NBAA Represents Business Aviation in FAA's Digital Chart Distribution Planning
Last week, NBAA represented Member interests at an opening dialogue hosted by Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) officials to discuss proposals for making digital charts available for the new generation of electronic applications being used in aviation. Over 70 attendees representing digital chart providers and industry groups discussed various options for making the charts available at a consistent standard and a reasonable cost, but no firm plans were made. Agency officials announced their intention to consider the options discussed and to meet with industry for further planning guidance at a future date. NBAA will continue to work directly with the FAA to develop a fair, affordable, impartial and transparent system that will allow the FAA to recover the cost of producing the digital charts while also ensuring their safe distribution and use. Learn more about the meeting.

FAA Formalizes Full Reinstatement of BARR Availability
On December 16, the FAA issued a Federal Register notice formalizing the agency's December 2 announcement that those wanting to enroll aircraft in the Block Aircraft Registration Request (BARR) program no longer need to provide a "valid security concern" to participate in the program. The BARR program allows aircraft owners and operators to "opt out" from having their flight information broadcast over the Internet. As NBAA previously reported, to enroll in the program, aircraft owners and operators simply need to submit a blocking request directly to the FAA by following the instructions on NBAA's web site. Operators that previously submitted a "certified security concern" to FAA and are currently blocked do not need to re-enroll. Learn more about the new BARR process.

Podcast: BARR Battle Figured Prominently for Industry in 2011
If 2011 was a milestone year for the business aviation industry, one key stretch along the journey involved the battle over the BARR program. "Our Members registered concerns about privacy, competitive issues and certainly security issues," said NBAA President and CEO Ed Bolen in an April 4 interview for the NBAA Flight Plan podcast. In the first of three year-in-review segments, this podcast edition looks back on the industry's work to reinstate the BARR. Listen to the NBAA Flight Plan podcast and read the full article.

Industry Rebuffs LightSquared's Proposed Remedy for GPS Interference
As the federal government has confirmed reports that signals from a proposed nationwide wireless broadband network interfere with most GPS receivers, LightSquared has responded with an offer to cede control of bandwidth closest to that used for GPS, but NBAA and other industry stakeholders said the offer does not resolve concerns about interference. LightSquared's offer "doesn't alleviate our overall concern that its signals will still interfere with GPS signals, potentially jeopardizing the safety of countless pilots and others who rely on GPS for navigation," NBAA said last week. Review the latest on the LightSquared situation.

It's Year-End, Is Your Paperwork Ready for Tax Filing?
As the end of the year approaches, aircraft operators are making sure they have all their records in order for tax reporting. Complying with federal tax laws requires careful documentation of operating and financial data throughout the year, to calculate the company's personal entertainment use disallowance and to impute the additional income of employees who've flown on company aircraft for personal reasons. "It's not just a handoff of that data to accounting," said the aviation director of one New York-based NBAA Member Company. "We work together with accounting on the tax reporting and with the SEC team on the proxy." Learn how to get your tax paperwork in order.

Operators Encouraged to File Flight Plans as Early as Possible
Anticipating a busy holiday travel season, the FAA is reminding operators of the benefits of filing timely and accurate flight plans. General aviation flight plans can now be input in the traffic management system up to 24 hours in advance when filed through a flight plan service provider or flight service station. The more flight plans that are filed in advance, the clearer the picture traffic managers will have of system demand. These flights are also likely to be less delayed than flights filed after any program has been issued. Also, filing accurate departure times helps reduce unexpected demand spikes at airports like New Jersey's Teterboro (TEB) that can lead to ground stops. Review this year's holiday airspace changes and learn more about traffic management tools.

FAA Requests Participation in Survey on Aeronautical Data
The FAA is running a research and development program enabling aircraft to use commercial terrestrial or satellite broadband links to access the agency's near-real-time aeronautical, weather and traffic flow management information. The program, called Aircraft Access to System Wide Information Management (SWIM), would also allow aircraft to exchange pertinent real-time operational data. The FAA is asking operators to participate in a 15 to 20 minute survey to determine pilot needs and desires for this information in the cockpit. Review and take the survey now.

Louisiana Proclaims Vital Role of General Aviation
Recognizing that general aviation (GA) contributes over $2 billion annually to his state's economy, Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal this month declared December 2011 "General Aviation Appreciation Month" in the Bayou State. Noting that the industry employs nearly 8,000 Louisianans, Jindal also cited the vital role GA plays in responding to emergencies and natural disasters. "Governor Jindal's announcement is especially appropriate in light of Louisiana's leading role in the evolution of business aircraft," said NBAA President and CEO Ed Bolen, "Jimmy Wedell and Harry Williams of Patterson, LA played a key role in the Golden Age of Aviation in making airplanes the reliable, high-speed business machines we have today." Read the full Louisiana proclamation.

Community Support Builds for GA Tax Relief in New York
The New York Aviation Management Association's efforts to advocate for exempting general aviation aircraft from state sales and use taxes have rapidly gained backing in the legislature – the New York Legislative Aviation Caucus, formed in 2010, now has more than 100 members. Now, support is building in New York communities for the exemption. Recently, Long Island's newspaper Newsday published an editorial endorsing the legislation, and in the Lower Hudson Valley, the Stewart Airport Commission unanimously voted to support it. Find out why New York communities are supporting tax relief for GA.

NBAA Partnership With CBP Pays Off for Members
Thanks to the effective partnership between NBAA, other industry groups and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), compliance with Advance Passenger Information System requirements for international flights has consistently been over 99 percent. This level of compliance has impressed CBP officials and enabled NBAA to make progress on other initiatives that streamline customs clearances while maintaining security, such as allowing aircraft systems to remain powered during radiation screening. This change by CBP has reduced the preclearance at Ireland's Shannon Airport from a 90-minute process to one lasting 45 to 60 minutes. See other security procedures where NBAA is working with CBP in a Business Aviation Insider online extra.

Further Guidance Published on RNP 10 in the Gulf of Mexico
For operators flying aircraft with a Single Long Range Navigation System (S-LRNS), the FAA has published guidance on the authorization process for conducting RNP 10 operations in the Gulf of Mexico Oceanic Control Areas (GoMex CTA). On October 20, the FAA implemented 50-nautical-mile lateral separation between aircraft authorized for RNP 10 or RNP 4 operations in the GoMex CTA. The process for RNP 10 authorization of aircraft equipped with S-LRNS is the same as that for aircraft equipped with two or more LRNS with the exception that S-LRNS RNP 10 eligibility is currently restricted to GoMex operations. Learn more operations in the Gulf of Mexico.

Implementation of UK Air Passenger Duty Delayed
After a public comment period in which over 500 entities, including NBAA, submitted comments, the UK Treasury elected to delay implementation of the air passenger duty (APD) on business aircraft operators until April 2013. In a joint statement, the British Business and General Aviation Association, British Helicopter Association and European Business Aviation Association explained that some of the most harmful provisions of the APD proposal have been mitigated. For example, the charges for business aircraft will be based on the distance of the flight, as is the case for commercial airlines. Also, business aircraft between approximately 12,500 and 44,000 pounds will be subject to the same rates as commercial airlines instead of being subject to a special higher rate. Learn more about the UK APD.

Flying Into Indianapolis at Super Bowl Time? Be Prepared
The National Football League's Super Bowl championship is one of those infrequent but large events that brings an influx of people into the host city. Each year, accommodations must be made for all modes of transportation – including all types of aviation traffic – in the host city for the event. In anticipation of increased air traffic surrounding Super Bowl XLVI, set for February 5 at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, IN, the FAA has released information for operators flying to the event. This includes a list of Indianapolis-area airports that will have temporary control towers, giving operators more choices and helping to minimize delays. There will be no slot requirements in place for any Indianapolis-area airports, although a temporary flight restriction NOTAM will be issued for the airspace immediately around Lucas Oil Stadium a few weeks before the event. Get more information on air traffic procedures for the Super Bowl.

FAA Updates Washington, DC SFRA Course
To reflect changes in ingress and egress procedures at Virginia's Leesburg Executive Airport (JYO), the FAA has created a revised version of its Special Flight Rules Area (SFRA) online course. Pilots who follow published procedures for entering and exiting the Leesburg maneuvering area no longer need to file an SFRA flight plan. The revised online course is designed to address these changes and provides updated kneeboard guides that pilots can download. The online training course is required for pilots operating within a 60-nautical-mile radius of the Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) VOR/DME beacon. While pilots are encouraged to take the revised course, those who have already completed it are not required to take it again. Learn more about the Washington, DC SFRA.

South Florida Group Organizing 'Toy Airlift' to Haiti for Holidays
The Airlift Flyers Aviation Corps (ALFA), an all-volunteer airbridge based in South Florida, is calling all flight departments and owner/operators to help fly donated toys to children in Haiti affected by the 2010 earthquake. The group expects donations to top 1,000 soccer balls, teddy bears, Lego sets and educational games, and is arranging charitable flights to carry the toys to Haiti by December 22 to clear customs in time for the holidays. ALFA is especially asking any operators planning a positioning flight from the East Coast to the Caribbean to consider carrying a load of toys to Haiti. Anyone interested in volunteering should contact AFLA Coordinator Rick Sante at rick@alfa.aero. Learn more about ALFA, and about charitable holiday efforts by other business aviation groups.

Barnstable Municipal Airport 'Worth Millions' to Community
According to a report last month by the Massachusetts Department of Transportation, Barnstable Municipal Airport (HYA) on Cape Cod, MA contributes more than $227 million annually to the state's economy, generating 2,246 jobs. "Local businesses depend on Barnstable Municipal for getting their products to consumers, for quick transportation to meetings, to see clients and even commuting," said Jessica Sylver, CEO of the Hyannis Area Chamber of Commerce. "In fact, some businesses likely wouldn't have located here if it wasn't for the airport. It's worth millions to our communities." Read more about Barnstable Municipal Airport.

Vote for Your Favorite Business Aviation Insider Cover
Business Aviation Insider, NBAA's award-winning bimonthly publication, provides authoritative information in the areas of safety and aircraft operations, legislative and regulatory advocacy, education and careers, networking and commerce – virtually every aspect of business aviation. NBAA is asking readers to take a quick poll to vote on their favorite Business Aviation Insider magazine cover this year. All poll participants are eligible for a chance to win an NBAA- or No Plane No Gain-branded hat, and votes must be cast by December 30. Results will be announced in NBAA Update and in the March/April 2012 issue of Insider. Vote now.

Call for 2012 Applications: NBAA Flying Safety Awards
Applications are now being accepted for NBAA's 2012 Flying Safety Awards and all operating Members are encouraged to apply to be recognized for their records of safe flying. These annual awards are endorsed by the National Safety Council and recognize years and hours of accident-free service through 2011, attesting to the professionalism of a company's management, maintenance, pilot and support teams. The 2012 program rules and applications are mailing to Members starting this week and also are available online. Learn more and apply for a 2012 NBAA Flying Safety Award now.