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Welcome to the Greater Washington Business Aviation Association (GWBAA).  GWBAA has been established to represent the interests of business aviation in the District of Columbia, Maryland, and Virginia.

For the most current GWBAA newsletter, click here.

For upcoming events, click here.

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Please join NBAA in contacting Congress and urging them to
reject the FAA's plans to impose user fees on business aviation.

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GWBAA CELEBRATES THE HOLIDAYS

 

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GWBAA’s holiday event on December 5th, hosted by Signature Flight Support at its Dulles facility, was a big success.  Over 30 business aviation professionals attended the reception, which also included the annual membership meeting. Thanks to the following door prize sponsors for their support: Dassault Falcon Jet, Bombardier, Signature Flight Support, and Chantilly Air. The celebration also served as GWBAA’s annual membership meeting, and the membership ratified the following individuals to serve two-year terms as Board members of GWBAA

  • President - Paige Kroner (Chantilly Air)
  • Secretary - Jol Silversmith (Zuckert, Scoutt & Rasenberger)
  • Treasurer - Jim Garland (Sharp Details)
  • Director - Bob Rockwood (Bristol Associates)
  • Director - Jim Lumley (Landmark Aviation)
  • Director - Oakley Brooks (Bombardier)

New president Paige Kroner thanked departing board members Bob Blouin and Mary Miller for their service as president and treasurer, respectively, and invited GWBAA members who have ideas for the organization or are interested in volunteering to contact her at in info@gwbaa.com.

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LOUDOUN COUNTY CONSIDERS TAX HIKE

The Loudoun County Board of Supervisors continues to ponder a significant increase in its tax on aircraft for FY2010.  The current rate is $0.01 per $100; the new rate could be as high as $4.20 per $100.  Specific proposals are expected to be published in February before budget hearings in March.  Any increase likely would have a significant effect on operators based at both Leesburg Executive Airport and Washington Dulles International Airport.


The Town Council of Leesburg, where the former airport is located, on November 25 formally opposed the measure.  Tim Deike, Director of Leesburg Executive Airport, noted that a similar tax had been levied at Stafford Regional Airport, and caused the airport to lose the majority of its aircraft to other regional airports.  Deike stated that a similar fate could befall Leesburg Executive Airport should the tax be enacted by Loudoun County.


Opposition to the proposal also exists within the Loudon County Board.  Supervisor Kelly Burk (D-Leesburg) has stated that " Leesburg Airport is a significant economic driver for our area. We may take it for granted or not be aware of it, but it certainly drives a number of the businesses here. We don't need to pull out the rug from under it.  We need to support it.  Especially at a time when jobs are leaving, we need to make sure we're not doing the very same thing.”

TSA SCHEDULES LARGE AIRCRAFT SECURITY PROGRAM HEARINGS


The Transportation Security Administration has proposed new security rules that would apply to all aircraft with a MTOW above 12,500 pounds and all airports that serve these aircraft.  It is known as the “Large Aircraft Security Program” (LASP), and the program also includes requirements for security training for flight crews and periodic security audits for operators.  Comments are now due on February 29, 2009.  More information is available NBAA at http://www.nbaa.org/lasp.  The proposal also can be obtained online.


TSA has scheduled five public hearings to solicit feedback from business aviation:

  • White Plains, NY, Jan. 6, 2009: Westchester County Airport (HPN), Building 1 Airport Road, White Plains, NY 10604
  • Atlanta, GA, Jan. 8, , 2009: Renaissance Concourse Hotel Atlanta Airport, One Hartsfield Centre Parkway, Atlanta, GA 30354
  • Chicago, IL, Jan. 16, 2009: Crowne Plaza Chicago O’Hare Hotel & Convention Center, 5440 North River Road, Rosemont, IL 60018
  • Burbank, CA, Jan. 23, 2009: Burbank Airport Marriot Hotel & Convention Center, 2500 North Hollywood Way, Burbank, CA 91505
  • Houston, TX, Jan. 28, 2009: Hilton Houston Hotel-North Greenspoint Conference Center, 12400 Greenspoint Drive, Houston, TX 77060

For each of the hearings, registration will begin at 8am and the hearing itself will begin at 9am.  There should be a speaker signup sheet during the registration process for those who wish to speak.  Speakers will be limited to no more than a 3 minute statement on a first come, first served basis. The comment period may be shortened depending on the number of speakers.


NBAA staff will be on-hand at each of the hearings.  A large turnout will send a message to the TSA regarding the business aviation community's concerns.  For more information, please visit the NBAA website at http://www.nbaa.org/news/pr/2008/20081217-064.php.


NBAA also has set up an online guide to help members and other interested parties contact their members of Congress about the proposal at http://www.nbaa.org/advocacy/lasp, and also provides general information about how to submit comments to federal agencies at http://www.nbaa.org/advocacy/rulemaking-comments.pdf.

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INAUGURATION FLIGHT RESTRICTIONS

NBAA has posted information about restrictions that can be expected in the greater Washington area before, during, and after the presidential inauguration on January 20, 2009.  There will be increased traffic and heightened security, and operators can expect Temporary Flight Restrictions (TFRs), traffic management initiatives, and aircraft parking issues.  For more information, visit the website of NBAA.

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FAA ADOPTS SPECIAL AWARENESS TRAINING RULES FOR WASHINGTON, DC

The FAA has issued a final rule requiring "special awareness" training for any pilot who files under VFR within a 60-nautical mile radius of Washington, DC effective February 9, 2009. The training will be provided online via http://www.faasafety.gov, and pilots will be able to print out a certificate of training. The training and will focus on procedures for flying in and around the Air Defense Identification Zone ("ADIZ") and Flight Restricted Zone ("FRZ") and is intended to reduce unauthorized flights into those airspaces. A copy of the final rule is available online.

Copyright 2005 - 2009 Greater Washington Business Aviation Association, Inc.
This website was last updated on January 6, 2009.