NBAA Flight Plan Podcasts

Airports and the businesses they host must work together to create a net benefit for both. "Ongoing dialogue is really critical because issues come up every day in an airport environment. General aviation airports are important community assets that contribute to our local community, as well as to the transportation system," but they are often not well understood, said Clara Bennett, executive director of the Boca Raton Airport Authority. "It's critical for airport managers and airport tenants and users to continually get that message out that there's value in general aviation in our communities."

The Michigan Business Aviation Association and Western Michigan Business Aviation Association have been working together for more than 30 years to reach students and pique their interest in the industry. Dean Walters, director of aviation for Jackson National Life, works with both groups, and said roughly one-third of business aviation pilots of come through the scholarship program. The goal, he said, is to reach kids while they are still in high school.

The Michigan Business Aviation Association and Western Michigan Business Aviation Association have been working together for more than 30 years to reach students and pique their interest in the industry. Dean Walters, director of aviation for Jackson National Life, works with both groups, and said roughly one-third of business aviation pilots of come through the scholarship program. The goal, he said, is to reach kids while they are still in high school.

If you’re headed to any of the association’s events this spring, NBAA has tips for attendees and exhibitors to get the most out of their experience, starting with registering via social media. “This is a really great way to reach out to your own contacts, to your own network, and your colleagues and friends within the industry, and invite them to join you,” said Aimee Kaufman, NBAA’s senior director of marketing.

If you're headed to any of the association's events this spring, NBAA has tips for attendees and exhibitors to get the most out of their experience, starting with registering via social media. "This is a really great way to reach out to your own contacts, to your own network, and your colleagues and friends within the industry, and invite them to join you," said Aimee Kaufman, NBAA's senior director of marketing.

It’s been 18 months since the FAA implemented significant changes to the reporting of runway conditions and contamination. The biggest challenge of the new system, referred to as Takeoff and Landing Performance Assessment (TALPA), has been getting the word out to operators, said Rich Boll, chair of the Airspace, ATC and Flight Technologies Working Group of the NBAA Access Committee. To that end, NBAA has created a six-part video series that explains TALPA and how pilots should apply the field condition reports they receive.

It's been 18 months since the FAA implemented significant changes to the reporting of runway conditions and contamination. The biggest challenge of the new system, referred to as Takeoff and Landing Performance Assessment (TALPA), has been getting the word out to operators, said Rich Boll, chair of the Airspace, ATC and Flight Technologies Working Group of the NBAA Access Committee. To that end, NBAA has created a six-part video series that explains TALPA and how pilots should apply the field condition reports they receive.

Last week’s NBAA Flight Plan podcast looked at the phraseology “climb via,” which has caused some confusion since it was introduced in 2014. This week, the podcast examines the practical implications of flying a climb via departure. “NextGen is all about fitting more aircraft in a smaller airspace and the intent of the procedure designers, both SIDs and STARs, is that they be auto flown,” said NBAA Access Committee member Keith Gordon, who participated on the team that led to climb via implementation. “However, we have to be trained, we have to be skilled enough that when something happens. whether a controller has to intervene, that we have the ability to do it.”

Last week's NBAA Flight Plan podcast looked at the phraseology "climb via," which has caused some confusion since it was introduced in 2014. This week, the podcast examines the practical implications of flying a climb via departure. "NextGen is all about fitting more aircraft in a smaller airspace and the intent of the procedure designers, both SIDs and STARs, is that they be auto flown," said NBAA Access Committee member Keith Gordon, who participated on the team that led to climb via implementation. "However, we have to be trained, we have to be skilled enough that when something happens. whether a controller has to intervene, that we have the ability to do it."

The Problem With Clearances That Begin 'Climb Via'

NBAA's Safety Committee annually examines the top safety issues facing business aviation and compiles resources for operators and flight departments to use in combating these problems. In 2018, there were several new items added to the list, including workforce competency and staffing. "This is an area that is of great concern," said Safety Committee Chair Dave Ryan. "From a safety standpoint, it certainly increases distractions for management, it puts a lot of pressure on the existing pilots who lose teammates, maintenance personnel are also being lost and even scheduling has the burden of doing more with less." The list also includes some familiar issues, including runway excursions, single-pilot operations and loss of control in flight.

International operations can differ widely from domestic operations, particularly if a mission involves an operator’s first time flying outside the U.S. “If they’ve never done it before they may not know the sheer scale of differences that they’ll be facing,” said Craig Hanlon, chair of the NBAA International Operators Committee. Hanlon offers tips for first-time international operators including: using an international service provider and handling agent and taking formal international procedures training. Also, he said, the NBAA International Feedback Database can be a valuable source of information.

International operations can differ widely from domestic operations, particularly if a mission involves an operator's first time flying outside the U.S. "If they've never done it before they may not know the sheer scale of differences that they'll be facing," said Craig Hanlon, chair of the NBAA International Operators Committee. Hanlon offers tips for first-time international operators including: using an international service provider and handling agent and taking formal international procedures training. Also, he said, the NBAA International Feedback Database can be a valuable source of information.

If a business trip requires flying south of the border, operators can expect helpful changes in their interactions with Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and other improvements, said Laura Everington, senior manager for government and industry affairs at Universal Weather and Aviation and chair of the NBAA Security Council. Everington provides a quick list of the changes, several developed between NBAA and government officials.

If a business trip requires flying south of the border, operators can expect helpful changes in their interactions with Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and other improvements, said Laura Everington, senior manager for government and industry affairs at Universal Weather and Aviation and chair of the NBAA Security Council. Everington provides a quick list of the changes, several developed between NBAA and government officials - learn more in this week's NBAA Flight Plan podcast.