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  • 19 Jun 2020 3:01 PM | Anonymous member (Administrator)

    NBAA Challenges FAA’s Dismissal of Additional Comment Time for New Pilot-Reporting Proposal, Sounds Call to Action

    Contact: Dan Hubbard, 202-783-9360, dhubbard@nbaa.org

    Washington, DC, June 19, 2020 – The National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) today called upon the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to rethink its questionable decision to deny requests from NBAA and others in the industry for additional time to comment on new, onerous pilot-reporting requirements.

    The FAA’s new data-gathering criteria, outlined in a 200-page Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM), introduce sweeping new mandates for certain Part 91 operators and others to submit a raft of additional pilot data to the agency, through the use of an electronic Pilot Records Database (PRD). Although the FAA’s new rule was issued March 30, the agency has elected to disallow additional time for pilots and other affected parties to offer first-hand perspectives on the proposal’s most-troubling elements.   

    “Make no mistake: this plan raises serious privacy, administrative and other concerns in an era of big-data gathering, sharing and use,” said Brian Koester, NBAA’s director of flight operations and regulations. “Certainly, the proposal has the potential to create efficiencies for air carriers under current data-reporting laws. That said, the rules would not enhance safety for everyone, they propose substantial new regulatory burdens for a large segment of the Part 91 community, and for many NBAA members, the plan could create more problems than it solves.”

    Koester noted that the new FAA rules would expand the data-collection requirement provisions outlined in the Pilot Records Improvement Act (PRIA). That legislation, enacted in 1997, was intended simply to establish requirements for airlines to conduct pilot-background checks – including aviation experience and history, drug and alcohol testing results and driver-registration records – as part of the hiring process.

    As a result of congressional updates to PRIA in 2010, the FAA’s newly proposed rule would widely broaden this mandate, in the process layering on a new administrative burden for Part 91 operators, which often count only a handful of employees in their ranks.

    The flaws in the FAA’s new mandates are all the more troubling, given the nearly decade-long effort on pilot-reporting requirements, in which NBAA has been a supportive partner to government. In 2011, the FAA chartered a government-industry Aviation Rulemaking Committee to explore reporting criteria, partly in response to the fatal 2009 Colgan Air accident in Buffalo, NY.

    Over the ensuing nine years, a concerted effort was undertaken to examine options for increasing the efficacy of the information in the database, while mitigating concerns raised by NBAA and others. Nevertheless, the resulting rule from the FAA looked past many of those concerns, and only 90 days have been provided for stakeholders to comment on the plan, including its exhaustive list of more than 20 additional technical questions for affected stakeholders.

    “It is exasperating that the FAA has given industry just 90 days to unpack a complicated plan amassed over nine years, and released as the aviation community fights for its survival during COVID-19,” said Koester. “It would not seem unreasonable to allow another 30 days for discussion, so we are pursuing other means to encourage the FAA to provide for this minimal, reasonable accommodation.

    “Further, given the FAA’s request for industry input on over 20 technical questions, it seems this rulemaking process would have benefitted from an Advanced NPRM to allow the FAA to receive preliminary industry feedback, and include those perspectives in a more thorough and polished proposal.”

    With that in mind, Koester pointed to a new NBAA resource association members can use to digest the massive proposal and develop their individual responses for the FAA to help ensure industry’s voice is heard.

    The NBAA Regulatory Alert provides operating members with an overview of the proposed rule, highlights concerning provisions, and includes instructions for submitting comments to the FAA. Link to NBAA’s Regulatory Alert and make your voice heard.

    “The public comment period for the NPRM ends June 29, 2020, so we need everyone to make their voices heard today,” Koester concluded. 

    # # #

    Founded in 1947 and based in Washington, DC, the National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) is the leading organization for companies that rely on general aviation aircraft to help make their businesses more efficient, productive and successful. The association represents more than 11,000 company and professional members and provides more than 100 products and services to the business aviation community, including the NBAA Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition (NBAA-BACE), the world’s largest civil aviation trade show. Learn more about NBAA at nbaa.org.

    Members of the media may receive NBAA Press Releases immediately via email. To subscribe to the NBAA Press Release email list, submit the online form.

  • 04 May 2020 9:41 AM | Anonymous member (Administrator)

    This Special Federal Aviation Regulation (SFAR) provides regulatory relief to persons who have been unable to comply with certain training, recent experience, testing, and checking requirements due to the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID–19) outbreak. This relief allows operators to continue to use pilots and other crew members in support of essential operations during this period. Additionally, this SFAR provides regulatory relief to certain persons and pilot schools unable to meet duration and renewal requirements due to the outbreak. This rule also allows certain air carriers and operators to fly temporary overflow aircraft, a need resulting from the outbreak, to a point of storage pursuant to a special flight permit with a continuing authorization.

    You can find more information at this NBAA website:

    https://nbaa.org/press-releases/nbaa-applauds-faas-covid-19-relief-on-ga-pilot-medicals-proficiency-other-regulations/

  • 13 Apr 2020 2:53 PM | Anonymous member (Administrator)

      Happy Spring.  As I sit here on my porch overlooking the beautiful green grass and flowers starting to bloom, we should be busily planning our 44th Annual Business Aviation Association Memorial Open golf tournament.  This is the longest running aviation tournament and a major source of funds for the two charities that benefit from the funds we raise.  

      I was looking forward to this year's event.  I don't know if everyone is aware, but BAAMO is what led me to my current job at Wings of Hope.  My older brother John Henke was a past chair of BAAMO and used to make our mom, an avid golfer play in the tournament.  That is how our family heard of Wings of Hope, and subsequently led to us selecting Wings to be the recipient of the memorials when our dad, August Henke, passed away.    My chairing of the event this year, really felt like I had come full circle and I am proud to following in John's footsteps. 

      However, at this time we have no choice but to postpone this tournament.  Even if things are starting to get back to some amount of normalcy by the original date of May 18, the committee feels that travel may still be somewhat limited and we will all be very busy playing catch up.

      We have secured Wednesday, September 23 as our new date at the same location, Old Hickory golf course.  The BAAMO committee will restart the planning later this summer as things start to reopen and recover.  

      Stay safe, well and 6 feet over there.  We will see everyone when this is over.

    Thank you,

    Beth Henke-Campbell
    BAAMO Chair 2020 
    golf@gslbaa.org

  • 03 Apr 2020 12:56 PM | Anonymous member (Administrator)


    Arthur C. "Butch" Giessman
    August 30, 1949 - March 29, 2020

    It is with a heavy heart that we wish to inform you that A.C. “Butch” Giessman passed away March 29, 2020.  The St. Louis Aviation community and industry as a whole, lost a true pioneer, visionary and friend. 

    A graduate of Parks College – St. Louis University, he held a degree in Aeronautical Maintenance Engineering and held several positions within his lengthy aviation career. Most notably as the founder of AVMATS, where he was currently the Chairman of the Board.  He worked hard to develop the company as a world-wide resource, first for the Sabreliner aircraft and other airframes later.  He was active in GSLBAA, having served on the Board as well as in other capacities.  He was also an early member and past president of PAMA. 

    Most recently, Butch was a strong advocate and an active Board Member for Wings of Hope. His knowledge of aviation and his love of humanity made him a particularly good fit for this position. His personality was larger than life and always found a way to put others first. 

    He was a friend to all who knew him and will be sorely missed. 

    – Blue skies and tailwinds, Butch. 

    Obituary


  • 05 Nov 2019 11:01 AM | Anonymous member (Administrator)

    Obituary of Barry Steven Oxenhandler

    Barry Oxenhandler passed on November 1, 2019. Barry started Enterprise’s flight department in 1976 and retired in 2004. He was the Chief Pilot. 

    Graveside service at:

    Chesed Shel Emeth Cemetery
    7500 Olive Boulevard
    November 5, from 1:00 to 2:00 pm

    Obituary, Memories and Service Info

  • 21 Oct 2019 6:11 PM | Anonymous member (Administrator)

    Rev. Paul D. Haglin, 90, of Chesterfield, passed away on October 17, 2019 at Delmar Gardens-Chesterfield. He was born on March 23, 1929 in Minneapolis, Minnesota to Preston and Mildred (Daunt) Haglin and brother of Preston Haglin II. After graduating from the University of Minnesota with an aeronautical  engineering degree, Paul enlisted in the U.S. Air Force. He served his country and was honorably discharged. Paul and Gretel (Staver) were united in marriage  in 1953. They had four children together, Christopher, Alexis, Edward and Philip. Paul was an aerospace engineer for McDonnell-Douglas and an avid private pilot. After tiring of long wait times for private take-offs at Lambert Airport, he dreamed of opening up a general aviation airport. He used his inheritance to buy the land and develop the airport in the area of Chesterfield known as Gumbo. The Spirit of St. Louis Airport opened in 1965, and quickly became the largest privately owned airport in the country. Then  St. Louis County purchased the airport in 1980. In honor of his achievements,  St. Louis County declared May 4th as Paul Haglin day.  There is a street named Paul Haglin drive in Chesterfield Valley. In 2017, he received a lifetime achievement award from Progress 64 West. After founding the airport, Paul served as a Pastor for 44 years, authoring three Christian books. Paul had a radio show called "Letters of Faith" that ran for fifteen minutes everyday for fifteen years in the 70's-80's. He was an All American rifle shooter and an accomplished sailboat racer.

    He is survived by his loving family; Alexis and husband Mark Richert of Chesterfield, Edward (Ted) Haglin of Colorado, Philip (Keeler) Haglin of St. Louis and three grandchildren; Tali and husband Jared Shaw of Trabuco Canyon, CA, Paul Haglin of Denver, Co and Paige Haglin of Florida.

    Paul was preceded in death by his parents, his son: Christopher, his wife and brother.

    He will be sadly missed and long remembered by all those who knew and loved him. 

    A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, October 26, 2019 from 1p.m- 4 p.m. at The Crossing at Chesterfield  114 N  Eatherton Road Chesterfield, MO 63005  1-636-532-1212

    Memorial Service will also be held on Saturday, October 26, 2019 at 2 p.m. at The Crossing at Chesterfield 114 N Eatherton Road Chesterfield, MO 63005 1-636-532-1212

    Memorial Gifts- Gateway 61 Church 17550 Wild Horse Creek Rd. Chesterfield, MO 63005 

    Obituary and Guest Book


  • 28 Jul 2019 10:05 PM | Anonymous member (Administrator)

    Steve Hadley will be the new NBAA Regional Representative for the Southwest Central Region since Bob Quinn announced his retirement last month. Steve is well known to us through his support of the regional groups and we look forward to working with him in his new role.

    Please see Steve’s introduction:

    I have been a NBAA regional representative for more than 13 years representing the Southwestern states and we are now adding the states of Iowa, Nebraska and Missouri to my area. I also serve as the Senior Director of the Regional Program and the NBAA staff liaison to the NBAA Local and Regional Group Committee.

    As just a brief review of my operational background prior to NBAA, I have been flying since 1981 and have served as a chief pilot and director of operations for both part 91 and part 135 operators as well as having been vice president of a FBO in Texas where I now live with my family.  

    Having been raised in Missouri with my undergraduate work at Drury College and graduate work at Southwest Missouri State College, both in Springfield. So I am not a new comer to Missouri and am very familiar with the Greater St. Louis Business Aviation Association.

    As you know, having worked with Bob Quinn, the NBAA regional representatives all work with pretty much anyone and everyone that has an impact on business aviation, its partners and our communities while striving to make our NBAA members' businesses more effective.

    In any event, I look forward to meeting you all in St. Louis at the earliest chance, but in the meantime, please feel free to call on me for any of your industry questions or operational issues and I will be happy to help in any way possible. 

    Thank you so much and have a great week!

    Best regards!

    Steve


  • 17 Jun 2019 8:01 PM | Anonymous member (Administrator)

    Bob Quinn, GSLBAA Board Member

    Washington, DC, June 30, 2019 – The National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) today announced that Bob Quinn, the association’s Central regional representative, will retire on June 30, after 13 years of service on behalf of NBAA members in Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Ohio and Wisconsin.

    Since joining NBAA in 2006, Quinn has been a tireless advocate for the interests of business aviation in the Midwest. His significant communication talents and extensive knowledge of the business aviation industry have made him a highly credible and knowledgeable advocate for aviation at state legislatures, regulatory agencies, airport organizations and more.

    “Bob’s unmatched networking skills have been highly effective in bringing a variety of interests together and in facilitating successful programs and partnerships,” said NBAA President and CEO Ed Bolen. “His strong operational background and understanding of airspace and airport issues have greatly benefited business aviation operators in the Central region.”

    Bolen noted that Quinn’s input for airspace redesign efforts--including RNAV arrivals and departures--in the St. Louis, Chicago and Detroit metropolitan areas was instrumental to their successful implementation.

     “Bob has ably represented a large region of the country, and his knowledge and advocacy for business aviation will be missed,” said Steve Hadley, NBAA regional programs senior director and Southwest regional representative. “We wish him all the best in this new chapter of his life.”

    Quinn is a past president and 30-year member of the Greater St. Louis Business Aviation Association (GSLBAA), considered to be the second oldest regional business aviation group in the nation.

    After graduating from Purdue University with a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering and a master’s degree in industrial administration, Quinn started his aviation career as a design engineer with McDonnell Douglas, later working for the Trane Company and Emerson Electric in engineering and marketing positions.  Over his more than 50-year aviation career, he has accumulated almost 17,000 hours with eight type ratings on his ATP plus an A&P and Inspection Authorization, and has more than 25 years of experience as a corporate charter pilot.

    Prior to joining NBAA, Quinn was a Gulfstream captain with TAG Aviation, and has flown an array of Gulfstreams from the G-2 thru the G-550 and operated them in every continent except Antarctica.  He is still flying his Christen Eagle II biplane, which is based at Spirit of St. Louis Airport (SUS).

    According to NBAA’s Hadley, the association will soon be announcing a realignment of the U.S. regions covered by the regional representatives.

    At the recent NBAA Regional Group Leadership Round Table, Bob Quinn was presented with the "Order of the Silk Scarf Award" by NBAA for diligence, industry, and persistence in nurturing, improving and enjoying aviation!


    Edward Bolen, President and CEO of NBAA, wrote a personal note for Bob's retirement:

    Congratulations to Bob on his years of service to NBAA and contributions to business aviation in general. Bob has been a cooperate pilot in the St Louis area for many years as well as a contributor and leader in the local business aviation community. He has served as a GSLBAA Board member, officer and BAAMO committee chairman, providing foundational leadership that has helped stimulate the growth of GSLBAA over the years.

    Bob continues to serve on the GSLBAA Board and will be an integral part going forward.

GSLBAA is a 501(c)(6) non-profit corporation.

541 Bell Ave.
Chesterfield, MO 63005

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