In a deft political maneuver, Sen. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) attached an amendment today imposing helicopter flight restrictions in Long Island and Los Angeles to the $52 billion federal highway bill (S.1813). This amendment would mandate offshore routes for helicopters transiting the North and South sections of Long Island and require the FAA to develop more restrictive flight paths for civil helicopters operating over the Los Angeles basin. Schumer’s previous attempt to mandate a North shore route, as an amendment to the recently enacted FAA reauthorization bill, was removed by a joint House-Senate conference committee after being widely opposed by a broad coalition of general aviation interest groups.

I used to think it was all so simple and I bet most of you all did as well. Back when we became part of the aviation scene years ago we did our jobs and happily went home. For me, I chose the path of an aviation mechanic when I was 16. Aviation was about getting that ship fixed and back to someone to get flying again. That was the extent of my vision then. The aviation community, specifically the Long Island community, we all did our individual part in keeping airplanes flying. We all may not be on the aircraft operations side but we all certainly gain economically from the operational end of this business. In short, when the planes keep flying, we all prosper. From manufacturing, component overhauls, part sales, paint shops, fuel providers (the list is endless) we all contribute to supporting and advancing aviation. We may not have seen it as “advancing aviation” but when we all do our jobs well, we are advancing the benefits of aviation.

The National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) today expressed strong opposition to a European court's ruling that a new plan by European regulators to tax carbon emissions from aircraft should apply to all aircraft operators across the international aviation community, including those based in the U.S.

A Gulfstream G550 jet parked in a hangar at Long Island MacArthur Airport in Ronkonkoma. Long Island officials and aviation companies are lobbying Albany for a tax exemption saying the state is losing jobs and revenue to other states. (Oct. 31, 2011)

Long Island officials and aviation companies are lobbying Albany to introduce a sales tax exemption on purchases of corporate jets in a bid to stop jobs and revenue from leaking across state lines.

The Long Island Business Aviation Association, the "voice of aviation" on Long Island joins with all our fellow aviation advocacy organizations to strongly oppose user fees for turbine aircraft as proposed by President Obama.

LIBAA is deeply concerned that the new proposed $100.00 per flight tax would create a significant administrative burden on general aviation operators who presently pay for FAA services through an efficient per gallon fuel charge at the pump. Implementing this onerous tax would only necessitate the creation of a costly new federal revenue collection bureaucracy.

The Eastern Region Helicopter Council recently joined several major aviation trade groups, pilots, and citizens in criticizing the FAA's proposed regulation imposing mandatory routes for helicopters operating on Long Island.

In formal comments filed before the FAA, the group called the FAA's proposal "flatly at odds with the federal government's limited role in addressing aircraft noise." The ERHC urged the FAA to work collaboratively with the helicopter industry to mitigate noise concerns, writing that, "The FAA should neither become a national clearing-house for local noise complaints, nor regulator in the first instance of local noise abatement procedures."The FAA's proposal would have the unintended effect of concentrating noise and traffic, to the detriment of safety," added Jeff Smith, Chairman of the Eastern Region Helicopter Council.

The FAA proposed rule has generated a firestorm of controversy. Virtually every major aviation trade group, including the ERHC, Helicopter Association International (HAI), National Business Aviation Association (NBAA), Aircraft Owners & Pilots Association (AOPA), General Aviation Manufacturing Association (GAMA), and National Air Transport Association ((NATA) expressed opposition and sought a 60-day extension to prepare comments, which the FAA denied. Within 30 days, the agency has received 690 comments, with 86% opposing the proposed rule.

I would like to take this opportunity to wish all of our board members, member organizations and fellow colleagues a very Happy New Year filled with much good health, happiness and continued success.

As we begin our journey into 2011 it is that time were we look forward to the promises of a New Year and reflect on the year just past and the work we accomplished and that work left unresolved.

As LIBAA began 2010 I am honored to have been appointed by the board to assume the position of President of this fine organization. I set out with the intention of truly serving in the most positive ways possible, with passion, commitment and dedication and working with my fellow board members to affect change where required to better our organization and our industry.

In 2010 a major focus of ours was to recommit ourselves to some of the basic principles that LIBAA was founded on including, working to better serve our member companies and helping to promote them. We also needed to redefine ourselves, and the first step was to change our logo, making it more current and relevant. The new logo is indicative of the new LIBAA attitude and commitment and represents a more forward thinking style and approach. Although it may appear as a small insignificant change, much thought went into the entire process and it represented a rebirth if you will of LIBAA and our service to the aviation community here.

Even as New York faces tremendous economic and political challenges, the aviation industry's significant contribution to the State's economy continues to be undervalued by policymakers. However, as the 2011 legislative session gets underway, the New York Aviation Management Association (NYAMA) will be well prepared to address important issues on your behalf. Our success will be enhanced by a solid presentation about the critical role aviation plays in New York and strong participation by aviation leaders during our Advocacy Day in Albany this Spring.

Save the Date for Advocacy Day!

With this thought in mind, please mark your calendars now as NYAMA will hold its Advocacy Day on March 22, 2011 in Albany, NY. We will need every airport and aviation business to collectively make our case for aviation as a fundamental way to create jobs. Details will be available on our website on on the NYAMA website at www.nyama.com very soon!

IBAA President, Gene Portela

On December 2, 2010 the Long Island Business Aviation Association (LIBAA) held its end of the year meeting and dinner at the Cradle of Aviation Museum in Garden City, NY. In spite of the busy holiday season, and the time constraints that most of us feel at this time of the year, the event was very well attended by association members and guests.

?The County of Suffolk, Francis S. Gabreski Airport, and Island Harvest are looking for your help to promote hunger awareness during the 2010 holiday season. Island Harvest is Long Island’s largest hunger relief organization.