NBAA to Represent Business Aviation on EU-ETS at U.S. Chamber Event
NBAA President and CEO Ed Bolen will speak at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce's 11th Annual Aviation Summit, an annual industry policy event to be held April 12 in Washington, DC. As part of this year's event theme of "Flying Toward Global Economic Growth," Bolen will address top experts and leaders from all sectors of aviation about the European Union's Emissions Trading Scheme (EU-ETS) and its impact on the business aviation industry. Find out the latest news and information on this topic at NBAA's EU-ETS site.

FlightSafety Proficiency Protection Program Revived for 2012
A "Proficiency Protection Program" that kept hundreds of unemployed business pilots and maintenance professionals current at no cost to them in 2009 is being reinstated by training provider FlightSafety International. The re-born program will run through the end of this year. Pilots and technicians who became unemployed since January 1 of this year through staff reduction or job elimination are eligible for the training, which will be provided on an as-available basis. Those taking advantage of the offer will not be required to repay the cost of the training or enter into a new training agreement once re-employed. Learn more about the FlightSafety's program.

Grassroots Effort Takes 'No Plane No Gain' Message to Local Leaders
Last year, two professionals from different corners of the industry teamed up to create a multimedia presentation on the benefits of business aviation and deliver it in their communities. This grassroots advocacy work, modeled on the No Plane No Gain campaign, was the initiative of Brenda Libby of Starlink Aviation in Montreal and Rene Banglesdorf of Charlie Bravo Aviation in Austin, TX. "Each section [of the presentation] takes aim at a different myth about business aviation," said Banglesdorf. "The truth is ... the passengers are engineers, managers and employees using that aircraft to conduct business for their company." For details, read a Business Aviation Insider online extra.

Podcast: Could No 'Boom' Mean a Big Boon for Business Aviation?
What NASA called a "breakthrough" in wind tunnel testing could soon take the "boom" out of supersonic flying, and scientists at the Dryden Flight Research Center believe it could benefit business aviation in "years rather than decades." Because weight is a factor in the loudness of a sonic boom, the first supersonic aircraft quiet enough to fly over land may well be a business aircraft. Two supersonic models designed by Boeing and Lockheed have had promising wind tunnel tests. Find out details in the latest NBAA Flight Plan podcast or read the full article.

NBAA Takes Concerns About Aircraft Tax to Italian Embassy
Last week, NBAA staff members met with officials at the Italian Embassy in Washington, DC to explain how a new tax on business aircraft will negatively affect commerce between the two nations. As NBAA previously reported, any private aircraft that spends more than 48 hours in Italian territory is potentially subject to the tax, which can escalate to over 300,000 euros for intercontinental class business aircraft. Officials at the embassy were receptive to NBAA's serious concerns regarding the tax and pledged to raise the matter directly with key officials in Italy. Learn more about NBAA's advocacy efforts at the Italian Embassy.

Nantucket Runway Closures This Week
Nantucket Memorial Airport (ACK) will be closing two of its three runways for resurfacing work on Monday April 9 at 6:00 a.m. local (1000z). Runways 6/24 and 15/33 will be closed through Thursday, April 12 at 7:00 p.m. local (2300z). The ILS will also be shut down during this time period. The only available runway will be 12/30 with a length of 2,696 feet. During this four-day closure, only VFR operations will be permitted to Runway 12/33 and only during daylight hours. Direct questions to NBAA's GA Desk at gadesk@nbaa.org.

NBAA's Van Nuys Regional Forum Is This Thursday
NBAA's Business Aviation Regional Forum in Van Nuys will be held this Thursday, April 12 and will feature a full education program with timely education sessions on topics like federal excise tax (FET) issues for aircraft management companies. Just last month, the IRS chief counsel's office released a non-binding advisory claiming that FET applies to management fees and other payments by an aircraft owner to a management company. The Van Nuys session will examine the latest IRS guidance and offer best practices to mitigate potential audit risks. To attend this and more, register for Van Nuys Regional Forum.

Safety Training Event in San Antonio Next Week
The Partnership for Corporate Aviation Training (PCAT) will hold its four-day safety event from April 16 to 19 in San Antonio, TX. This annual event offers comprehensive training tailored specifically for business aviation operations with an emphasis on safety management system (SMS) development. The courses repeat over the four days to accommodate flight department needs, and participation qualifies as credit toward NBAA's Certified Aviation Manager (CAM) program. Learn more at the PCAT site.

Avoid Runway Excursions With Northeast Region Safety Forums
Based on claims data from aviation insurers, runway excursions are on the rise. These incidents threaten the safety of passengers and crew, risk property damage and result in FAA citations. To help operators reduce the risk of runway excursions, NBAA and aircraft underwriter USAIG are supporting a series of free safety forums in the Northeast region this year. The first event will be held May 1 on Westchester County Airport (HPN) and co-hosted by the Westchester Aviation Association. A second forum, co-hosted by the Connecticut Business Aviation Group and Key Air, will be offered June 20 on Waterbury-Oxford Airport (OXC). To reserve a spot, contact NBAA's Dean Saucier at dsaucier@nbaa.org.

NBAA Board Revises Bylaws
The Association's Board of Directors recently approved revisions to NBAA's Bylaws that ensure compliance with new statutory provisions, clarify ambiguous language and reflect current practices in governance and management. Members may direct questions to NBAA's Corporate Secretary Benjamin Schwalen at bschwalen@nbaa.org. Review the current NBAA Bylaws.

Discover NBAA's History, and Future, on Facebook
NBAA has recently updated its Facebook page with the new "timeline" format, where through photographs and stories you can explore the Association's history and milestones, from its founding in 1947 to the first Static Display of Aircraft in 1954 to the first offering of the Certified Aviation Manager exam in 2003. The timeline also provides notifications of upcoming NBAA programs, advocacy issues and events, like next month's European Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition. Visit and click "like" to follow NBAA's Facebook page.

Final Chance for Compensation & Benchmark Survey
The deadline to take NBAA's 2012 Compensation & Benchmark Survey has been extended to this Friday, April 13. All NBAA Member operators that take the survey receive free online access to the results. This industry tool provides a comprehensive review of aviation department salaries and operational data to help NBAA Members run the most effective and efficient flight departments. All data will be held strictly confidential and only NBAA Member Representatives or their designees may enter survey data. Learn more and take the survey.