NBAA Flight Plan Podcasts

To assist in the development of superior airmanship skills, the NBAA Safety Committee's Training Advisory Subcommittee is developing an online Training Management Systems Tool. It's an effort to incorporate training concepts and the sort of organization flight departments have become familiar with, thanks to the safety management system concept put forth by the International Standard for Business Aviation Operations. "The idea is to show flight operators how to incorporate training as a tool to mitigate risk," said Steve Charbonneau, deputy chairman of the NBAA Safety Committee and the senior manager of aviation training and standards at Altria Client Services. "It will help operators identify training needs, develop training plans, then evaluate those plans to gauge their effectiveness."

To assist in the development of superior airmanship skills, the NBAA Safety Committee's Training Advisory Subcommittee is developing an online Training Management Systems Tool. It's an effort to incorporate training concepts and the sort of organization flight departments have become familiar with, thanks to the safety management system concept put forth by the International Standard for Business Aviation Operations. "The idea is to show flight operators how to incorporate training as a tool to mitigate risk," said Steve Charbonneau, deputy chairman of the NBAA Safety Committee and the senior manager of aviation training and standards at Altria Client Services. "It will help operators identify training needs, develop training plans, then evaluate those plans to gauge their effectiveness."

NBAA issued an alert to its Members in Massachusetts, urging them to contact their legislators about overriding the governor's veto of funding for an airframe and powerplant maintenance technician program on Cope Cod. The advocacy push resonated, and soon the phones were ringing in legislators' offices at the state house. Ultimately, state lawmakers voted unanimously to restore the funding.

NBAA issued an alert to its Members in Massachusetts, urging them to contact their legislators about overriding the governor's veto of funding for an airframe and powerplant maintenance technician program on Cope Cod. The advocacy push resonated, and soon the phones were ringing in legislators' offices at the state house. Ultimately, state lawmakers voted unanimously to restore the funding.

A new effort to improve the gathering and dissemination of weather information to general aviation operators was highlighted on July 21, as NBAA President and CEO Ed Bolen announced the formation of a new NBAA Weather Subcommittee. "A lot of people, at every level, are dedicating their time and expertise to help us try and identify the best weather practices, and best weather information, so that together we can ultimately disseminate it," Bolen said. "Working together, we can collectively raise the bar and continue to enhance aviation safety, not just in the U.S., but around the world."

A new effort to improve the gathering and dissemination of weather information to general aviation operators was highlighted on July 21, as NBAA President and CEO Ed Bolen announced the formation of a new NBAA Weather Subcommittee. "A lot of people, at every level, are dedicating their time and expertise to help us try and identify the best weather practices, and best weather information, so that together we can ultimately disseminate it," Bolen said. "Working together, we can collectively raise the bar and continue to enhance aviation safety, not just in the U.S., but around the world."

The Association recently took part in the General Aviation Issues and Security Conference, hosted by the American Association of Airport Executives in Pittsburgh, PA. "The good news coming out of the conference was that general aviation airports are continuing to recover," said NBAA Vice President of Government Affairs Dick Doubrava. "We also talked about ongoing challenges. Chief among them is the pressure some airports are feeling from the communities they serve to curtail aviation activities or close altogether."

The Association recently took part in the General Aviation Issues and Security Conference, hosted by the American Association of Airport Executives in Pittsburgh, PA. "The good news coming out of the conference was that general aviation airports are continuing to recover," said NBAA Vice President of Government Affairs Dick Doubrava. "We also talked about ongoing challenges. Chief among them is the pressure some airports are feeling from the communities they serve to curtail aviation activities or close altogether."

The Airport Audit Tool, which is now in the final stages of development, is designed to standardize the process of identifying and assessing risks that are unique to each airport operating environment, said NBAA Airport Safety Working Group Leader Bob Conyers. "Consider it a PIREP (pilot report) about any kind of condition you might find at the airport," he said. "That's why we decided to create a risk assessment tool. It's been vetted with both airport and aircraft operators."

The Airport Audit Tool, which is now in the final stages of development, is designed to standardize the process of identifying and assessing risks that are unique to each airport operating environment, said NBAA Airport Safety Working Group Leader Bob Conyers. "Consider it a PIREP (pilot report) about any kind of condition you might find at the airport," he said. "That's why we decided to create a risk assessment tool. It's been vetted with both airport and aircraft operators."

Last week, NBAA announced the release of its first-ever Aircraft Transactions Guide, a one-stop resource for owner-operators and flight departments planning to conduct an aircraft transaction. Covering issues that range from taxes to FAA regulatory considerations, the publication is not intended to replace transaction advisors but instead augment their advice and help Members make smart purchasing decisions. With advance planning and knowledge of the questions to ask your advisors, we hope to help Members avoid costly pitfalls during the transaction process." said Scott O'Brien, NBAA's senior manager for finance and tax policy, who managed the publication's production in conjunction with several industry volunteers on the Association's Tax Committee.

Last week, NBAA announced the release of its first-ever Aircraft Transactions Guide, a one-stop resource for owner-operators and flight departments planning to conduct an aircraft transaction. Covering issues that range from taxes to FAA regulatory considerations, the publication is not intended to replace transaction advisors but instead augment their advice and help Members make smart purchasing decisions. With advance planning and knowledge of the questions to ask your advisors, we hope to help Members avoid costly pitfalls during the transaction process." said Scott O'Brien, NBAA's senior manager for finance and tax policy, who managed the publication's production in conjunction with several industry volunteers on the Association's Tax Committee.

Regional business aviation group leaders who attended the second annual NBAA Regional Leadership Roundtable in San Antonio this month deemed the event to be even more fruitful than the first. Approximately half of the regional business aviation groups in the United States were represented at the event. "Frankly, it's invaluable," said Ed Vesely of Welsch Aviation in Houston, who hopes to start a regional business aviation group in that city. "With NBAA's help, I've been able to develop some creative ideas."

Regional business aviation group leaders who attended the second annual NBAA Regional Leadership Roundtable in San Antonio this month deemed the event to be even more fruitful than the first. Approximately half of the regional business aviation groups in the United States were represented at the event. "Frankly, it's invaluable," said Ed Vesely of Welsch Aviation in Houston, who hopes to start a regional business aviation group in that city. "With NBAA's help, I've been able to develop some creative ideas."

Regional business aviation group leaders who attended the second annual NBAA Regional Leadership Roundtable in San Antonio this month deemed the event to be even more fruitful than the first. Approximately half of the regional business aviation groups in the United States were represented at the event. "Frankly, it's invaluable," said Ed Vesely of Welsch Aviation in Houston, who hopes to start a regional business aviation group in that city. "With NBAA's help, I've been able to develop some creative ideas."