FAA Revises Field Approval Guidance

Coyne Meets With TSA Head To Discuss LASP

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In a meeting coordinated by the association, NATA President James K. Coyne and leaders from the Aircraft Owners & Pilots Association, National Business Aviation Association and General Aviation Manufacturers Association met with TSA chief Kip Hawley last week to discuss the Large Aircraft Security Program proposed rule.

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In a meeting coordinated by the association, NATA President James K. Coyne and leaders from the Aircraft Owners & Pilots Association, National Business Aviation Association and General Aviation Manufacturers Association met with Transportation Security Administration (TSA) chief Kip Hawley last week to discuss the Large Aircraft Security Program (LASP) proposed rule.

The LASP was officially unveiled in the Federal Register on October 30. A copy of the Federal Register’s version of the proposed rule can be reviewed by clicking here.

Coyne expressed his continued commitment to work with the TSA on methods to improve general aviation security but highlighted the association’s concerns with the proposed rule’s lack of benefit for incorporating a new security regime.

“As the association that represents operators participating in the Twelve-Five Standard Security Program, we have long advocated that increased access to restricted airspace be provided as a benefit to those participants,” Coyne stated. “While our efforts to increase access for certain venues have been successful, we are concerned that there are no well-defined benefits to the new security regime being proposed.”

Members are strongly encouraged to review the rule and provide comments by the 60-day deadline, which will be December 30, 2008, unless an extension is provided.

The association has provided a brief regulatory review of the proposed rule that can be reviewed by clicking here.

NATA will also be providing detailed comments to TSA on the proposed rule and will make those available to all members as soon as they are complete.

For more information on the Large Aircraft Security Program proposed rule, please contact Eric R. Byer on the NATA staff.

NTSB Frustrated With FAA’s Lack Of Progress On EMS Safety

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The National Transportation Safety Board last week added Emergency Medical Service flight safety to its 2009 Most Wanted List of Safety Improvements.

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The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) last week added Emergency Medical Service flight safety to its 2009 Most Wanted List of Safety Improvements.

According to the NTSB:

“The Board believes that a concerted effort must be made to improve the safety of emergency medical services flights. In 2006, the Safety Board issued a special investigation report addressing the safety issues involved in these operations. Although the Board has issued recommendations to improve EMS safety, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has not implemented the changes. In the last 11 months, there have been 9 EMS accidents, resulting in 35 fatalities.”

To view the complete press release on the NTSB’s 2009 Most Wanted List of Safety Improvements, please click here.

NATA Submits Statement To House Transportation Committee On Economic Stimulus

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As Congress continues to discuss the possibility of another economic stimulus package, the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure held a hearing last week to examine how infrastructure investment contributes to job creation and economic recovery. The hearing addressed infrastructure across the committee's jurisdiction, including highways, bridges, public transportation, rail, aviation, ports, waterways, wastewater treatment facilities, and federal buildings. NATA President James K. Coyne submitted a Statement for the Record in response to the hearing to highlight the need for aviation infrastructure funding. “While the intent of a new economic stimulus is to create jobs and economic growth by investing in infrastructure, it’s important to evaluate all transportation sectors and delayed project funding, especially aviation,” Coyne said.

The House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure estimated that $30 billion would create or sustain more than 834,000 jobs throughout the transportation sector. According to the FAA, a supplemental appropriation of $600 million could be used immediately for Airport Improvement Program (AIP) projects that have been put on hold due to lack of funding. The types of AIP projects include runway or taxiway rehabilitation, extensions and widening; apron construction; and construction of public access roads. The three-part panel included Jon Corzine, Governor of New Jersey; Dr. John Irons, Economic Policy Institute; William Decota, Director of Aviation, Port Authority of New York and New Jersey; and others. For more information on the panel and the hearing, click here.

Click here to view NATA’s Statement for the Record.

Coyne, Christiansen Praise Success Of TEB Industry Working Group

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NATA President James K. Coyne, the Teterboro Airport Industry Working Group co-chair, along with NetJets Aviation, Inc. President James C. Christiansen, last week praised the success of the Teterboro Airport Industry Working Group during a press conference with local and federal officials at Dassault Falcon Jet Corporation's hangar in Teterboro, NJ.

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Speakers at the press conference included:

· Congressman Steven Rothman (D-NJ)

· Anthony Coscia, chairman, Port Authority of New York & New Jersey

· Susan Bass Levin, deputy director, Port Authority of New York & New Jersey

· James K. Coyne, TEB Industry Working Group co-chair and president, National Air Transportation Association

· James Christiansen, president, NetJets Aviation, Inc.

The purpose of the press conference was to update the public on the Teterboro Airport Industry Working Group's "Pledge to the Community Program" that focuses on five key areas to bridge the interests of the aviation community and airport neighbors proactively and voluntarily and to offer practical and workable local solutions that address the unique nature of Teterboro Airport (TEB). These five key areas include:

· A voluntary ban of Stage II aircraft operations at TEB

· A voluntary curfew on non-essential nighttime operations between the hours of 11 p.m. and 6 a.m.

· A commitment not to operate aircraft exceeding 100,000 pounds at TEB

· A commitment to make TEB a model for the safest general aviation airport in the nation

· A pledge to enhance and refine the security procedures already in place at TEB and support the airport in its ultimate goal of becoming the industry's security model for general aviation airports

In 2006, the Teterboro Airport Industry Working Group assembled a diverse group of aviation industry professionals who use the airport. Comprising experienced aviation experts representing TEB's fixed base operators, airport users and tenants, and national and local aviation industry associations, the working group is the first all-industry group to step forward to work with TEB's owner, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, and Congressman Steve Rothman to address community concerns.

Since October 2006, more than 300 signatories have joined the Pledge to the Community Program. Most importantly, Stage II aircraft operations and nighttime operations have all dropped significantly since the program's inception. Since October 2006, Stage II operations have dropped by 43 percent and nighttime operations have declined by 16 percent.

"I am quite pleased with the continued progress of the working group's Pledge to the Community Program," stated NATA’s Coyne. "The significant reduction in Stage II and overnight operations is a testament to the aviation industry's commitment to this critical initiative."

"NetJets Aviation is pleased to be a participant in this widely successful program," stated NetJets Aviation, Inc’s Christiansen. "We continue to encourage our customers to recognize the important pledges established by the working group to ensure that the aviation industry that utilizes the airport, along with its surrounding community, continue to thrive in a safe and secure manner."

As part of the working group's ongoing efforts, a letter sent by aviation industry users reinforcing the need for operators to abide by the voluntary nighttime curfew as well as not to operate Stage II aircraft into and out of the airport was also announced at the press conference. A copy of this letter can be viewed by clicking here.

"The Teterboro Airport Industry Working Group's Pledge to the Community Program continues to be the foundation upon which the aviation community and the local community surrounding the airport address and resolve airport concerns," concluded Coyne and Christiansen. "We continue to encourage aviation industry participation within this critical program."

For more information on the Teterboro Airport Industry Working Group, please contact Eric Byer.

NATA Congressional Race Analyses Available For Members

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NATA recently completed its review of the top ten most highly contested U.S. Senate and House races for the upcoming fall elections.

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NATA recently completed its review of the top ten most highly contested U.S. Senate and U.S. House of Representatives races for the upcoming fall elections.

To view NATA’s review of the top ten most highly contested U.S. Senate races, please click here.

To view NATA’s review of the top ten most highly contested U.S. House races, please click here.

For more information, please contact Kristen Moore.

Airport Spotlight: Double Eagle II Airport (AEG)

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Double Eagle II Airport (AEG) is well positioned to serve the growing needs of general aviation in the Albuquerque area.

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Double Eagle II Airport (AEG) is well positioned to serve the growing needs of general aviation in the Albuquerque area. The airport is located seven miles west of the Albuquerque Central Business District and is classified as a general aviation reliever airport for Albuquerque International Sunport Airport in the FAA National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems. The airport serves all segments of the general aviation industry (recreational, pleasure, business, and corporate).

For the 12-month period ending April 30, 2006 (as reported by the FAA Master Record 5010), AEG hosted 131,401 total operations, 97% of which were general aviation operations. Of the total operations, 86,214 were general aviation local operations, while 41,217 were general aviation itinerant operations. The remaining operations consisted of 2,000 air taxi operations, 1,966 military operations, and 4 ultralight operations. For the same period, AEG was home to approximately 254 based aircraft (212 single-engine, 20 multi-engine, 1 jet, 17 helicopters, and 4 ultra-lights).

AEG is owned and operated by the city of Albuquerque, and it serves a population of approximately 520,000 according to 2006 U.S. Census Bureau data. The airport is one of the busiest airports in the state of New Mexico, hosting an average of approximately 360 operations each day. An air traffic control tower, which was completed in 2007 (at an approximate cost of $2.8 million) and is currently being equipped for service, is expected to be operational in the near future.

The airport was named Double Eagle II in honor of the first balloon to cross the Atlantic Ocean (from Maine to France with a total elapsed time of 137 hours and 6 minutes) in 1978. In order to accommodate general aviation activity in the Albuquerque area, the city began planning for the development of a new airport in 1969. In 1972, Airport Improvement Program (AIP) funds were secured by the city for the development of a master plan for a new general aviation airport in the Albuquerque area. On April 2, 1981, the city had an official ground-breaking ceremony for the new airport.

Today, AEG has two runways (Runway 04/22 which is 7,400 feet by 100 feet asphalt in good condition and Runway 17/35 which is 5,999 feet by 100 feet asphalt in excellent condition). The airport is served by one precision approach (ILS Runway 22) and one non-precision approach – RNAV (GPS) Runway 22. The 2002 Airport Master Plan includes the development of two additional runways at the airport, including a new 9,000 foot by 100 foot parallel runway (Runway 04L/22R) and a new 7,500 foot by 100 foot crosswind runway (Runway 10/28). In addition, the Airport Master Plan includes extension of Runway 04/22 from 7,400 feet to 11,000 feet.

The airport is home to one full service fixed base operator (FBO) – Bode Aero Services. The FBO provides aircraft fueling and line service; storage (parking and hangar); aircraft maintenance and repair; avionics and instrument maintenance, repair, and sales; aircraft charter and management; flight instruction and aircraft rental; and aircraft sales.

There are a number of corporate flight departments based at AEG, including Richardson Investments, Titan Operating Services, N. M. J. Group, T. E. B. Charter Services, Vulcan Holdings, and M & M Aircraft Sales. In addition, the city of Albuquerque’s Police Department also has a helicopter based at the airport.

In 2007, Eclipse Aviation opened a Customer Training Center (CTC) at AEG. The 41,500 square foot facility will accommodate four simulators, four classrooms and eight briefing rooms. The CTC is situated on 3.5 acres of Eclipse’s 150 acre leasehold at the airport, which abuts the northern boundary of the Albuquerque Aerospace Technology Park. Eclipse Aviation, which is headquartered in Albuquerque, manufactures the Eclipse 500 and Eclipse 400 very light jets. The company, which currently employs about 1,150 people, has delivered more than 100 aircraft to date.

Utilicraft Aerospace Industries recently announced that the company will be building the FF-1080 Freight Feeder, a small cargo aircraft, in partnership with the Navajo Nation, the city, and the state of New Mexico. The aircraft will be assembled at the airport.

The city has designated AEG as a “certified” or “preferred zoning” site, which streamlines the approval process for companies locating at the airport. The airport, which is considered a highly valuable asset, is well positioned to continue serving the needs of general aviation in the Albuquerque area and surrounding communities well into the future.

This article was written for NATA by Aviation Management Consulting Group.

2009 NATA Committee Schedule Announced

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NATA’s technical committees are scheduled to meet twice in 2009 – in May and again in September.

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NATA will host the 2009 Committee Meetings as outlined on the schedule below. NATA’s technical committees are scheduled to meet twice in 2009 – in May and again in September.