U.S. House Soundly Rejects European Emissions Trading Scheme
The House of Representatives overwhelmingly passed a bill last week prohibiting all U.S. airlines and general aviation operators from participating in the European Union Emissions Trading Scheme (EU-ETS) if it is unilaterally imposed on them. It also orders FAA Administrator Randy Babbitt to work to ensure operators are not penalized by the program. NBAA President and CEO Ed Bolen welcomed the legislation for sending "a strong, unified signal to EU regulators that their planned Emissions Trading Scheme is unacceptable." The EU-ETS will begin on January 1 and by 2013 will charge a carbon tax on all aircraft operations overflying or landing in a European Union country. Learn more about the pending legislation to prevent implementation for U.S. operators.

Globally, Opposition Rising to European Emissions Trading Scheme
With European policymakers pushing for implementation of an Emissions Trading Scheme for aircraft carbon emissions in just two months, opposition in the U.S. and in other countries is growing more vocal. "If they don't call it off, we will retaliate," Prashant Sukul, joint secretary of India's ministry of civil aviation, was quoted as telling the industry publication Aviation Week. Officials in China have also indicated they will retaliate against a unilateral EU decision. Listen to the NBAA Flight Plan podcast on this topic, and read more about how U.S. policymakers are also responding to concerns over the EU-ETS.

'Anti-Lasering' Effort Stepped Up; FAA's Babbitt Asks Public to Intervene
A new web page for reporting aircraft "lasering" incidents was recently unveiled by FAA Administrator Randy Babbitt, who also asked directly for help in catching lasering perpetrators. The web page has links for reporting laser incidents, laser statistics, FAA press releases relating to lasering aircraft, research on the dangers posed to pilots and downloadable videos showing the in-flight effect of a laser on the ground pointed at a cockpit. Despite the threat of an FAA fine as much as $11,000 per incident for interfering with a cockpit crew member, reported incidents of lasered aircraft have surged in the last six years. Read more about the anti-lasering effort.

Coalition: LightSquared Interference With GPS to Cost Government $245B
For months, an industry coalition has raised alarm over the potential costs to the industry (financial and otherwise) of disruption to Global Positioning System (GPS) service from interference produced by signals from telecommunications provider LightSquared. Now, the coalition has stepped forward with a projected $254 billion cost to the government if LightSquared is allowed to force its broadband signal onto frequencies used by global positioning system receivers. Learn the latest on the LightSquared situation.

Aviation Industry United in Opposition to User Fees
NBAA last week joined an aviation industry coalition of nearly 30 organizations in stating the industry's unified opposition to the $100 per flight user fee proposed in the White House's deficit reduction plan. "The coalition of airlines, general aviation, manufacturers, consumer organizations and labor groups is sending a unified message to Congress to reject the proposed taxes," read a joint press release. In the joint statement, NBAA President and CEO Ed Bolen said, "As Congress considers legislation to address the jobs and deficit crises, we want legislators to understand that user fees wouldn't provide a solution, but instead would create a daunting new challenge for companies all across the country." Learn more about the aviation industry coalition.

What Is the Ideal Time for a Takeoff Briefing?
The checklists of most business aircraft manufacturers specify pilots should conduct their takeoff briefing as near to the point of takeoff as possible, even while taxiing to the runway, to keep vital information fresh in their minds. However, some pilots believe the ideal time to thoroughly review all pre-departure information is earlier in the process, before engine start, to avoid distractions. "You must minimize the amount of work that is done while actually moving the airplane," said Steve Charbonneau, secretary of the NBAA Safety Committee. Read more about takeoff briefings.

Signs Continue Pointing to a Strong Future for GA in China
At the International General Aviation Convention in Xi'An, China two weeks ago, 35 contracts for general aviation (GA) aircraft and investments were signed worth $1.5 billion. Less than a week later, Beijing officials set up the first GA manufacturing company in the capital, a cooperative venture of the Beijing Automotive Group and Beihang University of Aeronautics and Astronautics. Private aircraft ownership has been allowed in China since 2003, but enthusiasm for GA in China took off last year when the government announced plans to open much of the country's low-altitude airspace. Read more about the potential growth of GA in China.

Aircraft Sales and Maintenance Tax Reform Advances in Pennsylvania
A bill exempting new and used aircraft sales and maintenance from sales tax in Pennsylvania has advanced in the state legislature. The bill, HB1100, sponsored by Peter Daley (D-49), was passed by the Finance Committee and will likely be considered by the Appropriations Committee before being sent to the State Senate for a vote. NBAA encourages all operators in the Keystone State to contact their legislators and urge them to support the bill. For more information, contact NBAA's Dean Saucier at dsaucier@nbaa.org.

Tuscaloosa Airport Expects Heavy Traffic This Saturday, Plan Ahead
Due to a University of Alabama event on Saturday, November 5, Tuscaloosa Regional Airport (TCL) is anticipating heavy traffic that could cause delays and affect parking availability. The FAA will likely implement a ground delay program and all flights headed to TCL will be issued an expected departure clearance time (EDCT). Once the airport reaches parking capacity, a ground stop will be implemented, at which time no additional arrivals will be allowed. All operators flying to TCL are strongly encouraged to contact one of the two FBOs as soon as possible to obtain a parking reservation and file their flight plan a day ahead of time. Find out more about the TCL traffic procedures.

Don't Miss This Week's Meetings in Oregon, Idaho and Greater New York and Chicago Areas
Did you know that NBAA helps promote regional business aviation group meetings, including local safety days, advocacy days and fundraisers, held nationwide throughout the year? Many new upcoming listings are now online, including this week's meetings hosted on November 2 by the Morristown Aviation Association in New Jersey; on November 3 by the Westchester Aviation Association in White Plains, NY, Idaho Business Aviation Association in Boise, ID, and Pacific Rim Schedulers & Dispatchers Association in Hillsboro, OR; and on November 5 by the Chicago Area Business Aviation Association in Oakbrook, IL. Learn more about regional group events being hosted near you by visiting NBAA's Upcoming Regional Events page.

NBAA Seeks Speaker Proposals for 2012 Regional Forums
The Association is currently inviting proposals for education sessions at its four Business Aviation Regional Forums in 2012. Proposals for presentations are welcome on topics such as safety and risk management, maintenance and technical issues, airspace and airport access, aircraft and flight operations, aviation management, aircraft ownership and career and leadership development. Proposals are due to NBAA by December 1. Review and complete the call for speakers form.