| Business Aviation News & Issues |
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Another User Fee Signal? DOT Secretary Promotes Radical FAA Funding
Changes
NBAA President and CEO Ed Bolen today challenged the recent claim, made by DOT Secretary Mary Peters, that "the FAA needs a new funding mechanism"
for aviation system modernization. "Secretary Peters called for fundamental change in how the air traffic control (ATC) system is funded," Bolen
said, "but she didn't explain why such change is needed. Despite economic ups and downs, FAA's budget has steadily increased, ensuring that our
aviation system is the largest, safest and most efficient in the world. Suggesting that Congress would be unwilling to continue its support of the
world's best air transportation system is at odds with decades of experience." NBAA Members can oppose changes to the current FAA funding mechanism
by using the Association's Contact Congress resource, located at:
http://www.nbaa.org/userfees
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S&D Conference Breaks Records; Highlights Available Online
More than 2,400 people attended the NBAA 18th Annual Schedulers & Dispatchers (S&D) Conference held from January 21 to 24 in Phoenix, AZ, an
increase of more than 9 percent over last year's total and a new attendance record. Attendee enthusiasm was high throughout the three days of
educational sessions, which focused on topics to help schedulers and dispatchers improve productivity and create a world-class workplace. The event
attracted many newcomers this year, with close to 250 Attendees indicating that they are first-time participants, a 25-percent increase.
Additionally, the number of Exhibitors increased from 322 in 2006 to 351 in 2007, a 9-percent gain and the most booths ever sold for this event.
Conference highlights, including articles, photos, podcasts and testimonials, are available on the NBAA web site at:
http://www.nbaa.org/events/sdc/2007
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NTSB Hearing Addresses Safety Issues on Operating in Icing
Conditions
On January 23, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) held a public hearing on the February 16, 2005, accident of a Cessna Citation 560
during approach to landing at Pueblo Memorial Airport (PUB). The Board concluded the probable causes for the accident were "the flightcrew's failure
to effectively monitor and maintain airspeed and comply with procedures for deice boot activation on the approach." The NTSB also found that the FAA
contributed to the accident by failing to "establish adequate certification requirements for flight into icing conditions." NBAA generally supports
the NTSB's findings, and the Association will advise the Board of any concerns with specific technical issues. NASA has developed two free online
courses for pilots who make their own operational deicing and anti-icing decisions, available at http://aircrafticing.grc.nasa.gov/courses.html. The NTSB report, including safety
recommendations to the FAA, may be found at:
http://www.ntsb.gov/Publictn/A_Acc1.htm
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As DOT Reviews Charter Consumer Policies, NBAA Advocates
for Industry
The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) published an advance notice of proposed rulemaking (ANPRM) titled "Consumer Information Regarding
On-Demand Air Taxi Operations." The DOT is seeking input on the NTSB recommendations from the Montrose accident that customers of on-demand air taxi
services be advised, at the time they contract for a flight, of: (1) The name of the company with operational control of the flight; (2) any "doing
business as" names contained in such company's operations specifications; (3) the name of the aircraft owner; and (4) the name of any broker involved
in arranging the flight. NBAA has held discussions with DOT officials on this and related air charter broker matters and NBAA will prepare and file
comments with the DOT. View the DOT ANPRM at:
http://www.nbaa.org/ops/part135/dotbrokeranprm.pdf
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FAA Communication Outreach for 135 and 91K
Operators
The FAA publishes orders, notices, safety alerts for operators (SAFOs) and information for operations (InFOs) to provide guidance material to FAA
inspectors and industry. While SAFOs are used specifically to announce safety information, the InFO messages contain valuable information for
operators that should help them meet administrative requirements or certain regulatory requirements with relatively low urgency or impact on safety.
The FAA intends to use the e-mail addresses provided in OpSpec A007 to distribute its publications to affected operators and FAA personnel. FAA
Notice 8000.341 provides additional information for certificate holders. NBAA encourages all Part 135, 91K and 125 aircraft operators to ensure the
correct e-mail addresses are current in their A007 OpSpec paragraph. For more information, download the document at:
http://www.nbaa.org/ops/safety/n8000_341.pdf
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FAA Creates Web Page for RNP 10 Implementation
The FAA recently established the WATRS Plus web page to address issues related to WATRS Plus Airspace, which is defined as the West Atlantic Route
System (WATRS), Miami Oceanic airspace in the Atlantic and the San Juan Flight Information Region. The new web page contains information such as the
FAA notice announcing the intent to implement RNP 10 in WATRS Plus airspace, guidance on aircraft and operator authorization for RNP 10 and the draft
concept of operations. For more information, contact FAA's Justo Casablanca at Justo.Casablanca@faa.gov
or view the web page at:
http://www.faa.gov/ats/ato/WATRS_Plus.htm
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NBAA Congratulates CAN on Milestone Flight
White Plains, NY-based Corporate Angel Network, the national public charity providing free air transportation for cancer patients traveling to
treatment by using the empty seats on business aircraft, recently announced the flight of its 25,000th patient, a six-year-old traveling from Florida
to her cancer specialist in New York. The Association congratulates both Corporate Angel Network and PepsiCo, the Association Member that provided
the flight, on this milestone event. To learn more about CAN's mission, visit:
http://www.corpangelnetwork.org
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NBAA Urges Members to Act Now on SMO Runway
Proposals
All NBAA Members using California's Santa Monica Municipal Airport (SMO) should be aware of, and engaged in, possible changes to the airport's
runway. The City of Santa Monica (which operates SMO) has advanced a proposal to the FAA's Office of Safety and Standards, which, if accepted, could
make changes to the airport's runway, reducing Runway 21's length by 217 feet and effectively reducing Runway 03 by slightly greater than 800 feet
for landing. Currently, SMO's Runway 3/21 is 4,987 feet long and 150 feet wide, but there is no excess airport property for a new, standard runway
safety area (RSA). In December, the city presented a proposal to the FAA and airport users to enhance the RSA "to the extent practicable." Since
obtaining the entire safety area could make the runway unusable for many NBAA operators, the revised city proposal uses alternative means to enhance
runway safety by using declared distances and the installation of arresting systems. NBAA urges Members to send comments to the FAA about the city's
proposal no later than February 17. Learn more at:
http://www.nbaa.org/ops/airports/smo/rsa200701.php
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Idaho Group Announces Winter Networking Meeting, Feb. 12
The Idaho Business Aviation Association (IBAA) will hold its winter networking luncheon on February 12 from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the Boise
River Room inside the Boise Air Terminal. The focus of the meeting will be ATC operations. The $12 fee includes a buffet lunch. To RSVP, contact
IBAA's Mike Pape at mpflys@aol.com. For more information, contact Pape or NBAA's Kristi Ivey at kivey@nbaa.org, or visit the IBAA web site at:
http://www.idbusinessaviation.com
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San Diego Benefit Held in Conjunction With NBAA Leadership Conference
In conjunction with the NBAA Leadership Conference to be held on February 21 and 22 in San Diego, NBAA is co-sponsoring the San Diego Regional
Aviation Association's (SDRAA) first annual benefit and golf tournament on February 20 at Salt Creek Golf Club in Chula Vista. Proceeds from the
benefit will support aviation scholarships and business aviation advocacy programs. The NBAA Leadership Conference addresses key leadership issues
for business aviation managers and draws senior decision makers from around the country. Learn more about the Leadership Conference at http://www.nbaa.org/events, and RSVP for the SDRAA benefit at (858) 240-2171. For more information, contact
NBAA's Dan Burkhart at dburkhart@nbaa.org or visit:
http://www.sdraa.org/Events.html
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NBAA2007 Web Site Now Online
The Association will celebrate its 60th anniversary at the NBAA 60th Annual Meeting & Convention (NBAA2007), to be held September 25 through 27
in Atlanta, GA. NBAA2007 also will help commemorate two other industry milestones: the 100th anniversary of powered flight in Georgia and the 40th
anniversary of Gulfstream. The 2007 Convention will continue to build on the enormous successes of NBAA2006, which broke numerous records, with
33,088 Attendees, 1,140 Exhibitors, 5,235 10-foot by 10-foot booth spaces and more than 100 Information Sessions. The NBAA2007 web site launched this
month, with information about exhibiting, advertising and sponsorship opportunities, and housing and travel details. Learn more at:
http://www.nbaa.org/2007
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NBAA Recognizes 18 Individuals for Professional
Development Achievements
NBAA and its Schedulers & Dispatchers Committee have recognized 18 individuals for their achievement in the NBAA Schedulers Professional
Development Program (SPDP). As an offshoot of NBAA's main Professional Development Program (PDP), the Schedulers Professional Development Program was
created to help advance the training and career track of business aviation schedulers and dispatchers. Since its founding in 2001, the SPDP has had
more than 500 course completions. For more information, visit:
http://www.nbaa.org/news/pr/2007/20070123-006.php
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NBAA Announces 13 Scholarship Recipients at Conference
During the NBAA 18th Annual Schedulers & Dispatchers Conference held last week in Phoenix, NBAA and its Schedulers & Dispatchers Committee
granted monetary and training awards to 13 individuals seeking to advance their aviation careers through continuing education and training. Eight
corporate sponsors each contributed $5,000 to the 2007 Schedulers & Dispatchers Scholarship: ExxonMobil and the Avitats, Signature Flight
Support, Universal Weather and Aviation, ChevronTexaco Global Aviation, Atlantic Aviation, Air BP Aviation Services, Jeppesen DataPlan and Ac-U-Kwik.
Additionally, the 2007 Schedulers & Dispatchers Training Scholarship was sponsored by Airline Ground Schools, CornerStone Strategies LLC, Flight
Safety International, MedAire, Inc. and the NBAA GA Desk, and the 2007 Shell Canada Schedulers & Dispatchers Scholarship was sponsored by Shell
Aviation Canada. For more information, visit:
http://www.nbaa.org/events/sdc/2007
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Nominations for NBAA's Highest Awards Due Feb. 16
NBAA is accepting nominations for its two most prestigious awards, the Meritorious Service to Aviation Award and the John P. "Jack" Doswell Award.
The Meritorious Service Award recognizes those individuals who have made significant, identifiable contributions that have materially advanced
aviation interests, and the Doswell Award honors high standards for lifelong individual achievement on behalf and in support of the aims, goals and
objectives of business aviation. NBAA Members are strongly encouraged to submit nominations for both awards to NBAA by February 16. The 2007 award
winners will be officially recognized at the NBAA 60th Annual Meeting & Convention, to be held September 25 through 27 in Atlanta. For more
information about both awards, including nomination guidelines, visit:
http://www.nbaa.org/awards
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NBAA Flying Safety Award Applications Due Mar. 1
The NBAA Flying Safety Awards have brought worldwide attention to the business aircraft safety record and have been endorsed and approved by the
National Safety Council. These awards recognize the safety records compiled by Member Company management, maintenance, pilot and support personnel
teams. Applications for the 2007 awards, which recognize performance as of December 31, 2006, mailed to Members in early January and are available
online. Applications must be submitted to NBAA by March 1. For more information or to download applications in PDF format, visit:
http://www.nbaa.org/about/awards/safety
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IS-BAO Implementation Workshop
January 30, 2007, San Antonio, TX
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Asian Business Aviation Conference & Exhibition (ABACE2007)
February 6–7, 2007, Hong Kong
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ABACE Japan Forum – Nagoya, Aichi
February 9, 2007, Nagoya, Japan
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Application Deadline for April CAM Exam
February 15, 2007
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Professional Development Program (PDP) Course: Performance Reviews and Feedback Systems
February 20, 2007, San Diego, CA
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Leadership Conference
February 21–22, 2007, San Diego, CA
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Certified Aviation Manager Exam
February 23, 2007, San Diego, CA
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IS-BAO Implementation Workshop
February 28, 2007, Bedford, MA
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Flight Operations Manual Workshop
March 5–6, 2007, Houston, TX
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Management Fundamentals for Flight Departments Workshop
March 7–8, 2007, Houston, TX
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Business Aviation Regional Forum
March 22, 2007, Fort Lauderdale, FL
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34th Annual International Operators Conference
March 26–29, 2007, San Diego, CA
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Maintenance Management Conference
April 2–4, 2007, San Diego, CA
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IS-BAO Implementation Workshop
April 4, 2007, West Chicago, IL
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Certified Aviation Manager (CAM) Exam
April 5, 2007, San Diego, CA
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Business Aviation Regional Forum
April 26, 2007, White Plains, NY
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FSF/NBAA 52nd Annual Corporate Aviation Safety Seminar
May 8–10, 2007, Tucson, AZ
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IS-BAO Implementation Workshop
May 21, 2007, Geneva, Switzerland
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7th Annual European Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition (EBACE2007)
May 22–24, 2007, Geneva, Switzerland
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Business Aviation Taxes Forum
June 1, 2007, Chicago, IL
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Business Aviation Regional Forum
June 8, 2007, St. Louis, MO
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IS-BAO Implementation Workshop
June 20, 2007, Atlanta, GA
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Flight Operations Manual Workshop
June 25–26, 2007, San Diego, CA
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Management Fundamentals for Flight Departments Workshop
June 27–28, 2007, San Diego, CA
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12th Annual Flight Attendants Conference
June 29–30, 2007, San Diego, CA
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Review the Full NBAA Events Calendar
http://www.nbaa.org/events
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Review Future NBAA Convention Dates
http://www.nbaa.org/conventions/futuresites.htm
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