Government Action on BARR Imminent; Court Fight Continues
With the government's plan to limit the Block Aircraft Registration Request (BARR) program expected to take effect tomorrow, August 2, general aviation groups anticipated that many of their members' flights will be subject to display on the Internet in the near term, but that a court challenge will ultimately restore their ability to opt out from having their aviation movements tracked online. "While we anticipate that the court will reverse the government's action, we also expect that the BARR program will be curtailed in the short term," said NBAA President and CEO Ed Bolen. "In the meantime, we strongly encourage everyone who has used the program to ask government officials to preserve their ability to opt out from having their flights tracked." Learn more about the BARR situation.

Did You Know? NBAA and AOPA Site Supports BARR Court Fight
As NBAA and the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) challenge the government's decision to limit the BARR program in court, the associations have launched a web site to allow Members to contribute to the battle. "This web site for the BARR Legal Defense Fund provides an easy, convenient way for people to make a contribution toward this important fight," said NBAA President and CEO Ed Bolen. Get answers about the fund and make a contribution by visiting the BARR Legal Defense Fund site.

NBAA Responds to Obama's Continued Assault on Industry
As reported previously, NBAA has aggressively canvassed all of the nation's major news outlets in the wake of President Obama's continuing comments denigrating companies that use business aviation as part of his position on the debt ceiling negotiations. The responses have continued to draw from the core messaging for the No Plane No Gain advocacy campaign. For example, last week, NBAA's Ed Bolen was joined by Tom Buffenbarger, the international president for the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, for an in-studio interview on The Bill Press Show, a radio program broadcast on a host of terrestrial stations across the U.S, as well as on satellite radio. NBAA's Dan Hubbard also talked with Fox News Tampa affiliate WTVT immediately following the president's most recent remarks. Review the radio interview and view the Fox News broadcast.

Industry Promotes Important Safety Tool: C-FOQA
Business aviation operators are beginning to implement a program that the airlines have long found useful in helping identify trends in their flight operations. Called corporate flight operations quality assurance, or C-FOQA, the data-management program collects, scrubs and processes flight data to generate reports that flight departments can use to predict potentially high risk operations, or operational areas that need attention. The program "gives a great opportunity to be proactive and predictive as to potential risk areas," said Steve Charbonneau, Altria Client Services Aviation's senior manager, aviation training and standards. Learn more about C-FOQA.

New IS-BAO Director's Mission: Foster Program's Continued Growth
Former NBAA Board Director Jim Cannon's primary mission as the new director general of the International Standard for Business Aircraft Operations (IS-BAO) of the International Business Aviation Council is to manage the continued growth of the nine-year-old certification process. Cannon was handed the assignment in June as part of a restructuring of IS-BAO's management. Read about Cannon's background and vision for IS-BAO.

NBAA Message at Oshkosh: Employee-Owned Aircraft Provide Competitive Edge
In today's challenging economy, companies are always looking for ways to increase productivity, become more nimble and gain a competitive advantage. Last week at AirVenture Oshkosh, NBAA distributed a white paper describing how employees that use their own aircraft for company business can provide that competitive edge. The report includes recommendations on determining whether or not employees should use their aircraft for business travel, how to make the best use of the asset and how to get an employer interested in the concept. Learn more about using employee-owned aircraft for business.

Delaware Proclaims GA Appreciation Month
Delaware Governor Jack A. Marshall and Lt. Governor Matthew Denn recently issued a proclamation declaring July 2011 as General Aviation Appreciation Month in the state. "Governor Marshall and Lt. Governor Denn understand the importance of business flying to their state," said NBAA President and CEO Ed Bolen. "In their declaration of General Aviation Appreciation Month, they specifically cite the need to keep GA, the aerospace industry, aircraft manufacturing and aviation organizations healthy for the good of Delaware citizens." View the Delaware proclamation.

Finding Right Maintenance Partners for Light Airplane Operators
While flight departments often have a dedicated maintenance staff on-site, most owner-operators rely on partners and vendors to keep their aircraft airworthy and compliant. Managing the maintenance for a business airplane and finding the right maintenance partners can be a challenge. "At the check ride, I absolutely expect the [owner-operator] to determine if the aircraft is airworthy, and to know who is going to maintain the jet," said flight instructor Tom Norton, president of Norton Aviation. In the Quick Turns column in the latest edition of Business Aviation Insider, some owner/operators recommend joining a type club to get familiar with aircraft maintenance issues. Learn more, including what to look for when choosing a repair shop.

Industry Veteran Roger Whyte Joins ABACE2012 Team
NBAA today announced that business aviation veteran Roger Whyte has been enlisted to bring his vast knowledge of the industry, especially in the Asian region, to the Association's preparations for the 2012 Asian Business Aviation Conference & Exhibition (ABACE2012). "Roger has decades of experience in business aviation, including many years as a Cessna executive responsible for the company's pioneering business success in the Asia Pacific region," NBAA President and CEO Ed Bolen said. "His depth of knowledge informs our work, and will ensure that ABACE2012 is the preeminent business aviation event in Asia, and one of the most important aviation events in the world." Learn more about Whyte's role at ABACE2012.

U.S.-India Aviation Agreement Could Unleash Regional Potential
India, with the world's second-largest population, holds much promise for aviation. Even in the midst of a struggling global economy, its gross domestic product is expected to climb 8.2 percent this year – on top of last year's 9.7 percent growth rate. Still, India has no infrastructure for business aviation. That's why a new Bilateral Aviation Safety Agreement, establishing an official relationship between the two countries on matters of aviation technology and development, is so important. "This allows us to market our technology in the U.S., and for American companies to market their technologies in India," said Arjun Singh, director of India's Aviation Cooperation Program. Listen to this week's NBAA Flight Plan podcast.

NBAA Leaders to Speak at Regional Events in San Diego, Addison
At upcoming events in San Diego, CA and Addison, TX, NBAA leaders will address issues of interest to the business aviation community. The San Diego event will be hosted by the Southern California Aviation Association on August 16 from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. and feature NBAA President and CEO Ed Bolen speaking on the importance of business aviation to regional economies and current issues facing the industry. The Addison event will be hosted by the North Texas Business Aviation Association on August 16 from 12:00 noon to 1:30 p.m. and feature NBAA Senior Vice President, Operations & Administration Steve Brown on the government's move to end the Block Aircraft Registration Request (BARR) program. Learn more and register for these and other upcoming regional events.

Granite State Offers New Means to Fund Smaller Airports
A new means to provide funding for New Hampshire's community airports recently took flight, with passage of legislation creating an aeronautical fund to maintain and promote them. Tricia Lambert, aeronautics director for the New Hampshire Department of Transportation, explained the aeronautical fund creates an alternative for helping airports not eligible for federal funds. "This is one of our biggest initiatives to come up in the past two years," she said. "Certainly in this economic environment, it's been difficult to collect funds for those airports." Learn more about the New Hampshire airport fund.

Brooksville's Hernando County Airport Takes Top Florida Honors
A West Florida airport with plans to expand its already-solid appeal to business aviation was recently honored as the state's 2011 Community Airport of the Year. Hernando County Airport (BKV) in Brooksville offers expansive facilities and quick access to the Tampa Bay area. Learn more about BKV's value to the local community.

FAA to Hold Aviation Meeting Tomorrow in Midland, TX
The FAA will hold an aviation community meeting tomorrow, August 2 in Midland, TX to discuss air traffic procedures at Midland International Airport (MAF). The meeting will be held in the terminal's third-floor Media Room from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. All operators who fly in the Midland-Odessa region are invited to attend to discuss issues related to the local airspace. For more information, contact NBAA's Steve Hadley at shadley@nbaa.org.

ORBIS Flying Eye Hospital Visits Los Angeles This Week
To advance its efforts at preventing and treating blindness in developing countries, humanitarian organization ORBIS operates the Flying Eye Hospital, a fully equipped surgical and teaching hospital onboard a modified DC-10. This week, the ORBIS Flying Eye Hospital will be making a goodwill stop at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), from August 3 to 5. NBAA Members are invited to attend tours of the aircraft and related events. View the ORBIS Flying Eye Hospital invitation.

NBAA Salutes Retiring EAA Chairman Tom Poberezny
When Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) Chairman Tom Poberezny announced his retirement last week, NBAA was quick to salute his decades-long career. "During his tenure in the left seat of EAA, Tom Poberezny has effectively translated his passion for aviation into a remarkable legacy of success," said NBAA President and CEO Ed Bolen. "As the leader of EAA, he demonstrated he was one of the best association executives in the world, and primary contributor to a broader industry team." Read more about Poberezny's legacy.

Gold Wing Award Application Now Online
Applications are now available for NBAA's Gold Wing Award for Reporting Excellence, which recognizes journalism's important role in making known the value and contributions of business aviation. The award is presented each year at NBAA's Annual Meeting & Convention for excellent, accurate and insightful reporting on issues related to business aviation, by trade or nontrade media. Applications are due September 30. Download the 2011 NBAA Gold Wing Award application.

Travel$ense 3.89 Update Released
NBAA has issued an update for the Association's business travel productivity tracking software. This update addresses changes to the airline reservation system used by Travel$ense, which prevented the program from retrieving comparable airline flights and fares. Travel$ense is a tool to help management better analyze and understand business travel by calculating actual business hours, productivity and trip expenses saved by traveling via business aircraft. Learn more and download the update.