Recently Passed Highway Bill Contains Provisions of Interest to Industry
A federal highway funding bill signed into law last week contains several provisions of interest to business aviation operators, with one key issue stricken from the measure but another contentious point left intact. Lawmakers opted to strike an amendment that would have shifted regulatory authority for airspace over certain national parks and tribal lands from the Federal Aviation Administration to the National Park Service. Less encouraging was the continuation of the "fuel fraud" tax on aviation kerosene, despite protests from aviation groups and the support of key lawmakers to repeal the measure. Read more about provisions of interest in the highway bill.

FAA InFO Explains Magnetic Variation Differences on RNAV Systems
Pilots should be aware that there can be differences between the magnetic courses charted on standard instrument departure/standard terminal arrival (SID/STAR) charts and magnetic courses displayed by some RNAV systems. In most cases, these differences can be attributed to charting convention and RNAV system design differences related to magnetic variation. RNAV systems either rely on their navigational database for magnetic variation or calculate it dynamically. This means that the magnetic course displayed by the RNAV system for a specific instrument procedure leg may differ slightly from the magnetic course charted on the plate for the same leg. Review the FAA InFO to learn more.

Podcast: Building a Pipeline Between Education and Aviation
Business sophisticates call it the issue of "succession." Others simply call it the question of "who'll run the company once I retire?" In both cases, the answer lies in the next generation of business aviation professionals. The NBAA Business and Collegiate Aviation Pipeline Program Guide provides information for Member Companies, regional business aviation groups and college aviation degree programs on how to work together to introduce students to business aviation and develop future leaders for the industry. In this week's NBAA Flight Plan podcast, hear more about the career pipeline concept and review NBAA's pipeline program resources for business aviation.

Congressional Committee Amends Proposed Restrictions on Government Attendance at Industry Events
Two months after congressional passage of severe restrictions on government/private-sector interaction, the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform recently agreed to legislation that amends proposed travel restrictions on federal government employees. The committee passed HR 4631, "The GSA Act of 2012," which contains language addressing both the concerns about government travel and those of the letter signers. Included in the bill is a change to the original proposal that would have prohibited federal employees from attending more than one conference held annually by a private organization. Read more about the amended travel bill.

Business Aviation Keeps Media Company Connected
Edwards Group is a media company in Seneca, SC whose publications and associated web sites help keep the residents of smaller communities connected. For this company, with a diversified set of enterprises and 350 employees working in far-flung locations, staying connected is essential. "I don't think we could run the company without an airplane, because when you have problems in a company our size, you have to handle them right now," said Edwards Group Co-owner Steve Edwards. Read more about how this NBAA Member relies on its business airplane in the latest issue of Business Aviation Insider.

London 2012 Olympic Airspace Training Module Available Online
The UK National Air Traffic Services (NATS) has designed a computer-based training package to help operators prepare for travel throughout the UK during the London 2012 Olympic Games. New procedures will be in place to accommodate the large influx of air traffic expected in and around the region including airspace restrictions and slot-controlled departures and arrivals. The four computer-based training modules provide graphical illustrations of general airspace restrictions and route information for arrivals into specific airfields. Operators planning travel to the UK during the Olympics are urged to plan ahead and review this information. Access the NATS Olympic Airspace Computer Based Training Package.

Italian Revenue Agency Issues Guidance on Aircraft Tax
The Italian Revenue Agency has published further information on modifications to a number of new taxes on aircraft passed by its parliament in April. The latest guidance clearly states that private aircraft not registered in Italy are allowed to spend up to 45 consecutive days in the country before being subject to the tax. The agency also provides more details on the tax on air taxis, which ranges from 100 to 200 euro per passenger per leg. Learn more about the tax situation in Italy.

FAA Reports Pilot Errors on Teterboro and Morristown Arrivals
Philadelphia TRACON has informed NBAA of a very high incidence of pilots not complying with the JAIKE Three RNAV standard terminal arrival route (STAR) on arrivals into New Jersey's Teterboro (TEB) and Morristown Municipal (MMU) airports. Pilots are missing the "at" crossing altitude at ILENE. On one shift the incidence rate was more than 50 percent. This places aircraft in conflict with other arrival and departure traffic for New York metropolitan airports, presenting a serious safety concern. The NBAA Access Committee's Flight Deck Avionics Subgroup has prepared a primer on the JAIKE Three STAR and the "Descend Via" procedure in general. Review the resource now.

'Green' Terminal Is a First for Michigan
Pilots, passengers and other visitors to Oakland County International Airport (PTK) in southeastern Michigan have a new attraction to visit at the busy Detroit-area reliever airport: A state-of-the-art general aviation terminal building that is both attractive and environmentally friendly, having been certified to the LEED Gold standard. LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification provides independent, third-party verification that a building was designed and built using strategies aimed at achieving high performance in sustainable site development, water savings, energy efficiency, materials selection and indoor environmental quality. County officials said the new terminal is the first in the state, and the first general aviation terminal in the country, to receive this certification. Read more about PTK's environmental efforts.

NBAA Leadership Council Reaches Milestone With 100 Members
Established three years ago this summer, the NBAA Leadership Council now has 100 members with the recent addition of six companies – Phillips 66, Honeywell International, B/E Aerospace, Daher-Socata, Solarius Aviation and Dow Corning. In reaching this milestone, "NBAA and the business aviation community owe a debt of gratitude to every company and individual who has stepped up," said NBAA President and CEO Ed Bolen. Leadership Council members are taking charge of the industry's future, ensuring that business aviation is understood and valued, by providing the necessary funding to help support the No Plane No Gain advocacy campaign. Learn more about the work of the Leadership Council.

NBAA Seeks Candidates for Five Open Positions
The Association is currently seeking a manager of web development; a coordinator of advertising and sponsorships; and an administrative assistant to support the Conventions & Forums team. NBAA is also hiring for a manager of static displays and an Operations Service Group specialist to provide legislative, regulatory, technical and flight operations information to NBAA Members. View the complete job descriptions for all open positions online.