaign to highlight the value of being an NBAA Member, attract new Members through referrals and ask all Members to share with us what they appreciate most about the Association. We could not be more pleased with the results and sincerely appreciate our Members' investment of time, energy and dues," said Aimee Kaufman, director of marketing. Review the full Benefit of the Day list.

More Jobs Than Ever Posted to NBAA Jobs Board
Last month, more jobs were posted to the NBAA Jobs Board than in any other month so far, encompassing the full range of business aviation employment. There are openings for pilots in Canada, flight attendants in Florida, maintenance supervisors in Vermont, FBO managers in Kentucky, sales professionals in Texas and aviation directors in Arizona. More than 1,500 business aviation professionals have posted their resumes to the site. Add yours today.

Female Travelers: Learn to Act, Not React, in Threatening Situations
Whether flying as a crew member or passenger, female travelers have unique safety concerns. Women traveling alone need the skills to assess potential threats and be proactive, not reactive, and both women and men need to be knowledgeable about the laws and customs of their destinations. On June 28, NBAA will host a live webinar titled "Safety & Security: Threat Mitigation for the Traveling Businesswoman," featuring ASI Global's Katie Colberg and moderated by aviation journalist Benét J. Wilson. The panel also will include two women who are industry veterans – a pilot with experience flying international missions and a flight attendant – who will provide real-world perspectives and expertise. Register now.