Congress Passes Legislation Reinstating the BARR
NBAA last week applauded final congressional passage of a comprehensive appropriations bill that includes language reinstating the Block Aircraft Registration Request (BARR) program. "The BARR is a congressionally enabled program, and it’s clear that Congress doesn’t want the government to limit it,” said NBAA President and CEO Ed Bolen, noting that by including the language in the bill, members of the House and Senate demonstrated their understanding of the value of the program. President Obama signed the legislation into law shortly after Congress sent it to his desk. Learn more about the BARR reinstatement.

With the BARR Reinstated, What’s Next?
While last week’s passage of legislation with language to reinstate the BARR program has been welcomed by the business aviation community, details on how the BARR program will be reinstated have yet to be worked out, said NBAA President and CEO Ed Bolen. He shared his thoughts on next steps and other matters related to the BARR program in this week’s NBAA Flight Plan podcast. Read more about recent BARR developments.

NBAA Welcomes Move to Halt LightSquared Funding
Senator Pat Roberts (R-KS) last week offered an amendment to a funding bill that would prohibit the Federal Communications Commission from spending federal funds to deploy LightSquared's 4G broadband technology, until it can be proven the technology will not interfere with global positioning system receivers. "There is too much at stake in interfering with a tool we all use, and on which our public safety and national security depend so heavily," said Roberts. Review the latest on the LightSquared controversy.

IRS Final Regulations Clarify Federal Excise Taxes for SMLLCs
Final U.S. Treasury Regulations issued October 26 clarify that single member limited liability companies (SMLLCs) are treated as separate corporations for purposes of the federal transportation excise tax (FET). NBAA had argued, in comments submitted to the IRS, that imposing FET on payments to an SMLLC by its owner for transportation service would unintentionally create a tax liability where one did not exist previously. However, the preamble to the October 26 final regulations explains that “amounts paid after December 31, 2007, to an SMLLC by its owner for air transportation are subject to the tax imposed by section 4261.” For an explanation of this rule change and its impact on certain aircraft owners and operators, view the downloadable Tax Committee article on NBAA’s Federal Excise Tax site.

People in Business Aviation Champion 'No Plane No Gain' Message
Dede Strombotne is a customer service representative for Landmark Aviation at North Carolina’s Raleigh-Durham International Airport (RDU). Her husband is a business aircraft pilot. “This industry is my livelihood, and my family's livelihood,” she said. “The great majority of people don't understand the 'business' aspect of general aviation… that it enhances an employee’s ability to make three stops a day, in sometimes obscure airports, to conduct that business.” To help combat those misperceptions, Strombotne recently requested No Plane No Gain lapel pins for her and her husband to hand out when people ask about their jobs. Review Strombotne’s story.

Dedicated Business Jet Flies Injured Veterans for Free
Cessna has designated a Citation Mustang, the “American Patriot,” to provide free transportation for severely wounded U.S. veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan conflicts. The specially painted business jet, first unveiled last month at NBAA’s Annual Meeting & Convention, flew its inaugural flight this month, carrying wounded U.S. Army veterans Sgt. Bobby Henline and Sgt. Matthew Miles from San Antonio, TX to ceremonies honoring them in Pinehurst, NC. To fly the American Patriot’s mercy missions, Cessna will work with the all-volunteer Veterans Airlift Command, which coordinates free business airplane transportation for veterans through its network of aircraft owners. Read more about Cessna’s American Patriot jet.

Massachusetts Proclaims November ‘GA Appreciation Month’
Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick (D-MA) has issued a proclamation declaring November 2011 as “General Aviation (GA) Appreciation Month” in Massachusetts, making his state the 34th in the last two years to officially recognize the value of all general aviation, including business flying. “Massachusetts has always enjoyed an active role in aviation,” said NBAA President and CEO Ed Bolen. “So we appreciate Governor Patrick’s designation of this month recognizing the value of all general aviation, including business aviation, in the state.” Read the full proclamation.

C&S Wholesale Grocers Flies Missions of Business and Mercy
Keene, NH-based C&S Wholesale Grocers is one of the largest wholesale food distributors in the country. As the company has grown, serving customers far from major airports, it has relied more and more on business aviation. “We fly into several locations that are not easily supported by airline service, allowing face-to-face meetings with customers and employees,” said Vice President of Aviation Joe Briggs. The company also finds time to fly humanitarian missions, recently carrying a five-month-old home to Virginia on its Hawker 850XP following cancer treatments in Boston. Read the full company profile in the latest issue of Business Aviation Insider.

ABACE2012 Site Is First OEM-Authorized Service Center in China
Shanghai Hawker Pacific, the host site for the 2012 Asian Business Aviation Conference & Exhibition (ABACE2012), was awarded its Part 145 certificate by General Administration of Civil Aviation of China on November 8. The facility is 51 percent held by the Shanghai Airport Authority, with the balance controlled by Hawker Pacific, and has the capacity to handle more than 40 business aircraft a year. The facility will initially offer maintenance services for the Hawker 4000, with follow-on maintenance for the Dassault Falcon 7X to be added soon. Learn more about the ABACE2012 host site.

Wisconsin Airport Extends Runway to Draw Business Aviation
Mayor Patrick Liston of the city of Baraboo, WI says the Baraboo-Wisconsin Dells Municipal Airport (DLL) is key to growth in his area of the Badger State. The long-established airport serves the Wisconsin Dells area. Last year, it lengthened its runway to 5,000 feet to accommodate a wider range of business airplanes. “Our airport is an absolute necessity. It’s a way to bring people into this area and encourage development,” said Liston. Learn more about DLL.

Operators Welcome at Nashville ATC Forum, Dec. 1
The FAA ATC Forum at Nashville International Airport (BNA) will be presented by Memphis Center and BNA TRACON personnel from 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Central Time at the Gasaway Bldg., 612 Hangar Lane, Nashville, TN 37217. RSVP to FAA’s Faby Mendiaz at Fabiola.Mendiaz@faa.gov or join a telcon presentation by dialing in at (817) 222-4871, passcode 4847#. For more information, contact NBAA’s Harry Houckes at hhouckes@nbaa.org.

Update Your Records With NBAA’s New Payment Address
If you have not already updated your records with NBAA’s new payment address, please do so immediately to ensure smooth payment processing in the future. Forwarding services from the old payment address will be suspended on January 31, 2012. Any new Membership applications or renewal payments should now be sent to this updated address: National Business Aviation Association; Attn: Membership; P.O. Box 55481; Boston, MA 02205-5481. Learn more.

Join Key U.S. and Canadian Regulators at Cross-Borders Conference
To address the common challenges faced by operators transporting passengers across the border, NBAA and the Canadian Business Aviation Association (CBAA) are jointly presenting a conference on December 8 and 9 in Toronto. The CBAA/NBAA Cross-Border Issues Conference will feature top government regulators from the U.S. Department of Transportation, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and Canada Border Services Agency. Among the issues covered will be cabotage, the Advanced Passenger Information System (APIS), customs requirements and more. Sign up for the Cross-Borders Issues Conference.

Speaker Proposals Due for 2012 Regional Forums
The Association invites proposals for education sessions at the 2012 Business Aviation Regional Forums, which will be held February 2 in New Orleans, LA; April 12 in Van Nuys, CA; June 7 in Teterboro, NJ; and September 20 in Seattle, WA. 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 the call for speakers.