NBAA Urges NTSB to Change Its Position on Emergency Appeals
In comments filed today with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), NBAA disagreed with the board's position that an NTSB judge must continue to assume that Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) allegations are true. Under today's rules, in an emergency appeal situation, the NTSB defers to the FAA on the facts of the case. NBAA has advocated for several years for the NTSB to change this position. NTSB recently declined to do so, noting a lack of resources to hold hearings on petitions contesting emergency determinations. "This is fundamentally unfair and contrary to all notions of due process," said attorney Paul Lange, who is leading NBAA's initiative to change this policy. Furthermore, NBAA believes the board's position is contrary to congressional intent with the recently enacted Pilot's Bill of Rights. Read NBAA's comments.

FAA's Updated Deicing Procedures Include Holdover Time Changes
Aircraft operators preparing for winter operations and possible airport deicing are encouraged to review the 2012–2013 FAA Holdover Tables outlining aircraft deicing procedures. The revised document includes changes that, while small, could alter operator procedures based upon last year's deicing holdover times. "We recommend operators familiarize themselves with the new information for the current winter season, and identify any changes to guidelines for the deicing materials they use," noted Doug Carr, NBAA vice president of safety, security, operations & regulation. "This information changes every year, as material is harvested and tested, and fluid chemistry changes." Read more about the updated procedures.

North American RVSM Height Monitoring Sites Currently Out of Service
The FAA notified NBAA on Dec. 12 that all North American Aircraft Geometric Height Measurement Element (AGHME) sites are currently out of service. AGHMEs are a key part of one method used to meet the periodic height monitoring requirement for aircraft authorized to fly in RVSM airspace. Read the FAA notice.

FAA's New CTOP Initiative Aims to Reduce Airspace Congestion
In 2013, the FAA is slated to implement a new traffic management initiative known as the Collaborative Trajectory Options Program (CTOP), which will better balance demand with available capacity. A new video featuring Jim McClay with NBAA Air Traffic Services explains how, under a CTOP initiative, operators submit alternative routes of their choice around or away from a constraint, thus providing additional options for air traffic controllers to expedite flights away from congested airspace. Flights that have submitted a trajectory option set (TOS) could be exempt from ground delays or in-flight reroutes associated with such constraints. Read more about CTOP.

NBAA Supports NTSB Battle Against Distraction
Eliminating distractions in all forms of transportation is one of the NTSB's Top 10 priorities for 2013, and NBAA supports the effort, said Doug Carr, NBAA's vice president, safety, security, operations & regulation. Distractions are never-ending temptations, and resisting each of them depends on "discipline and professionalism, which are the hallmarks of what we in business aviation do," said Carr. Read more about combating distractions.

NBAA Posts New Instructional Videos on Aircraft Performance Planning
As a member of the FAA/Industry Transport Airplane Performance Planning (TAPP) Work Group, NBAA has posted four instructional videos it helped create on aircraft performance planning on its website and YouTube channel. TAPP's goal is to improve pilot and operator understanding of transport aircraft performance, which leads to improved planning and operation. The work group's inaugural offering in a planned series of videos addresses long-standing questions and issues frequently faced in planning the performance of transport category airplanes, including FAR Part 91 and 135 requirements. Read more about the videos.

In 2012, No Plane No Gain Continued Highlighting Industry's Importance
During an election year in which business aviation was at times mischaracterized amidst all the often-heated campaign rhetoric, the No Plane No Gain campaign continued to advocate for the industry. The campaign, jointly sponsored by NBAA and the General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA), underscores the many reasons why business aviation is vital to the national economic interest. As in previous years, NBAA and GAMA showed through several new initiatives that the campaign remains fresh, compelling, relevant and effective. Learn more about the No Plane No Gain campaign in this week's NBAA Flight Plan podcast.

New NBAA Flight Plan Initiative in the Works
Early next year, NBAA Air Traffic Services is expected to unveil a new initiative to help Members avoid ground delays and last-minute re-routes. The FileSmart initiative will give Members access to NextGen flight planning tools and details on the benefits of providing air traffic controllers (ATC) more timely and accurate flight plan information. "[Operators] must begin to take into account the prevailing air traffic issues affecting the airspace in which they will be operating," said Jim McClay of NBAA Air Traffic Services. Filing early and accurately allows ATC to assign operators more optimal routes and reduces time spent on the phone negotiating a new departure time. Read more about FileSmart in an online extra from Business Aviation Insider.

Improvements in CANPASS, CBP Procedures Discussed at Cross-Border Conference
Recent changes in how U.S. Customs and Border Protection processes entry requests and information submitted via the Advance Passenger Information System was just one topic discussed during the recent Cross-Border Issues Conference, which was held Dec. 6 and 7 in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. The event, which served as an opportunity to discuss the most pressing concerns surrounding travel between Canada and the United States, was co-hosted by NBAA and the Canadian Business Aviation Association. Read more about the Cross-Border Issues Conference.

Embraer Creating More Jobs in Florida
Business jet manufacturer Embraer S.A. recently announced plans to open a new engineering and technology facility in Melbourne, FL, which will nearly double the size of its workforce there by the end of 2016. The new 63,500-square-foot Embraer Engineering and Technology Center USA will sit on 13 acres and house a state-of-the-art engineering unit. Employment specialties will include mechanical and electrical systems engineers, interior design engineers, structural engineers and certification engineers. Read more about Embraer's new engineering and technology center.

Economic Value of Aviation More Than Doubles in North Carolina
A new report shows that the economic benefit of aviation in North Carolina has more than doubled since the last such study was conducted in 2006, and is a $26 billion contributor to the economy. Among other findings, the study reports that local governments collect an estimated $8 million in property taxes from owners of aircraft based in North Carolina, and that the state has 63 community airports available for businesses needing to reach customers in the state. Read more about aviation's benefit to North Carolina.

New Business Aviation Group Forms in Nevada
The Nevada Business Aviation Association (NVBAA) was recently formed for industry professionals interested in networking and advocating for the aviation industry in Nevada. NVBAA membership is diverse and includes aircraft owners and operators, aviation and aerospace businesses, flight department personnel, pilots and companies involved with the business aviation industry. There is currently no membership fee. Join the new Nevada business aviation group today.

NBAA's First S&D Chairman to Receive Outstanding Achievement & Leadership Award
NBAA will present Gerald Grady, who served as the inaugural chairman of the Association's Schedulers & Dispatchers (S&D) Committee, with the 2013 Schedulers & Dispatchers Outstanding Achievement & Leadership Award. "For me, it's not an individual award, it's a team award," said Grady. "From the beginning, I had a great team on the S&D Committee." Grady was appointed chairman of the inaugural NBAA Schedulers & Dispatchers Subcommittee in 1989, which later was promoted to full committee status, and he led the S&D Conference during his term in office from 1990 to 1993. Read more about Grady.

Maintenance TRACS 2013 Award Applications Now Online
NBAA's Maintenance Technical Reward and Career Scholarship (Maintenance TRACS) offers current and aspiring technicians the opportunity to receive fully funded aircraft, engine and avionics training. The training awards are donated by major original equipment manufacturers, engine makers and top training companies. Applications are due March 1. Apply for Maintenance TRACS awards.

Regional Forum Speaker Proposals Due Today
Today is the final day to submit speaking proposals for education sessions at NBAA'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. Learn more about Regional Forum presentations.