FAA Acting Administrator Huerta to Speak at NBAA2012
Michael Huerta, acting administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), will deliver remarks during the Opening General Session of the NBAA 65th Annual Meeting & Convention (NBAA2012), which is scheduled for Oct. 30 to Nov. 1 at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, FL. "NBAA is honored to include Michael Huerta during the kickoff event to this year's Convention," said NBAA President and CEO Ed Bolen. "His insights on a variety of issues of importance to the business aviation community will be of great interest to all Attendees." Read more about Huerta.

Senate Passes Bill Prohibiting EU-ETS, as Industry Calls for White House Action on the Proposal
On Sept. 22, NBAA welcomed Senate passage of legislation prohibiting operators of U.S. aircraft from participating in the highly controversial European Union Emissions Trading Scheme (EU-ETS). The House passed similar legislation earlier this year, and the two bills must now be reconciled into a single measure for a final vote from both chambers. The Senate's action came as NBAA and 18 other aviation organizations appealed to President Obama to take legal action against the scheme. In a Sept. 17 letter, the coalition asked Obama to file an "Article 84" proceeding with the International Civil Aviation Organization, to challenge the EU's inclusion of international aviation operations in its regulation on carbon emissions. "Standing up against the application of this unilateral scheme on U.S. airlines and general aviation aircraft operators is necessary to protect U.S. sovereignty and jobs," the letter states. "The United States must answer, and an Article 84 action is an appropriate and critical part of that answer." Review the industry coalition's letter to President Obama and the NBAA statement on the Senate action.

NBAA Hopes to Broker Solution to Part 142 Training Dilemma
The NBAA Domestic Operations Committee and its Part 135 lead hope to broker new language in guidance to FAA principal operations inspectors (POIs) that will ease the interpretation of guidelines that have forced at least one operator to ground both crews and aircraft because of training and certification issues, and have led some Part 142 training centers to pull the qualifications of instructors and check airmen. Many instructors at Part 142 training centers have plenty of real-world experience as flight crewmembers for Part 135 operators. The problem is proving that in a way that is acceptable to the POI. Read more about the training dilemma.

Reduced Longitudinal Separation Minimum Trial Begins in the NAT
The FAA has issued an InFO advising pilots and operators that a trial aimed at establishing lower aircraft separation minima has been implemented within the Gander and Shanwick Oceanic Control Areas in the North Atlantic (NAT) airspace. The Reduced Longitudinal Separation Minimum (RLongSM) Trail will help in obtaining optimum vertical profiles by reducing the longitudinal separation requirement from 10 minutes to five for eligible aircraft. No application is required – pilots simply have to request a change in altitude, be properly equipped and have minimum navigation performance specification (MNPS) approval. Aircraft will benefit by having a greater opportunity to climb to more fuel-efficient levels as well as change speed or altitude due to turbulence or bad weather. View the FAA InFO on NBAA's North Atlantic Region page.

DOT Asks FAA to Do More to Reduce Bird Strikes
A recent Department of Transportation report says collisions between birds and airplanes occur five times more often now than in 1990, and calls on the FAA to do more to solve the problem – offering the agency 10 recommendations to ensure it is working to reduce wildlife hazards at or near airports. The FAA said it agreed with most of the recommendations, but did not concur with a request to change the reporting of bird strikes from voluntary to mandatory. The agency said it will continue to perform spot checks of airports' strike records during annual inspections. Wildlife strikes are not new threats to aviation safety, but in the past two decades wildlife strikes have steadily increased from 1,770 reported in 1990 to 9,840 reported in 2011. Read more about bird strikes.

Just Over 40 Days Until the November Elections – Do You Know Where Candidates Stand?
As of today, 43 days remain until the national elections on Nov. 6, and in the run-up to the elections, Attendees at NBAA's Convention in Orlando will be able to hear analysis from famed political couple James Carville and Mary Matalin on the show's second day on Oct. 31. In the meantime, NBAA Members can make sure they're informed about the candidates, with the Association's online "Election 2012" resource, which has information about all candidates, from the presidential contenders, to the congressional candidates, to those running for a seat in the legislature in each state. The resource also maps out simple steps for people to get involved, and help ensure that the candidates elected in November are aware of the industry's priorities. Read more about NBAA's Election 2012 resource.

Utah Governor Declares Business Aviation an Important Tool for Companies
Citing a "vibrant and supportive aviation community" in Utah, Gov. Gary R. Herbert has proclaimed September as Aviation Appreciation Month in the state. "Business aviation is an important tool for companies in Utah to improve efficiency, save money and open opportunities in rural areas not served by commercial aviation," the governor said in his proclamation. With the September Aviation Appreciation Month proclamation, Utah becomes the 45th state to recognize the value of all GA, including business aviation, since the 2009 launch of the No Plane No Gain campaign. Read more about GA in Utah.

Alaska Celebrates General Aviation Month
In a state where general aviation (GA) aircraft are seemingly as common as pickup trucks in the Lower 48, Alaska Gov. Sean Parnell recently acknowledged September as General Aviation Appreciation Month. In his proclamation, the governor cited a total economic impact of $3.5 billion by GA in Alaska, noting that 10 percent of the state's jobs are related to business flying in the state. In the proclamation, he said, "[That's]…an overall economic impact of $400 million, or $571 per capita, ranking Alaska's aviation industry among those of the top 10 states most impacted economically by aviation." In response to the governor's proclamation, a Ketchikan Daily News editorial applauded business aviation in Alaska and noted the importance of the state's 255 public-use airports. Read more about GA in Alaska.

Schedulers & Dispatchers Training Expanded at Next Year's Conference
Earlier this year, NBAA introduced the Conference Training Initiative program at the 2012 Schedulers & Dispatchers (S&D) Conference, offering training acknowledgements to participants in sessions on safety management systems (SMS). Training schedulers in risk assessment is important "because so often they're the go-to person for many circumstances," said S&D Conference chair Karen Steinkamp. For next year's conference, NBAA plans to double the number of sessions offered through the program, from six to 12. Eight of the sessions will focus on SMS and the use of risk-assessment tools. The other four will cover tax topics. Read more about the S&D training program in the latest issue of Business Aviation Insider.

China Going Forward with New GA Airports in Beijing, Shanghai
A recent report indicating official support for the development of two new general aviation (GA) airports in Shanghai and Beijing was welcomed by advocates for China's growing business aviation industry. China's official Xinhua News Agency cited remarks about the plans for the airports made by Li Jiaxiang, administrator of the Civil Aviation Administration of China. Li said the planned airports were part of a comprehensive program to develop and modernize China's aviation infrastructure. Jason Liao, chairman and CEO of the China Business Aviation Group and NBAA's chief representative in Asia, said the report is "an additional sign of the government's efforts to build a strong aviation sector in China." Read more about new GA airports in China.

NBAA, Other Groups Gather to 'Celebrate' General Aviation's Value in Alaska
NBAA recently joined with general aviation (GA) advocacy group leaders, a U.S. senator, state aviation policymakers and local aviation supporters to highlight the importance of all GA, including business aviation, in Alaska. The event, titled "A Celebration of General Aviation," was held Sept. 17 at the Signature Flight Support Center on Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport. It was organized by the General Aviation Manufacturers Association, with support from NBAA, the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association and the National Air Transportation Association. "The scale of many things in Alaska can be difficult to imagine, and that's the case for general aviation, an essential industry in the state," NBAA President and CEO Ed Bolen said at the event. "The industry's size, its diversity and the many ways it is valued cannot be overstated, and that's the central message of the No Plane No Gain program." Read more about the general aviation celebration in Alaska.

Northeast Groups Invest in Aviation Education
Scholarships are a common way for many regional business aviation groups to give back to their communities – and fundraising is a great way to bring their members together. Over the last eight years, one group, the Friends of Trenton-Mercer Airport (TTN), has raised more than $100,000 in scholarships for prospective pilots at a local community college. "This is advocacy in motion," said NBAA's Northeast Regional Representative Dean Saucier. "Not only is this group helping educate students, but they're also creating goodwill among the community." Read how this Trenton group and other groups in the Northeast – in White Plains, Long Island and elsewhere – are investing in education.

Utah Group Holding First Safety Event This Week
The Utah Business Aviation Association is holding its first-ever Fall Safety Luncheon this Thursday, Sept. 27 at Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC). The program will include presentations on safety management systems, flight risk assessments and a representative from Salt Lake City TRACON discussing the Class B airspace and new approaches at SLC. Regional safety events like this build partnerships between operators, service providers, manufacturers, airports and the FAA – all working together to enhance business aviation safety. The luncheon will be held from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. in Kibbe Executive Terminal on the airport. Learn more at the UBAA website.

Waco Aviation Alliance Hosting Freedom Ball, Sept. 29
The Greater Waco Aviation Alliance will hold its annual Freedom Ball on Sept. 29 at the new Col. James Connally Aerospace Center located on the Texas State Technical College Airport (CNW). The ball is hosted annually by the alliance to honor members of the military and raise money for scholarships for students pursuing careers in aviation. Sponsored by SpaceX, The evening event will feature a silent auction, live music and networking. The ball will be held from 6:30 p.m. to 11:45 p.m. For tickets or more information, contact NBAA's Steve Hadley at shadley@nbaa.org or visit the Greater Waco Chamber's website.

Denver Aviation Safety Symposium Scheduled for Oct. 5
The Colorado Aviation Business Association (CABA), in partnership with the Metropolitan State University (MSU) of Denver Department of Aviation & Aerospace Science, will hold an Aviation Safety Symposium on Oct. 5. Featured speakers include astronaut Joe Tanner, Rick Ellerbrock of Jeppesen, Janet Bressler of the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association and Luke Collison of McAir. The symposium will begin at 7:30 a.m. at the Wings Over the Rockies Air & Space Museum, located at 7711 East Academy Boulevard in Denver, CO. For more information, contact NBAA's Steve Hadley at shadley@nbaa.org or visit the CABA website.

What Are You Most Looking Forward to at NBAA2012?
NBAA recently took an informal poll on the Association's Facebook page to find out what people are most looking forward to at NBNAA2012, which runs Oct. 30 to Nov. 1 in Orlando, FL. Of the 105 people who answered the poll, nearly half (51) said they were looking forward to all of the poll choices: Seeing exhibits of business aviation products and services, viewing business aircraft of all shapes and sizes, attending education sessions and meeting with friends and colleagues. Of the four possible choices, "viewing business aircraft of all shapes and sizes" alone received nearly a quarter of all votes. For more on NBAA2012 and other NBAA headlines, visit and follow NBAA's Facebook page.

Social Media Is an Essential Information Source for NBAA Members
Social media channels not only provide information that keeps NBAA Members up-to-date on the industry, but they also extend the Association's reach when Members share the information they find with their friends and followers. When NBAA has information to share, first notices often can be found on Facebook, Twitter, Google+ and LinkedIn, which are regularly updated throughout each day. "Going to NBAA's Facebook page or Twitter site is an excellent way for Members to get a summary – the highlights – of what's been going on with their Association and industry," said NBAA Director of Internet Communications Jason Wolf. Read more about NBAA's social media efforts.