NBAA Flight Plan Podcasts

If you could sum up the business aviation marketplace over the past year in two words, the words might be "stabilization" and "recovery." As Honeywell President, Business & General Aviation Rob Wilson said during NBAA's Annual Meeting & Convention last October that "the situation has stabilized, but the forecast and pace of recovery is slower than we'd all like to see." In this, the second of three year-end editions of the NBAA Flight Plan podcast, 2010 marketplace conditions in the U.S. and around the world are discussed.

As the business aviation community began an economic recovery this year, NBAA and the industry continued to make progress in correcting misperceptions about business aviation through the No Plane, No Gain advocacy campaign. In the first of three year-in-review podcasts, this edition of the NBAA Flight Plan podcast looks at the campaign the accomplishments that have been made through industry advocacy at the federal, state and local levels.

This time of year, changes to the airspace to accommodate aviation traffic on the East Coast impact both commercial and general aviation flights. In this week's edition of the NBAA Flight Plan podcast, NBAA's Dean Snell, at the General Aviation Desk at the FAA National Air Traffic Command Center, talks about what operators should know and where to get the latest air space information.

This month's verdict in the Platinum Jet Management case is good cause to think about how your charter company is structured and how that structure is presented to your customers. In this edition of the NBAA Flight Plan podcast, Association Vice President Mike Nichols points out the advantages - and obligations - of educating your prospective charter clients about business aviation and how to shop for the right deal. The NBAA can support your efforts with online and other resources.

Since its formation three years ago, the Alliance for Aviation Across America has mobilized individuals and organizations in and outside the aviation community to highlight the role of general aviation as a lifeline to communities across the country. In this edition of the NBAA Flight Plan podcast, Alliance director Selena Shilad discusses the grassroots work that has enlisted industry advocates at the federal, state and local level. Today, the Alliance counts 5,000 members in its ranks, and produces a number of advocacy resources for the industry, which are available on the organization's web site, www.aviationacrossamerica.org.

November 18th marks the deadline set by the International Civil Aviation Organization for the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to have in place regulations regarding Safety Management Systems (SMS). But, since FAA won't make that deadline, what's in store for NBAA members who operate overseas? In this edition of the NBAA Flight Plan podcast, Doug Carr, NBAA's vice president for safety, security and regulations, answers questions related to SMS requirements.

At NBAA's Annual Meeting & Convention in Atlanta last month, Transportation Security Administration (TSA) chief John Pistole said that as he considers security policies for business aviation, his agency has remained focused on minimizing security risks while retaining the mobility, flexibility and other advantages a business airplane provides. How has this view impacted the TSA's work on a revised Large Aircraft Security Program (LASP), and how is the new LASP expected to take shape? This edition of NBAA Flight Plan has the story.

In these challenging economic times, business aviation may be the last thing on the mind of a company's directors or CEO. But NBAA Vice President Mike Nichols says, this could be the perfect time to invest in business aviation. "We know that business aircraft make companies more efficient, more productive, and able to do more with less," Nichols observes. "In this down economy - a business aircraft is going to provide that competitive edge." Nichols details the resources NBAA makes available for Members to determine the type of aircraft that would be best suited for their business needs

NBAA's 63rd Annual Meeting & Convention proved once again that the show is the industry's premier event. This week's edition of the NBAA Flight Plan podcast captures the highlights from the Convention's three days in Atlanta, GA. NBAA Exhibitors and Attendees discuss the upbeat mood at this year's show, FAA Administrator Randy Babbitt recognizes five aviation legends as Master Pilots, and NBAA President and CEO Ed Bolen unveils plans for the re-introduction of the Asian Business Aviation Conference and Exhibition in 2012.

Barrington Irving, the youngest person to pilot a plane around the world solo, was available at NBAA2010 by way of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries to talk with young people about exploring careers in all areas of aviation. His appearance was one of several career education opportunities for students at NBAA2010. Listen to the special Convention edition NBAA Flight Plan.

The remarkable business aviation relief effort in Haiti caused NBAA to rethink the way it connects volunteers with those in need. In this special Convention edition of NBAA Flight Plan, President and CEO Ed Bolen talks about the new Humanitarian Emergency Relief Operator (HERO) database, where business aircraft operators can register to be contacted for future relief efforts.

European rulemakers are proposing or implementing changes across a wide spectrum of issues: emissions trading, flightcrew licensing, aviation security and more. In this special Convention edition of NBAA Flight Plan, European Business Aviation Association President Brian Humphries explains how the changes in Europe could mean big changes for North American operators who fly there.

On the final day of NBAA2010, FAA Associate Administrator for Aviation Safety Peggy Gilligan will be available to answer Attendee questions. In this special NBAA2010 edition of NBAA Flight Plan, NBAA's Doug Carr talks about ICAO SMS requirements and runway "excursions" - some of the safety-related topics likely to be discussed at the session.

Dedicated to giving back to the communities that host them, hundreds of attendees at NBAA2010 arrived early to work on a special project for a special group of kids. NBAA Flight Plan reports from the Brookhaven Boys and Girls Clubs in Northeast Atlanta.

With a growing economy and improved operational flexibility within its airspace, China is poised to become a key market for the business aviation industry. In this special edition of NBAA Flight Plan, NBAA's Ed Bolen, GAMA's Pete Bunce and others explain why they call China a modern-day "Land of Opportunity."