NBAA Welcomes Government Report Highlighting Value of Business Aviation
NBAA President and CEO Ed Bolen on May 30 welcomed a new report, issued by the U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC), confirming the critical importance of business aircraft manufacture to America’s industrial base, and the value of business aviation in making companies of all sizes more efficient, productive and competitive. The report on the business jet industry was requested last year by U.S. House Representatives Mike Pompeo (R-4-KS) and Lynn Jenkins (R-2-KS), in order to provide a comprehensive government examination of the challenges and opportunities confronting the industry. The two were joined in their request for the study by Rep. Dave Camp (R-4-MI), who chairs the House Ways and Means Committee. Learn more about the USITC study.

Bolen to Speak at RTCA Symposium on Status of NextGen Efforts
NBAA President and CEO Ed Bolen will represent the business aviation community as a panelist at the 2012 Annual RTCA Symposium in Washington, DC on June 5. He will participate on a panel titled "NextGen Success," which will explore the NextGen Advisory Committee perspective on ensuring a successful program implementation. Panelists will be asked to address the issues related to NextGen that are significant to each segment of the aviation community, and also to identify any impediments to implementing NextGen. Bolen serves as RTCA Vice Chairman. For more information, visit the RTCA website.

Podcast: Start of Hurricane Season a Good Time to Review Emergency Plans
Even before the Atlantic hurricane season officially got underway June 1, two named storms were formed, with one – Tropical Storm Beryl – dumping rain over much of the Southeast over Memorial Day weekend and into the last week of May. Fortunately, Michael Peery, general manager of Signature Flight Support at Georgia's Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport (SAV), was prepared. As he watched the remnants of Beryl dump sheets of rain on his ramp, ground crews handled incoming and departing traffic efficiently despite of the deluge. Beryl was a great opportunity for Peery to test the latest iteration of his emergency operations plan before hurricane season officially got underway. Read more about hurricane preparedness.

IBAC Aircrew Card Offers Variety of Benefits
The IBAC Aircrew Identification Card has provided business aircraft flightcrews with a convenient, internationally recognized form of identification since the International Business Aviation Council (IBAC) first issued it in 1983. The card was created to ease ramp access and assist in customs identification, but it does not provide security clearance into restricted areas. "It facilitates operations like security, immigration and customs in terms of identifying the crewmember," said Don Spruston, IBAC director general. "However, it is not a security document and is not intended to replace the screening requirement for going into a security restricted area." Learn more about IBAC Aircrew Card benefits.

Industry, GA Caucus Leaders Oppose Proposed Expansion of NPS Role in Air Tour Regulation
NBAA and other general aviation groups have joined the fight against proposed legislation that would give the National Park Service (NPS) unprecedented authority to regulate air tour operators flying over national parks and tribal lands. That authority now rests with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). On May 30, GA Caucus co-chairs, Rep. Sam Graves (R-6-MO) and Rep. John Barrow (D-12-GA), sent a letter to lawmakers stating their opposition to the proposal. "Section 100301 is nothing more than a biased judgment on how best to experience our national parks," the co-chairs said in their letter. "Unfortunately, it will effectively eliminate the air tour industry. The end result will be lost jobs for pilots, drivers, tour guides, support staff and local businesses and adversely impact the helicopter manufacturing, maintenance and parts industries." Read more about the proposed legislation.

NBAA Joins Coalition Supporting Continued DoD Biofuel Research
NBAA has joined 12 other aviation groups in supporting continued research by the Department of Defense on the use of biofuels, even as lawmakers have voted to strip funding for those efforts. In a letter to lawmakers, a coalition of aviation groups protested a recent vote to block the department's participation in programs to construct biofuel refineries, which would severely curtail research into the use of biofuels derived from plants such as algae and sugar cane to supplement the use of petroleum-based jet fuel. "It is our collective belief that the ongoing efforts of the United States military on alternative fuels are helping reduce the cost of those alternatives and will ultimately help reduce our reliance on foreign oil," the groups wrote in their May 23 letter. Read more about the coalition’s stance.

NBAA Has Answers to Common Questions About Flight Tracking
The government is again providing aircraft owners and operators the ability to “opt out” from having their flight information publicly broadcast on the Internet, but the government’s challenge to the program last year has raised many questions about flight tracking among NBAA Members. For example, in 1992, the FAA created a graphic display of all aircraft operating on IFR flight plans in U.S. airspace, the Aircraft Situation Display for Industry, or ASDI. Many business aircraft operators want to know who has access to the ASDI. Another common question is whether the opt-out program protects historic flight details, or just real-time flight information while the aircraft is in the air. For the answers to these and other questions, check out an Online Extra in the latest issue of Business Aviation Insider.

NBAA to Repeat Strong Opposition to EU-ETS at Senate Hearing
NBAA President and CEO Ed Bolen is among the aviation industry leaders who will testify on June 6 at a hearing of the full Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, focused on the European Union Emissions Trading Scheme (EU-ETS) and its impact on US aviation operators. "EU-ETS not only imposes a costly administrative burden on general aviation operators, but singles out a great American industry for discriminatory treatment," Bolen said when discussing the issue on May 14, during the opening general session for this year's European Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition (EBACE) in Geneva, Switzerland. Read more about the industry’s opposition to EU-ETS.

Canada Border Services Agency Requests Participation in Survey
The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) provides border clearance service at over 1,200 locations across Canada. In order to better understand the needs of business aircraft operators, CBSA is requesting that NBAA Members complete a brief survey. Over the past few years, NBAA and the Canadian Business Aviation Association have made a concerted effort to increase collaboration with CBSA and facilitate cross-border flights. Operators that conduct flights to Canada are strongly encouraged to complete this survey, as it will assist in further work with CBSA. The deadline for responses is June 8. Take the survey now.

This Week's Teterboro Forum Features ATC Session on Mitigating Delays
It's not too late to register for NBAA's next Business Aviation Regional Forum, in Teterboro, NJ this Thursday, June 7. NBAA President and CEO Ed Bolen will provide the opening address at the forum, which will also feature an education session on Traffic Flow Management: How It Impacts Your Flight Operation, to help pilots understand the airspace around them and what methods air traffic control (ATC) uses to manage it. Understanding traffic flow management and knowing how to access information on the National Airspace System is key to mitigating delays. View the media advisory for this event, and register now for the Teterboro Regional Forum.

Massachusetts Produces New Video on Value of GA
Facts, figures and earnest testimonials in a new video leave no doubt about the value of general aviation (GA) in Massachusetts. The nearly nine-minute presentation was produced earlier this year by the MassDOT Aeronautics Division with help from both NBAA and the Massachusetts Business Aviation Association. "Not everyone in Massachusetts yet understands how much GA, particularly business aviation, contributes to the state's economy and its overall quality of life," said Chris Willenborg, administrator of the Aeronautics Division. "This video is another tool for the Aeronautics Division staff and airport managers to use in educating our state legislative leaders, business leaders and the general public about the important economic impacts of aviation." View the video and learn more.

Bangor Airport Begins GA Apron Renovations
Business aircraft operators flying into and out of Maine's Bangor International Airport (BGR) will benefit from improved access this fall, when a $5.4 million renovation of the airport’s GA apron should be completed. Rep. Mike Michaud (D-ME), a member of the House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee and a proponent of the renovation, applauded the upgrade, noting in a statement that the improvement "could lead to new business and travel opportunities....Investments in our infrastructure create jobs, make our businesses more competitive and move our economy forward," Michaud said. Read more about the renovations.

Safety, Security in Focus at Next Week's Flight Attendants Conference
NBAA's 17th Annual Flight Attendants/Flight Technicians Conference will be held next week, from June 14 to 16 in Chicago, IL. There's still time to register online, and the globally-themed agenda includes several sessions on cabin safety and security, including a presentation on Crew Resource Management for Flight Attendants by J. D. McHenry of Global Jet Services. Additionally, a security session presented by Tom Winn of Frontier MEDEX will introduce the basics of threat identification and risk assessment. To participate, register for the Flight Attendants Conference now.

Time Running Out to Register for June Events
As spring turns to summer, NBAA is presenting a host of conferences and seminars with opportunities for education and networking – but many are filling up fast. In conjunction with next week’s Flight Attendants/Flight Technicians Conference in Chicago, IL, NBAA is offering two Professional Development Program (PDP) courses: the Flight Operations Manual workshop on June 11 & 12 and the Management Fundamentals for Flight Departments workshop on June 13 & 14. Later this month, NBAA will present an Aircraft Transactions Conference, June 21 & 22 in New York, NY and an SMS Workshop on June 26 to 28 in Morristown, NJ. Sign up for these events now.