Industry Groups and FAA Discuss Contract Check Airman Issue
Last week, NBAA and industry groups discussed with Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) officials their concerns related to how contract check airmen and instructors employed by Part 142 training centers are qualified for use by Part 135 air carriers. At issue is an FAA requirement that all contract simulator instructors and check airmen must have completed initial training and qualification for at least one Part 135 operator at some point in their career in order to be eligible to provide services on a contract basis to Part 135 carriers. Learn more about the check airman issue.

Regulators' Participation in Industry Events Threatened by Pending Legislation
NBAA and other associations are concerned that an amendment to legislation that may be passed during the "lame duck" session of Congress would prohibit regulators from attending more than one industry meeting per year. The "21st Century Postal Service Act of 2012'' (S.1789), which includes the amendment (SA2060), has passed the Senate and is awaiting action in the House of Representatives. Earlier this year NBAA and 2,100 other groups sent a letter to Congress opposing the travel restrictions on representatives of federal agencies. Review the associations' letter and learn more about the pending legislation.

New Reports Show Slow but Steady Growth in Business Aviation
Several newly released business aviation market reports show that the industry upturn that began earlier this year is continuing into 2012's final quarter. In addition, a major business jet manufacturer is predicting a long period of sustained growth extending well into the next decade, an expansion that will be driven largely by growth in China and other emerging markets. Read more about the growth of business aviation.

C&S Wholesale Grocers Flies Medical Supplies to 'Superstorm' Sandy Victims
One of the reasons business aviation is an essential industry in America today is because of its commitment to provide aircraft for humanitarian assistance after major disasters and in moments of crisis, whether they involve millions or even just one person. In the days following Superstorm Sandy, C&S Wholesale Grocers, the country's largest food wholesaler, dispatched its Challenger 300 from Dillant Hopkins Airport (EEN) in New Hampshire to Teterboro Airport (TEB) in New Jersey to deliver much-needed medical supplies to storm victims. The story is among the dozens of accounts of business aviation providing critically needed support to people and communities in the storm's wake. Read more about business aviation's Sandy relief efforts.

Indiana Study Highlights Contributions of GA
The recently released 2012 Indiana Airports Economic Impact Study, done by the Aviation Association of Indiana, provides ample evidence that, as the report states, "Hoosier airports are the lifeblood for hundreds of companies across the state, allowing them to compete in a global economy while supporting jobs and economic growth in small communities across the heartland." The total economic output from Indiana's GA airports accounts for $5.886 billion, or 41 percent of total of all airports within the state, according to the study, which covers all aspects of aviation, including commercial and military. Read more about the study.

Choosing the Right Aircraft Ownership Structure
Whether you're using an airplane for business for the first time or have managed aircraft for years, one of the toughest challenges is choosing the right ownership structure. There are about as many unique structures as there are operators and part of what makes the decision so complicated is that it touches nearly every other challenge of business flying: operational flexibility, regulatory compliance, taxes and liability. "There's a drawback to every structure," said aviation attorney John Hoover, a member of NBAA's Tax Committee. Review a list of common ownership structures and the key factors to consider in making the decision in the current edition of Business Aviation Insider.

China Accelerates Opening of Low-Level Airspace
Chinese officials now say more than a third of the country's airspace below 4,000 meters (13,000 feet) is open to general aviation. The opening of China's airspace is now expected to be completed by 2020 – years ahead of schedule, according to the deputy secretary of the National Air Traffic Management Committee. Reforms underway are expected to begin in earnest by 2015, according to Jason Liao, chairman and CEO of China Business Aviation Group and NBAA's representative in Asia. Learn more about the opening of airspace in China in this week's NBAA Flight Plan podcast.

Cross-Border Issues Conference Will Highlight Security, Clearance Procedures
The upcoming NBAA/Canadian Business Aviation Association (CBAA) Cross-Border Issues Conference will provide a forum to discuss the operational and regulatory issues involved in traveling between the United States and Canada, and will also address a significant concern affecting operators flying across the Atlantic: the European Union's Emissions Trading Scheme. The conference, scheduled for Dec. 6 and 7 in Ottawa, Ontario, is a collaborative effort between NBAA and CBAA that will bring together government officials and industry experts on border-related concerns, and address common challenges faced by aircraft operators that fly between the two countries. Read more about the conference.

New RNAV STARs Implemented at Denver Satellite Airports
The FAA on Nov. 15 implemented a full system of RNAV STARs (for turbojets only) in satellite airports within the Denver terminal area. The STARs use altitude windows and airspeed constraints to accommodate efficient descents. Between Nov. 15 and Dec. 3, these STARs are only available as assigned by air traffic control. On Dec. 3, the full system will be activated and aircraft are expected to file the appropriate STARs. It's vital that flightcrews familiarize themselves with these new procedures and comply with all altitudes and airspeeds. For more information, contact the FAA's Ted Goodwin at ted.goodwin@faa.gov. View a detailed description of the new Denver terminal area procedures.

New York-Area Business Aviation Forum Set for Dec. 4
The FAA's New York-Area Business Aviation Forum is scheduled for Tuesday, Dec. 4, at its Eastern Region Headquarters in Jamaica, NY from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. FAA representatives from all New York ATC facilities will be on hand to answer questions on the New York Metropolitan Airspace. Presentations will cover traffic flow management practices associated with the upcoming seasonal demand between the Northeast and Florida/the Caribbean. As the forum will be held in an FAA facility, attendees must RSVP to be added to the security list. RSVP to NBAA ATS's Dean Snell by Nov. 29 at dsnell@nbaa.org.

FAA to Hold Customer Forum in Fort Worth on Dec. 6
The FAA will host a Central Service Center Customer Forum in Forth Worth, TX on Dec. 6. The forum will be held from 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the Radisson Hotel on 2540 Meacham Boulevard. FAA representatives from all 17 Central Service Center and regional ATC facilities will present on operations and programs in the Central Service Airspace. FAA officials will cover the North Texas Metroplex optimization, ADS-B and unmanned aerial systems, and NBAA Director, Air Traffic Services & Infrastructure Bob Lamond will speak about business aviation issues. To attend, RSVP to the FAA at fabiola.mendiaz@faa.gov by Dec. 1. For more information, contact NBAA's Steve Hadley at shadley@nbaa.org.

South Florida Customer Forum Cancelled
The FAA has cancelled a scheduled Nov. 28 South Florida Customer Meeting at Miami Airport, and the preceding Snowbird briefing scheduled for 9 a.m. is also cancelled. No information is yet available on rescheduling either meeting. For more information, contact NBAA's Bob Lamond at rlamond@nbaa.org.

See Every Aircraft That Was on Display at NBAA2012
For the first time ever, the Online News Bureau site for NBAA's Annual Meeting & Convention includes a photo gallery featuring every aircraft displayed at the show, which this year was held from Oct. 30 to Nov. 1 in Orlando, FL. Always a popular attraction at the NBAA Convention, the 2012 static displays featured some of the world's leading business aircraft. Light business airplanes and helicopters were showcased both inside and outside the Orange County Convention Center, while nearly 100 additional aircraft were on exhibit at Orlando Executive Airport. Read more about the business aircraft at NBAA2012.

Call for Speakers: 2013 NBAA Regional Forums
NBAA has issued a call for speakers for education sessions at the Association's 2013 Business Aviation Regional Forums. Proposals for presentations are welcome on topics such as safety and risk management, maintenance and technical issues, airspace and airport access, aircraft and flight operations, aviation management, aircraft ownership, and career and leadership development. Proposals are due to NBAA by Dec. 17. Review and complete the 2013 Regional Forum call for speakers form.