NBAA Not Buying White House Defense of User Fees
Last week, NBAA President and CEO Ed Bolen responded forcefully to a signal of renewed support for user fees from the Obama Administration. The White House defended its position in a reply to more than 8,000 signatories who added their names to a petition asking President Obama to reconsider his support for user fees. “With its response to the industry's unified and well-founded concerns over user fees for general aviation, the Obama Administration has made clear its intention to ignore the fact that fuel taxes are a proven, efficient, fair and environmentally friendly way to charge for the industry's use of the aviation system,” Bolen said. “Instead, the White House intends to set aside the industry's concerns by pushing ahead with an administratively burdensome, bureaucracy-building, foreign-style user fee scheme that has very little to do with actual costs imposed on the system.” Read Bolen’s statement in its entirety.

Operators Reminded to Re-Register Aircraft
Aircraft owners with registration certificates issued in July of a given year are reminded to apply for re-registration of their aircraft with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) prior to the January 31, 2012, deadline. Those operators should have already received a notice in the mail containing an online re-registration code. As published in a 2010 final rule, all civil aircraft registered before October 1, 2010, must be re-registered over a three-year period according to a schedule of rolling deadlines. NBAA urges owners of aircraft with registration certificates issued in any other month to verify their address with the FAA registry and to check the schedule in order to determine their re-registration period. Review the re-registration process and see the schedule.

Rule Change Helps 135 Operators at Foreign and Military Airports
Last week, the FAA issued a direct final rule that modifies the language in 14 CFR 135.225 to permit Part 135 operators that have been issued the C079 Operations Specification to operate at foreign and military airports with lower-than-standard weather minimums. This rule change brings the specific regulatory section into alignment with other sections of the regulations that currently permit lower than standard IFR operations at domestic civilian airports when authorized. NBAA has worked with the FAA to resolve differing interpretations of the rule over the last few years, but this change resolves the issue once-and-for-all in a manner acceptable to Part 135 operators. The rule change is effective on February 27, 2012. Direct questions to NBAA’s Mark Larsen at mlarsen@nbaa.org and review NBAA’s Part 135 resources.

New Excise Taxes Being Levied by IRS on Business Aviation
In recent years, Internal Revenue Service (IRS) auditors have become more aggressive in their audits of aircraft management companies and charter operators. The auditors have begun assessing federal excise tax (FET) on a wide variety of non-commercial flight operations, including flights conducted by aircraft owners under FAR Part 91 when the aircraft is managed by an outside management company. In a new article, NBAA Tax Committee members Keith Swirsky and Christopher Younger of GKG Law, P.C. analyze whether FET applies to these operations, and if in certain situations IRS auditors may be incorrectly asserting the FET is due. Review the article on NBAA's FET page.

Tell Your Senator to Support EU-ETS Prohibition Act
NBAA is encouraging all Members to urge their senators to support the European Union Emissions Trading Scheme (EU-ETS) Prohibition Act of 2011, introduced by Sen. John Thune (R-SD). The bill prohibits all U.S. airlines and general aviation operators from participating in the EU-ETS if it’s unilaterally imposed on them. It also directs the FAA administrator to work to ensure U.S. flight operators are not penalized by the program. Members can use NBAA’s Contact Congress portal to send their senators a letter saying, “the ETS proposal represents a clear threat to U.S. sovereignty, and imposes an unnecessary burden on business aviation – an industry that is committed to continually reducing its already small carbon footprint.” Contact Congress now.

Minnesota Aviation Group Goes to Washington
With serious regulatory challenges confronting the industry this year, from EU-ETS to newly proposed user fees, the Minnesota Business Aviation Association (MBAA) decided to go to Washington, DC and meet face-to-face with their federal legislators. Scheduling meetings with Minnesota representatives on key committees and those on the General Aviation Caucus, MBAA sent its executive director, Gordon Hoff, and another operator to Washington. "I think the people we met with certainly have a better understanding of how business aviation is impacted by the issues we brought up," Hoff said. Learn how MBAA provides a grassroots model for other regional business aviation groups in the latest edition of Business Aviation Insider.

As New Year Begins, Industry Confronts EU-ETS
On January 1, the European Union's Emissions Trading Scheme went into effect for air travel to, from and within its collective borders as operators around the world raised concerns and several countries threatened retaliation. Legislation banning U.S. operators from complying with the EU-ETS passed the House overwhelmingly last year and awaits action in the Senate. Meanwhile, commercial air carriers are moving to charge passengers a $3 fee in order to pay for compliance. Chinese operators have said flat-out they will not pay the EU-ETS tax. NBAA continues to emphasize that operators should continue complying with EU-ETS monitoring, reporting and verification requirements. Read more about the latest developments in the EU-ETS controversy and what they mean for business aviation.

Nav Canada to Change SID/STAR ATC Procedures on Feb. 9
On February 9, Nav Canada will implement a major change in Canadian ATC procedures that will require aircraft to comply with published SID/STAR altitude restrictions unless they are explicitly cancelled by ATC. An aircraft that is assigned a SID/STAR, and then assigned a higher/lower altitude is still expected to comply with any published altitude restrictions on that SID/STAR while climbing/descending to the new assigned altitude unless ATC specifically states “all STAR altitude restrictions cancelled.” This change differs from U.S. ATC procedures contained in AIM Section 4-4-10g, which states that any new altitude clearance cancels any previous altitude clearance and any published altitude restrictions on a SID or STAR unless the restrictions are restated by the controller. Aircrew are encouraged to add this as a special briefing item prior to traveling to any airport in Canada with published STARs or SIDs (conventional or RNAV). Learn more about the Nav Canada changes.

New Orleans Forum to Have Sessions on iPads and Runway Safety
NBAA’s Business Aviation Regional Forum in New Orleans next month has a full agenda of timely and topical education sessions geared to flight department personnel and owner/operators alike. The program includes an interactive session on iPads in the cockpit, to which Attendees are encouraged to bring their tablet devices, as well as sessions on runway safety, workers’ compensation and aircraft resale values. This day-long learning and peer networking forum will be held February 2 on New Orleans’ Lakefront Airport (NEW). See the full program and register today.

Temporary Towers to Be Installed at Super Bowl Airports, Feb. 5
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. Accordingly, the FAA will install temporary towers at three airports in the Indianapolis, IN, area between February 1 and February 6 due to an expected increase in aviation traffic associated with the event. Those airports are Indianapolis Regional (MQJ), Indianapolis Executive (TYQ) and Eagle Creek Airpark (EYE). Operators should check the NOTAMs on the day of operation to confirm the operational status of these temporary towers. For more information, visit NBAA’s Super Bowl XLVI web page.

Georgia Scholarships for Aviation Students and Professionals
The Georgia Business Aviation Association (GBAA) is currently accepting scholarship applications from Georgia high school students interested in aviation careers and business aviation professionals in the state pursuing continuing education. The application deadline is March 15. Learn more and download application forms at the GBAA site.

This Week's Schedulers & Dispatchers Conference to Include Award Recognition
During the NBAA 23rd Annual Schedulers & Dispatchers (S&D) Conference this week in San Diego, the Association will recognize 2012 S&D Outstanding Achievement & Leadership Award winner Fred Barth, a founder and former chairman of the Schedulers & Dispatchers Committee. Created in 2008, the award recognizes individuals who have shared their industry expertise, exhibited leadership and made significant contributions to the scheduling and dispatching function. Barth, who served with the U.S. Air Force in Vietnam, was the longtime flight operations control manager of AT&T’s aviation division. Review S&D Conference details and learn more about the Outstanding Achievement & Leadership Award.

Nominations for Meritorious Service, Doswell Awards Due Feb. 25
NBAA is now accepting nominations for its two highest awards, the Meritorious Service to Aviation Award and the John P. "Jack "Doswell Award. The Meritorious Service Award recognizes individuals who have made significant lifelong contributions to aviation. The Doswell Award honors lifelong individual achievement in support of the aims, goals and objectives of business aviation. The 2012 award recipients will be officially recognized at the NBAA 65th Annual Meeting & Convention in Orlando, FL. Review the award nomination guidelines.

Call for Speakers: 2012 Flight Attendants Conference
NBAA is requesting proposals for speaker sessions at the 17th Annual Flight Attendants/Flight Technicians Conference in Chicago, IL, to be held from June 14 to 16. The theme for this year’s program is “Going Global” and the conference will focus on the expanding role of the cabin crew on international trips. Education sessions should focus on safety, security, maintenance or professional development for business aircraft cabin crews. All proposals must be received by January 31; contact NBAA’s Jay Evans at jevans@nbaa.org with any questions. Review the call for speakers now.

Apply for Summer Internship With NBAA
NBAA has a paid internship opportunity in Washington, DC for an intern to assist subject-matter experts with research activities on regulatory and technical issues related to the operation of business aircraft. The internship is an excellent opportunity for an articulate, organized undergraduate in aviation management or similar field to learn about business aviation. Submit resume and cover letter by February 29 to hr@hbaa.org. Learn more about the NBAA internship.

Update Your Records With NBAA's New Payment Address
If Members have not already updated their records with NBAA's new payment address, they should do so immediately, as forwarding services from the old payment address will be suspended on January 31. Any new Membership applications or renewal payments should now be sent to: National Business Aviation Association; Attn: Membership; P.O. Box 55481; Boston, MA 02205-5481. Learn more.