NBAA Welcomes LoBiondo’s Appointment as Chair of Key House Transportation Subcommittee
NBAA strongly supports the appointment of Rep. Frank LoBiondo (R-2-NJ) as chairman of the House Transportation & Infrastructure (T&I) Committee’s Subcommittee on Aviation, which was announced last week by T&I Committee Chairman Bill Shuster (R-9-PA). NBAA President and CEO Ed Bolen said, “Rep. LoBiondo is an outstanding choice for chairman of the Aviation Subcommittee, as he has a solid understanding of the industry, in part because his congressional district is home to several significant aviation facilities.” Read Bolen’s full statement.

FAA Launches Performance-Based Navigation (PBN) Site
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) recently launched a webpage devoted solely to informing pilots of the latest performance-based navigation (PBN) requirements under NextGen. The site features the PBN Implementation Plan for procedures at 70 different airports. The page also allows site visitors to register for email alerts as the site is updated with new information. A link to the Instrument Flight Procedures Information Gateway allows pilots to view the extensive inventory of current procedures and sign up for airport specific notifications. For more information, contact Bob Lamond, NBAA director, air traffic services & infrastructure, at rlamond@nbaa.org, or view the new FAA PBN web page.

FAA Proposes Harmonizing Minimum Altitudes for Autopilot Use
The FAA last month published a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to amend and harmonize minimum altitudes for use of autopilots on transport category aircraft operating under Parts 125 and 135. The proposed rule would enable the use of advanced autopilot and navigation systems by incorporating the capabilities of new and future autopilots, flight guidance systems and global navigation satellite systems, while protecting the continued use of legacy systems at current autopilot minimum use altitudes. Under a performance-based approach, the NPRM would use the certified capabilities of autopilot systems as established by the airplane flight manual or as approved by the FAA administrator. Comments are due by Feb. 4. View the autopilot NPRM on the FAA website.

Now On Air Mail: iPad vs. iPad Mini, and Battery Replacements
Recently on NBAA’s Pilots Air Mail list, Members shared their opinions about using an iPad Mini in the cockpit vs. a full-size iPad. In the same conversation, Members discussed cost and safety considerations of replacing batteries on the devices. Air Mail is NBAA’s Members-only social network for the discussion of business aviation topics. To review the discussion, NBAA Members must log in to Air Mail Forums.

Tell Your Elected Officials About House, Senate GA Caucuses
Congressional “caucuses” – which are informal groups of lawmakers that recognize the importance of particular segments of the economy or causes – are a long-standing tradition on Capitol Hill. The House and Senate General Aviation (GA) Caucuses, which were first formed in 2009, promote the importance of general aviation to citizens, companies and communities across the U.S. As the 113th Congress gavels into session, NBAA has prepared a “Contact Congress” letter, which individuals in the business aviation community can send to senators and representatives requesting that they consider membership in the House and Senate GA Caucuses in recognition of the industry's value. Review and send your Contact Congress letter today.

Podcast: Texas Mayor Voices Opposition to Aviation User Fees
Addison, TX Mayor Todd Meier knows a good value when he sees it. Approximately one-quarter of his town is comprised of Addison Airport (ADS), a leading general aviation airport in the region, a major employer and revenue generator for the municipality. Noting that a proposed $100-per-flight user fee would significantly increase operational costs of general aviation across the board, Meier recently wrote a letter to President Obama to let him know such an increase does not fly in Addison. “At this point, it appears that [aviation] user fees are being discussed [by the Obama Administration],” Meier said. “The point of the letter is to point out some of the unintended consequences of the user fee.” Read more about Meier’s letter in this week’s NBAA Flight Plan podcast.

Business Airplane Key to Electronics Retailer’s Growth, Community’s Renewal
In 1997, the consumer electronics retailer Crutchfield Corporation was expanding, but with unemployment in its native Charlottesville, VA at 0.8 percent, talent was hard to find. Founder Bill Crutchfield wanted to establish a call center in Wise, an Appalachian community with an unemployment rate of more than 14 percent that was reachable by a general aviation airfield, Lonesome Pine Airport (LNP). With his King Air C90B, he was able to rapidly set up the new call center and help create more than 2,000 jobs. As Crutchfield said, “Airplanes can be used for other purposes than enriching the company; they can enrich the greater community.” Crutchfield’s story appears in the latest edition of Business Aviation Insider.

International Sessions Abound at S&D Conference
A host of sessions at this week’s Schedulers & Dispatchers (S&D) Conference in San Antonio, TX will be dedicated to international issues. The European Union’s Emissions Trading Scheme (EU-ETS) is among the topics at Wednesday’s Business Aviation Hot Topics session, and later that day, an entire session dedicated to cross-border topics will take place. Also on Wednesday, a session titled “Flight Planning & Aircraft Performance Part II” will discuss international flight, and a session titled “ABCs of Taxes & Fees” will review how schedulers and dispatchers can best keep track of and manage the ever-changing taxes, surcharges and fees that affect global business aviation. Other sessions will focus on operations in India, Brazil and greater South America, and also on selecting the best international third-party suppliers. View the S&D agenda for more information.

Massachusetts’ Transportation Plan Calls for Investment in GA
The Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) recently unveiled a 10-year plan that includes $125 million for maintenance and safety improvements at community airports in the Bay State over the next decade. The report, titled “The Way Forward: A 21st Century Transportation Plan,” notes that MassDOT “is fostering the development of our general aviation airport network, including the groundbreaking for a new Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation hangar at Westfield-Barnes Airport…and the implementation of a statewide runway safety marking project.” Read more about the plan.

Maine Seeks to Make Aircraft Tax Exemption Permanent
The administration of Maine Governor Paul LePage has submitted a bill to make permanent the state sales tax exemption for aircraft sales and maintenance that was enacted in 2011. NBAA Members based in Maine advocated for the exemption in 2011, when it was included in the state’s two-year budget. George Gervais, commissioner of the Department of Economic and Community Development, said the tax exemption has been a boost to the state’s aviation industry. The governor’s administration hopes to make the exemption permanent this legislative session. For more information, contact NBAA’s Dean Saucier at dsaucier@nbaa.org or read more.

NBAA Announces New Certified Aviation Managers
The Association has announced 20 individuals who successfully passed the Certified Aviation Manager (CAM) exam during 2012, bringing the total number of individuals recognized as current CAMs to 194. The CAM designation provides industry recognition of achievement and knowledge in several areas of business aviation, including business management, human resources, leadership, operations, and technical and facilities services. Read more about the new CAMs.

Schedulers & Dispatchers Conference Setting Exhibitor Record as Event Opening Nears
More than 2,500 Attendees are expected at NBAA’s 2013 Schedulers & Dispatchers (S&D) Conference, which opens Tuesday and runs through Friday, Jan. 25 at the Henry B. Gonzales Convention Center in San Antonio, TX. This year, 425 Exhibitors are featured in the exhibit hall, compared with 407 in 2012. The S&D Conference is the premier event for schedulers and dispatchers, along with the suppliers who support their critical role in successful flight department management. The event features 32 breakout education sessions that provide NBAA Members an opportunity to meet the people who are directly responsible for the scheduling and dispatching of aircraft. Read more about the S&D conference.

New Online Forms Available for Flying Safety Award Applications
Applications are now being accepted for the 2013 NBAA Flying Safety Awards, which recognize Member professionals and companies for accident-free years and hours of operations. In 2013, the program marks its 60th year, and NBAA has created a new award category, the Private Pilot Safety Award, to recognize light business airplane owner-operators. Also new this year, NBAA has introduced new web-based applications that make submitting award data faster and easier than ever before. All eligible Members are encouraged to apply by March 1. Apply for the 2013 Flying Safety Awards.

Nominations for Meritorious Service, Doswell Awards Due Feb. 22
NBAA is now accepting nominations for its two highest awards, the Meritorious Service to Aviation Award and the John P. “Jack” Doswell Award. The Meritorious Service Award recognizes individuals who have made significant lifelong contributions to aviation. The Doswell Award honors lifelong individual achievement in support of the aims, goals and objectives of business aviation. The 2013 award recipients will be officially recognized at the NBAA Convention in Las Vegas, NV. Learn more about these NBAA awards.

Workers’ Comp Insurance Program Posts Another Cash Dividend
The NBAA’s Workers’ Compensation Insurance Program is once again paying out a dividend to participating Member Companies. Due to the outstanding loss ratio of the group, this benefit is being offered through the program for the third straight year. The program has paid out nearly $2 million dollars in dividends to date, with an average annual dividend of 17.5 percent. Underwritten by Phoenix Aviation Managers and managed by NationAir Aviation Insurance, the program provides high quality coverage at reduced rates. Policies cover all employees involved with a company’s flight operation – even provisions for companies using contract crew members. Contact your insurance broker or get a quote online. Learn more about the program.