Throughout its history, NBAA has worked to support policies that foster business aviation in the United States and around the world. Among the policy priorities for the Association and the industry it represents are modernization of the nation’s aviation system, building upon the already outstanding safety record for business aviation and preserving secure access to airports and airspace. Below are two new initiatives that will aid in supporting these policy priorities.
New Security Resources
The NBAA Security Council is developing new resources to help their Member Companies manage technology security threats and educate aviation department personnel on these concerns, including privacy issues raised by ADS-B equipage and other new technologies.
“The Security Council acknowledges the potential threats associated with the use of some avionics and other technology, and will be developing best practices for use of technology in aviation departments,” said Sarah Wolf, a certified aviation manager who is NBAA’s senior manager of security and facilitation. “Included in these threats are potential loss of privacy, laser attacks and even possible hacking of aircraft avionics.”
The council plans to update NBAA’s Best Practices for Business Aviation Security and the NBAA Management Guide to include new guidance on how business aircraft operators can address these emerging threats.
For many years, the Security Council has focused on ensuring business aviation has fair access to airspace during temporary flight restrictions (TFRs), especially those associated with movements of VIPs. Wolf said this would continue to be a priority for the Security Council, which hopes to increase business aviation access to airspace during TFRs by leveraging existing security initiatives such as Global Entry or the DCA Access Standard Security Program.
“VIP TFRs become a more significant issue during election seasons, especially during presidential elections,” noted Wolf, who is staff liaison to the Security Council. “NBAA and the council will continue to work with regulators so that aircraft operators have reasonable notice of impending TFRs. We also will seek to limit the duration of onerous TFRs and help ensure business aviation operations are not unduly restricted.”
In addition to revised guidance materials and airspace access advocacy, the council will provide members with new security-related training materials and other resources. Members with suggestions for topics to be covered by the council’s work should contact Wolf at swolf@nbaa.org.
New Working Group with U.S. Customs
and Border Protection
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Commissioner R. Gil Kerlikowske recently said that his agency would organize a working group to focus on issues specific to general aviation, including business aviation. NBAA’s meeting with CBP officials focused on improving the facilitation of N-registered general and business aviation operators returning to the United States. The working group will begin meeting later this year, and NBAA hopes it will work to streamline regular processing requirements for international general aviation arrivals.
For example, NBAA suggested that broader use of CBP assets at foreign locations, including pre-clearance facilities, could be used to process a greater number of U.S. operators before they return home.
NBAA will provide Members with regular updates on CBP initiatives.
FAA Reauthorization Bill Due
to Floor this Month
As reported in the July issue of King Air magazine, NBAA has requested a call to action from business aviation operators and owners regarding the FAA Reauthorization Bill. The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee notified aviation groups that House leadership delayed floor consideration for the Bill until this month. The bill was expected to be presented by Committee chairman, Bill Shuster (R-Pa.), in July. Congress will have little time to pass a bill before the FAA’s current authorization expires on September 30.
NBAA called upon its more than 10,000 Member Companies to make their voices heard in strong opposition to any legislative proposal that would strip congressional oversight of the nation’s air traffic control (ATC) network in favor of a private entity funded through user fees. If you haven’t already, there is little time left to take action.
For more information and guidance on how you can contact Congress regarding the FAA Reauthorization Bill, go to www.nbaa.org/advocacy/contact/.
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