NBAA Provides Rare Chance to Meet With CBP Officials
General aviation (GA) operators from around the country have a unique opportunity to meet face-to-face with what one NBAA leader calls the “GA brain trust” at Customs and Border Protection (CBP). On Sept. 13, NBAA, along with the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association and National Air Transportation Association, is sponsoring a discussion with CBP officials at both the national and regional levels. NBAA Vice President for Safety, Security, Operations and Regulation Doug Carr called the meeting a “rare opportunity” for international GA operators. The event, which begins at 9 a.m., takes place at the West Hangar at Landmark Aviation, Kendall-Tamiami Airport in Miami, FL. Learn about this opportunity to meet with CBP.

Operator Survey Part of Push for Consistent Interpretation of FARs
NBAA and other aviation trade organizations are seeking input from their members as part of a broad effort to get Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspectors and field offices to interpret Federal Aviation Regulations (FARs) consistently throughout the agency. FAA established a Regulatory Interpretation Aviation Rulemaking Committee (ARC 313) earlier this year, which is tasked with “providing a forum for the aviation community to discuss and provide recommendations to the FAA” and making written recommendations to the agency’s associate administrator for aviation safety. Read more about ARC 313.

Association Encourages Owner Participation in FAA Survey
Each year, the FAA invites owners of general aviation aircraft to participate in the General Aviation & Part 135 Activity Survey, which is used by the FAA for planning purposes and by the industry for statistical data. NBAA strongly encourages all aircraft owners who have received the survey to complete and remit the form or complete the survey online. For more information, contact the survey administrator at 9-AVP-InfoAviationSurvey@faa.gov. Take the FAA survey.

Only 50 Days Until NBAA2012
Today marks 50 days until thousands of key players in business aviation gather for the NBAA 65th Annual Meeting & Convention (NBAA2012), set for Oct. 30 to Nov. 1 in Orlando, FL. NBAA2012 represents the most productive and efficient opportunity for business – all in one place, all at one time. NBAA2012 will feature exhibits at the Orange County Convention Center, an on-site outdoor Static Display at the Orange County Convention Center and a Static Display of Aircraft on Orlando Executive Airport, in addition to more than 100 education sessions. Come join more than 25,000 business aviation professionals who are interested in seeing and learning about all that is new in the world of business aviation. Learn more about NBAA2012 and register today.

The Emerging Importance of NBAA Career Day
Aviation pioneer Barrington Irving is the featured speaker at NBAA2012’s Career Day, set for Nov. 1, and he views it as one of the most important jobs presentations of the NBAA 65th Annual Meeting & Convention. “We have a looming problem,” Irving said. “We’re not getting enough young people involved to become industry leaders and to take aviation innovation to the next level.” A Jamaican-born immigrant, Irving grew up in a tough inner-city Miami neighborhood. When he sat in a cockpit for the first time at age 15, he fell in love with aviation. Read more about Barrington Irving.

Bolen to Reiterate Industry's Support for 'NextGen' at Congressional Hearing
NBAA President and CEO Ed Bolen will address issues of concern to the aviation industry over the transformation of the nation’s aviation system to one based on satellite technology at a hearing of the U.S. House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee's Aviation Subcommittee, to be held on Wednesday, Sept. 12 in Washington, DC. The subcommittee is conducting the hearing to explore the FAA's implementation of a "NextGen" system, and Bolen will represent the RTCA's viewpoint as a witness at the hearing. Bolen, a former RTCA chairman, has testified before numerous congressional hearings about NextGen priorities and impediments. Review a memo with details about the hearing.

NBAA Member Testifying at Hearing on Potential Impact of User Fees
Martha King, co-chairman of King Schools will represent NBAA before a Sept 12 hearing of the U.S. House Small Business Committee on President Obama’s proposed $100 per flight user fee. Small Business Chairman Rep. Sam Graves (R-6-MO), who is also a co-chair of the House General Aviation Caucus, called the hearing to examine the financial and regulatory impact of new user fees on the aviation industry – and the impact on private sector job creation. The hearing, “User Fees in the Aviation Industry: Turbulence Ahead,” will be held at 1 p.m. on Capitol Hill. For more information, contact NBAA’s Dick Doubrava at rdoubrava@nbaa.org.

NBAA Spearheading Effort to Improve Recurrent Training
Pilot training is the most important risk mitigation for aviation safety, but as NBAA Safety Committee member Steve Carbonneau says, “Up until now, nobody has really … put together a safety program that specifically addresses the skill sets required of business aviation pilots.” Today’s recurrent training process basically recertifies pilots rather than teaching them new skills or sharpening old ones. For the last year, the Safety Committee has been working with industry stakeholders to examine how recertification can be improved. Read more about the Business Pilot Training Project in the latest issue of Business Aviation Insider.

IBAC Names New Director General
The International Business Aviation Council (IBAC) announced earlier this month the appointment of Kurt Edwards as the council’s new director general, effective immediately. As the organization that represents the interests of business aviation on the world stage and works to coordinate global aviation policies, IBAC will benefit from Edwards’ long career and experience with the FAA. Edwards has served the FAA in several high-level capacities, including deputy director for international affairs, FAA representative to the European Union and many others. Edwards replaces Donald Spruston, who has served as IBAC director general from 1999 to the present. Read more about IBAC and Kurt Edwards.

TFRs Announced for New York Area During UN General Assembly
The FAA released a flight advisory outlining the temporary flight restrictions (TFRs) planned during the United Nations General Assembly session later this month in New York City. The first TFR, in effect from Sept. 18 to 28, only impacts the Manhattan heliports; however, IFR operations to the heliports will be allowed. The second TFR, in effect from Sept. 24 to 25, will prohibit GA operations at LaGuardia (LGA), but aircraft meeting the TFR requirements and using gateway airports may access Republic (FRG), Westchester County (HPN) and Teterboro (TEB) airports. During this TFR, gateway procedures will be established at FRG and Linden (LDJ) for helicopters operating to and from the Manhattan heliports. The third TFR, in effect from Sept. 24 to 25, will provide ingress/egress procedures for traffic to and from Morristown Municipal (MMU). The fourth TFR in effect from Sept. 23 to 25 will prohibit GA operations at JFK. Review the FAA flight advisory.

Regional Safety Events Abound This Autumn
Regional groups from California to North Carolina are planning events this fall designed to address a broad range of aviation safety issues from local perspectives. These luncheons, sessions and full-day events, for which registration is now open, are key to sustaining the industry’s ongoing conversation on safety, said Stacy Howard, NBAA’s western regional representative. “Regional group events can supplement the safety training offered at NBAA’s national and regional forums by calling upon communities to address local issues and concerns,” she said. Learn more about this fall’s regional safety events.

Steve Nielsen to Receive Winant Award for Long-Standing Service to Industry
Steve Nielsen, an accomplished airman, business aviation advocate and former NBAA director, is the 2012 recipient of the prestigious John H. Winant Award. The award will be presented as part of NBAA’s 65th Annual Meeting & Convention, which will be held from Oct. 30 to Nov. 1 at the Orange County Convention Center and Orlando Executive Airport in Orlando, FL. “Steve Nielsen has been a devoted advocate for business aviation throughout his long and distinguished career,” said NBAA President and CEO Ed Bolen. “He honors the tradition of lifelong service to the industry that is John Winant’s legacy, and we are delighted to acknowledge Steve’s contributions with this award.” Read more about Nielsen’s service to the industry.

NBAA2012 Golf Tournament to Raise Money for Charity
Next month, the Association will hold its 16th Annual Chairman's Charity Classic golf tournament to raise money for aviation-related charities. An estimated 240 golfers are expected to hit the links at the Grand Cypress Golf Club in Orlando, FL on Monday, Oct. 29, a day before NBAA2012 opens. Proceeds will benefit NBAA Charities, which raises funds for philanthropic organizations and initiatives that use general aviation airplanes for humanitarian purposes. Read more about NBAA’s charity tournament.

Connect With NBAA Staff at Annual Meeting & Convention
NBAA Members with questions, concerns, feedback or an interest in putting a face with a voice or email address can connect with the Association’s staff members at the NBAA 65th Annual Meeting & Convention, which will be held from Oct. 30 to Nov. 1 in Orlando, FL. All NBAA senior staff, along with many board and committee members, will be at the third annual Coffee Social at the NBAA booth on Tuesday, Oct. 30. Members can meet their NBAA regional representatives and the leaders of regional business aviation groups at a dedicated networking session on Wednesday, Oct. 31, between 2:30 and 4 p.m. Read more about ways to connect with NBAA staff at the Convention.

Call for Speakers: 2013 Leadership Conference
The NBAA Corporate Aviation Management Committee is planning for the 21st Annual Leadership Conference, to be held at the Hilton Austin Hotel in Austin, TX from Feb. 12 to 13, 2013.The conference theme is: “Leadership Legacy: Inspiring the Future.” Speakers who would like to present during the conference to more than 250 business aviation professionals on topics related to the safety, security, service and professional development as they relate to leadership in business aviation are invited to contribute proposals by Oct. 5. To contribute suggestions, contact NBAA’s Jay Evans at jevans@nbaa.org or view NBAA’s request for proposals.