NBAA: GA Depreciation Debate Should Focus on Reality Rather Than Rhetoric
NBAA President and CEO Ed Bolen last week challenged statements made by the White House as part of the debate over reducing the nation's debt that suggested that there is something questionable about business aircraft depreciation schedules, which set the timing and amount of tax payments on the aircraft. "Everyone agrees on the need to find meaningful ways to reduce the nation's debt," Bolen said. "Unfortunately, the White House's rhetoric about general aviation (GA) depreciation ignores established facts and long-standing tax policies related to business airplane ownership and use, does almost nothing to seriously address the nation's debt and has the potential to harm a great American industry in the process." Read more about Bolen's statement.

Congressional Leaders Echo NBAA's Challenge to White House Mischaracterizations About Business Aviation
NBAA's statement last week challenging claims from the White House about business aviation depreciation in the context of the debt-reduction and "sequester" debate came amidst comments from lawmakers on both sides of Capitol Hill, who also called into question why the administration was focusing on aircraft depreciation as a major consideration in reducing the nation's debt. For example, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) noted in a Reuters op-ed that "The White House has predictably suggested politically driven tax hikes as appropriate offsets for the sequester, including a tax on corporate jets. If that sounds like a poll-tested PR gimmick rather than a serious solution, that's because it is." Rep. Mike Pompeo (R-4-KS) sounded a similar concern, stating in a Dear Colleague letter: "It is wrong to target the depreciation period for GA aircraft to advance a narrow political goal of class warfare." Read more about the defense of business aviation in Congress.

TSA: Murder Suspect May Consider Aviation in Fleeing Law Enforcement
The need for continued vigilance in protecting general aviation from security threats has been underscored by the recent release of an advisory from the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), which called for heightened awareness amidst a comprehensive manhunt for former California police officer and accused killer Christopher Dorner. "It is believed that Dorner received flight training during his time in the U.S. Navy, but the extent of his potential flying skills is unknown," TSA's advisory notes. While there is no specific information at this time that Dorner is considering the use of general aviation to evade law enforcement, the TSA requests that operators increase their alertness and refresh their familiarity with existing TSA security guidelines for GA. Read more about the TSA's advisory.

MTOs: A Direct Line to the FAA
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and NBAA have created a structure that allows NBAA Members to point out their observations about system operations to the agency through its five managers of tactical operations (MTOs). The MTOs are the faces of the FAA in their respective regions, explained NBAA Director, Air Traffic Services & Infrastructure Bob Lamond. Acting as consumer advocates, each MTO "owns" an issue until it is resolved. Read more about MTOs.

Caucusing for GA Deep in the Heart of Texas
In one of the biggest legislative bodies in America, there is a new force at work on behalf of general aviation, aimed at educating lawmakers about the benefits of non-commercial flight. At the root of this effort are lawmakers like Rep. John Kuempel (R-Seguin), the founder of the new Texas Legislative General Aviation Caucus. Although not a pilot himself, Kuempel found it easy to grasp the necessity for general aviation in a state as big as Texas. "I was very surprised at how many of my colleagues were interested in joining once some of the folks in their districts understood what was going on and urged them to join the caucus. I bet we have more than 20 members now. That typically doesn't happen that fast," said Kuempel. Listen to this week's edition of the NBAA Flight Plan podcast to learn more about the Texas Legislative General Aviation Caucus.

Local Knowledge Required When Planning for Travel to BRIC Countries
Increased business opportunities throughout the BRIC countries (Brazil, Russia, India and China) mean that business aviation travel to those emerging markets will only continue to grow in the years ahead. However, not all flight departments are equipped with the necessary information and experience to make those flights drama-free. For example, few operators flying to Russia for the first time know that permit requests for both private and non-scheduled commercial flights require five business days to process prior to departure. NBAA's Dispatch department in Business Aviation Insider provides useful scheduling tips for crews conducting flight operations throughout the BRIC regions. Read the full article now in a digital preview of Business Aviation Insider magazine.

Chinese Officials, NBAA Enthusiastically Readying for ABACE2013
NBAA is hard at work with Asian government officials to prepare for the upcoming edition of the Asian Business Aviation Conference & Exhibition (ABACE2013), April 16 to 18 at Shanghai's Hongqiao International Airport. In January, NBAA President and CEO Ed Bolen and other Association representatives traveled to China to speak about matters affecting the emerging regional business aviation industry with several top government officials, as part of a broader discussion about issues that would be in focus at ABACE2013. Read more about preparing for ABACE2013.

NBAA Joins With State Advocates to Promote Aviation Needs in North Dakota
Association representatives recently joined with members of the North Dakota Aviation Council to sponsor an Aviation Day breakfast and gathering at the state capitol building in Bismarck, where they met with lawmakers and discussed the issues facing commercial and general aviation in the state. Promoting the message that "Aviation Works for North Dakota," the council of eight state aviation groups event to rally support for a one-time, $60 million grant proposed in Gov. Jack Dalrymple's budget to help repair airport infrastructure in western North Dakota, where an oil boom has led to record growth. Read more about aviation needs in North Dakota.

NBAA Hosting Regional Leadership Roundtable in Denver, April 11
To provide a full day of resources and information-sharing, NBAA will host a Regional Leadership Roundtable on Apr. 11 in Denver, CO. The roundtable is an opportunity for group leader peers to discuss issues faced by all regional groups, including legislative advocacy, succession planning for group leadership and how to keep meeting content fresh. The event is being planned by NBAA's regional representatives, Access Committee and Schedulers & Dispatchers Regional Groups Subcommittee, and will be hosted by the Colorado Aviation Business Association, in conjunction with its annual meeting. For more information, see upcoming issues of NBAA Update or direct questions to NBAA's Kristi Ivey at kivey@nbaa.org. Review NBAA's regional resources.

Due in Two Weeks: Nominations for Meritorious Service, Doswell Awards
Nominations for NBAA's two highest awards, the Meritorious Service to Aviation Award and the John P. "Jack" Doswell Award, are due by Feb. 22. 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 this year's NBAA Convention in Las Vegas, NV. Learn more about these NBAA awards.

Last Chance for Early-Bird Rate at International Operators Conference
This is the final week to register at the early-bird price for NBAA's International Operators Conference, to be held from March 4 to 7 in San Diego, CA. Now in its 40th year, the conference has all the information operators need to complete overseas trips safely and efficiently, including the latest operational requirements for all major regions of the world. Attendees can plan to stay an extra day for the Fundamentals of IS-BAO Workshop, offered through NBAA's Professional Development Program (PDP) in conjunction with the conference on March 8 (separate fee required). Register now.

Register Now for NBAA's Maintenance Management Conference
NBAA's Maintenance Management Conference will be held in Fort Worth, TX, from April 30 to May 2. This year's conference will cover asset management, regulatory compliance, safety and security, keeping pace with evolving technologies, and engaging as leaders in the workplace and community. An invaluable opportunity to network with peers and share best practices, the conference also allows individuals to meet face-to-face with many vendors. The event qualifies for credit toward Inspection Authorization renewals and the Certified Aviation Manager credential. Register now.

Call for Proposals: 2014 Schedulers & Dispatchers Conference
The NBAA Schedulers and Dispatchers (S&D) Committee is requesting proposals for education sessions at the Association's 2014 S&D Conference, set for Jan. 14 to 17 in New Orleans, LA. The annual conference provides networking opportunities and valuable information to those responsible for coordinating the use of business aircraft. Proposals 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 leadership development. Proposals are due by March 22. Download the RFP.

NBAA Closed for Presidents' Day
NBAA's offices will be closed on Monday, Feb. 18, in honor of Presidents' Day. The offices will reopen at 9 a.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 19.