NBAA Flight Plan Podcasts

Increasingly companies are putting networking technicians on board business aircraft to ensure connectivity is maintained and to troubleshoot any problems that may arise, and flight attendants as well as other flight crew members are becoming versed in network diagnostics. An education session at NBAA's upcoming Regional Forum in Boca Raton, FL, titled "Networking in the Business Aircraft Cabin" will look at the issue of staying connected while in the air. NBAA's Flight Plan podcast has the full story, including tips for keeping your onboard connection intact.

Increasingly companies are putting networking technicians on board business aircraft to ensure connectivity is maintained and to troubleshoot any problems that may arise, and flight attendants as well as other flight crew members are becoming versed in network diagnostics. An education session at NBAA's upcoming Regional Forum in Boca Raton, FL, titled "Networking in the Business Aircraft Cabin" will look at the issue of staying connected while in the air. NBAA's Flight Plan podcast has the full story, including tips for keeping your onboard connection intact.

Those attending this week's Schedulers & Dispatchers Conference (SDC2014) in New Orleans, LA, have the opportunity to interview for U.S. Customs and Border Protection's Global Entry program, which is an international trusted traveler program that allows pre-approved, low-risk individuals expedited entry into the U.S. using Global Entry kiosks. Interviews at SDC2014 will take place Jan. 15 and 16.

Those attending this week's Schedulers & Dispatchers Conference (SDC2014) in New Orleans, LA, have the opportunity to interview for U.S. Customs and Border Protection's Global Entry program, which is an international trusted traveler program that allows pre-approved, low-risk individuals expedited entry into the U.S. using Global Entry kiosks. Interviews at SDC2014 will take place Jan. 15 and 16.

The changing climate for business aircraft operators across Asia is one reason for the change in attitudes in Japan, especially for airports near Tokyo. "[Japan] had the market cornered. But China has taken a lot of traffic away from them, and now the rest of Asia is jumping on board," said Phil Linebaugh, chief operating officer at International Trip Planning Services, LLC, based in Houston, TX.

The changing climate for business aircraft operators across Asia is one reason for the change in attitudes in Japan, especially for airports near Tokyo. "[Japan] had the market cornered. But China has taken a lot of traffic away from them, and now the rest of Asia is jumping on board," said Phil Linebaugh, chief operating officer at International Trip Planning Services, LLC, based in Houston, TX.

NBAA and its Member Companies achieved two key milestones in 2013. The Certified Aviation Manager (CAM) program was accredited by the National Council for Certifying Agencies, putting CAMs on par with certified executives in financial planning, law and health care. And the Association, which began in 1947 with 19 charter Members, welcomed Member number 10,000 this year.

The 17-day federal government shutdown, and a pushback against proposed user-fees were two key issues that business aviation contended with in 2013. For at least the third consecutive year, aviation advocates within Congress beat back an Obama administration attempt to enact a user-fee system. The proposed $100/flight fee was the subject of a bipartisan backlash.

The NCCA accreditation recently attained by NBAA's CAM program is exhaustive, notes Anjali Weber, director of accreditation at ICE. There are 21 standards within the NCCA framework. There are requirements for governance, transparency, candidate rights, discipline and appeals, she said. About 300 certification programs have so far received NCCA accreditation, and each must renew those credentials every five years.

The OpenAirplane system is designed for pilots whose travel takes them to distant regions where they have a number of stops to make. If a pilot from Chicago has a number of business calls to make in Florida, that pilot could fly commercial to Orlando, then, using his or her OpenAirplane app, quickly locate an aircraft and engage it to fly to multiple destinations within the region.

Pilots flying into Colorado destinations - Aspen-Pitkin County (ASE), Eagle County Regional (EGE) and Garfield County Regional "Rifle" (RIL) - need to plan ahead to make sure they have a smooth trip. The best advice is to file your flight plan as soon as you possibly can - at least the night before, according to NBAA Air Traffic Management Specialist John Kosak.

There are many changes and recommendations coming to the IS-BAO program in 2014. Some of the issues addressed next year include: more guidance for organizations operating under Continuing Airworthiness Management Organization policies and procedures and new audit reporting procedures that include the use of forms that are more in line with ICAO safety management system concepts.

Notable additions to the IS-BAO program for 2014 include a recommendation that all members of a business aviation flight department be considered for participation in a fatigue management program, as well as recommendations regarding the pre-flight loading of oxygen. Of the 120 new standards and recommendations proposed for 2014, only a handful has actually been passed into policy by the SRB, according to IBAC Audit Manager John Sheehan.

Recently, the Georgia Department of Labor (GDOL) offered to set up a unique, company-specific job fair for Kennesaw, GA-based charter and freight operator Flightworks, with great results. Representatives from both the GDOL and Flightworks said that taking the step to personally reach out to job seekers was crucial, because it provided an initial screening step in the application process. As a result, the company got qualified applicants, and the applicants got a chance for a rare face-to-face initial interview. Learn more tips about creating a more personalized hiring approach.

NBAA has launched a new regional program called Insights Connection to improve communication with its Members. "We had requests from Members for more personal interaction between Members and senior staff at NBAA," said Stave Hadley, director of regional programs and Southwest regional representative. "The idea is to form a two-way connection between NBAA staff and Members in their own backyard. That way, together we can focus on the issues that are important to all of us." The first NBAA Insights Connection meeting is scheduled to be held in the Northeastern U.S. early next year.