NBAA Flight Plan Podcasts

What's ahead for Wednesday at NBAA2010? NBAA Flight Plan provides an overview of the first-ever Second Day General Session, which will honor an aviation legend - and some genuine aviation heroes.

A new study by Nexa Capital shows the benefits of business aviation aren't limited to Fortune 500 companies. Nexa's Mike Dyment says instead, those benefits are derived by smaller companies as well when they, too, employ aviation as a part of their business strategy.

A major announcement Monday from NBAA and the Asian Business Aviation Association (AsBAA): The Asian Business Aviation Conference & Exhibition (ABACE) is returning to Shanghai om February 28 to March 1, 2012. NBAA President and CEO Ed Bolen is joined by AsBAA Chairman Chuck Woods, NBAA's Chief Representative to Asia, Jason Liao and Helena Lang, the chief representative from the Peoples Republic of China.

It's the first day of NBAA2010 and the convention kicks off with the Opening General Session on the Exhibit floor. In this special NBAA2010 edition of NBAA Flight Plan, NBAA President Ed Bolen talks about some of the highlights of that session and other events during the opening day of the 63rd Annual Meeting and Convention in Atlanta.

It was a near-capacity crowd at the Second Annual Cessna Single Pilot Safety Standdown during Monday's run-up to NBAA2010. In this special NBAA2010 edition of NBAA Flight Plan, pilots attending the Standdown share their thoughts about the sessioon, and NBAA's Doug Carr talkes about the session's vital and practical information that can be applied immediately by pilots flying solo.

As the convention gets underway Tuesday morning, NBAA President Ed Bolen talks about the economy, the state of the industry and NBAA2010 in this special edition NBAA Flight Plan interview.

Pete Combs brings us an exclusive interview with Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue, a business aviator whose insider knowledge of the industry has helped him make the Peach State one of the most aviation-savvy states in the nation. Perdue, who holds advanced fixed-wing and rotorcraft ratings, talks about his aviation experiences as well as his appreciation for NBAA and the business of flying. Perdue will participate in the Opening General Session at the 8:30 a.m. on Tuesday, October 19.

Cessna's Single Pilot Safety Standdown is just one of Monday's events leading up to the opening day for NBAA2010. In this special edition of NBAA Flight Plan, NBAA Vice President Doug Carr talks about this unique event and its importance to members who operate their own business aircraft.

NBAA's John Winant Award is named in honor of the Association's former director and president, in recognition of former NBAA Board members who, as Winant did, dedicate their time and expertise to promoting business aviation after they have concluded their service as NBAA directors. Former NBAA director Paul Stinebring embodies the spirit of the award, as someone who - long after his tenure on NBAA's Board - continued to effectively represent NBAA Members before the International Business Aviation Council. In this edition of NBAA Flight Plan, Stinebring discusses the keys to his long and successful career in business aviation. NBAA Midwest Regional Representative Bob Quinn tells listeners about Stinebring's long-standing reputation as a friend, mentor and dedicated professional in the industry.

Professionalism and accountability were key themes at the 14th Annual Bombardier Safety Standdown USA held October 4-7, 2010, in Wichita, KS. Not a marketing or sales event, the Safety Standdown offered dedicated safety training for business aircraft operators. This free event was aircraft-neutral, with sessions on icing, fatigue and automation applicable to aircraft of all types. Another safety standdown sponsored by Cessna will be held on October 18, 2010, in Atlanta, GA in conjunction with the NBAA 2010 Annual Meeting & Convention. The Cessna/NBAA Single-Pilot Safety Standdown will focus on issues specific to owner-operators.

President Obama last week signed into law legislation that includes a provision for "bonus depreciation," to accelerate cost recovery of strategic business purchases this year, including business aircraft. On this NBAA Flight Plan podcast episode, Ed Kammerer, aviation finance expert, talks about how companies take advantage of bonus depreciation for avionics upgrades, tugs and equipment, newly manufactured aircraft and more business tools.

It's campaign season, and if you or your company are considering providing transportation to a candidate for office, you need to know the rules before having political candidates on business or personal aircraft. Michael Toner, partner at the Bryan Cave law firm in Washington, DC, discusses the restrictions and reimbursement issues for operators and candidates in federal or state elections on this NBAA Flight Plan podcast.

While many NBAA Members generously make their aircraft available for charitable purposes, there are important tax and regulatory considerations to review when conducting these flights. For example, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) may place limits on the costs that a company can deduct in connection with a charitable flight. Aviation attorneys John Copley and John Hoover provide an overview of how both the FAA and IRS regulate charitable flights in this week's episode of the NBAA Flight Plan podcast.

The general aviation community has worked in a united front in responding to government officials' exploration of alternatives for 100 low lead fuel. NBAA is part of a coalition of GA and petroleum industry stakeholders that seeks to address concerns about cost, availability and ease of production. Steve Brown, NBAA senior vice president of operations and administration, and Rob Hackman, Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association vice president of government relations, talk about the progress the group is making in this week's episode of the NBAA Flight Plan podcast.

When entering into a management or lease agreement, aircraft owners and operators must be aware of and comply with the latest FAA rules and regulations. Understanding the typical models for management agreements and how they fit into the current regulatory landscape is critical. In this edition of the NBAA Flight Plan podcast, aviation attorney Ron Rapp with Vedder Price describes what these rules mean for NBAA Members.