Tips: Securing a Spot on The FBO Status Map

Companies that are qualified to be listed on the FBO Status Map must have all of their line service personnel enrolled or certified in a PLST or Supervisor program. Also, their training status must not be listed as “lapsed” or “expired”.

To ensure your spot on the map, here are some general tips and guidelines to follow:

• Keep your “all students” list clean.
  • If there is someone that no longer works for you, mark them inactive. We won’t know a student no longer works for you if they are on your active all students list.
  • If there are employees who do not and will not use training, they should not be on your active all students list.
• Utilize groups to organize your “all students” list.
  • To be listed on the FBO Status Map, only your line service personnel must be enrolled or certified in a PLST or Supervisor program. To make sure we can see who is classified as line service and who isn’t, keep your students organized in groups. The groups function is found under the Student Management tab and then the “Organize Students” icon.
    • Ex. Have groups of your students titled:
      • Line Service Personnel
      • Customer Service Reps
      • Management

• Keep your students as up-to-date as possible with their training!

When it comes time for an FBO Status Map update and you get a notification email that you have questions or concerns about, feel free to contact us at safety1st@nata.aero! We would be happy to discuss how to make sure you are included on the Map.

Fuel QC Management System Podcast and Webinar | Hear and See Benefits Of This Innovation in Fuel Quality Control

NATA’s Shannon Chambers and Michael France discuss the Safety 1^st Fuel QC Management System — a cloud-based digital tool for general and business aviation fuel quality management inspections, record keeping and auditing. The Safety 1^st FQMS allows FBOs and other aviation businesses to enhance the visibility and accountability of their QC process. Replacing the traditional pen & paper approach to fuel QC management, the Safety 1^st FQMS is easy to use, affordable and flexible enough to accommodate the needs of any size aviation business. Hear more about the benefits provided to fuel handlers and aircraft operators by this breakthrough system.
Find out even more by visiting www.nata.aero/fqms or registering for the April 18^th webinar at 2 p.m. Eastern —featuring a live demonstration of the system. During this demonstration, attendees will see the Safety 1^st FQMS features in action, including the inspection portal, discrepancy log, automatic alerting and the revolutionary Compliance Sentry technology.

NATA Hosts Third Advanced Line Service Workshop of 2018 | Next Workshop May 1-2 in Chicago

Last week, NATA held its third 2018 Advanced Line Service Workshop at the Centennial Airport Authority (APA) in Englewood, CO. The ALS workshops include a unique mix of technical and service training with sessions on motivation and leadership techniques, customer service training, misfueling prevention, Spill Prevention Control and Countermeasures (SPCC) training, and the impact of human factors on aviation ground handling.

Guest speakers Rick Spencer of Peco-Facet and Keith Clark of Phillips 66 led sessions on aviation fuel filtration, quality control and misfueling prevention. Attendees also toured Centennial Airport’s air traffic control tower, courtesy of Dennis Fria of the FAA.

NATA would like to thank Deborah Smith and all the staff of the Centennial Airport Authority for making this event possible.

Here is what ALS attendees had to say about the event:

“No matter how many years you have in the aviation industry, the Advanced Line Service Workshop is a must. Regulations are ever-changing and this class provides the information needed for any level of line service.” – Jerome Ballard, Signature Flight Support

“Everybody who decides to be in aviation fueling should take this course to stay up on all the new information and ideas on how to keep themselves and others safe.”- Dale Thresher, Fremont County Airport

NATA is hosting 4 more ALS workshops throughout the country in 2018. Click here for dates and registration information.

NATA Hosts Second Advanced Line Service Workshop of 2018 | Next Workshop March 20-21 in Denver

NATA’s Safety 1^st Advanced Line Service Workshops are in full swing for 2018! Our latest workshop was held at Ross Aviation in Long Beach, CA. The two-day event included sessions on motivation and leadership techniques, customer service training, misfueling prevention, SPCC training, and the impact of human factors on aviation ground handling.

Guest speakers Rick Spencer of Peco-Facet and Keith Clark of Phillips 66 also led discussions on aviation fuel filtration and quality control. Attendees received hands-on fire extinguisher training during a live fire demonstration conducted by Hedrick Fire Services.

NATA would like to thank Greg McQueary, Valerie Boes and all the staff at Ross Aviation Long Beach for making this event possible.

NATA is hosting 5 more ALS workshops throughout the country in 2018. Click here for dates and registration information.

An ALS attendee gets hands-on experience extinguishing a live fire at our latest Advanced Line Service workshop in Long Beach, CA.

Advanced Line Service workshop attendees strategize on risk mitigations for Human Factors that affect aviation ground handling.

Advanced Line Service workshop attendees explore how understanding different motivational styles can help draw the best out in employees.

 

NATA Safety 1st Is Seeking Member Photos of Ground Handling Operations

NATA Safety 1^st is currently redeveloping its online training content to incorporate improvements and new features suggested by our members and users. As part of this process, we are seeking new photographs of ground handling activities, such as aircraft fuel and oil servicing, quality control checks, and towing operations. If your company is interested in sharing photos of ground handling operations at your facilities, and possibly having these images featured in the redeveloped NATA Safety 1^st training program, please contact our Trainer/Content Manager Steve Berry at sberry@nata.aero.

NATA Unveils Safety 1st Fuel QC Management System – Breakthrough Tool Enhancing Industry Safety and Efficiency

Demonstrations of this new system at upcoming Schedulers & Dispatchers Conference

Wednesday, the National Air Transportation Association (NATA) unveiled the Safety 1^st Fuel QC Management System (Safety 1^st FQMS), a cloud-based digital tool for general and business aviation fuel quality management inspections, record keeping and auditing. NATA will demonstrate this breakthrough tool during the upcoming Schedulers & Dispatchers Conference in Long Beach, CA, at NATA’s Booth 840 on February 7^th (3:30pm – 4:00pm) and 8^th (2:00pm – 2:30pm). You may also schedule an individual appointment to view this and other NATA products and services at https://nataatsdc.setmore.com/.

The Safety 1^st FQMS replaces traditional pen and paper record keeping with an intelligent system that increases management visibility, employee accountability and operational safety. Key features include digital storage and access to all quality control (QC) records; an easy-to-use, mobile-optimized inspection platform; and Compliance Sentry technology that provides a 24-7 eye on your QC system. Location and date/time-stamping of inspections increases team accountability by enabling managers to verify where and when inspections were performed.

“As an association that works to continuously enhance safety best practices and provide value to its members, NATA is pleased to offer the Safety 1^st Fuel QC Management System — an important advancement in fuel quality management,” stated NATA President Martin H. Hiller. “The Safety 1^st FQMS enables FBOs and other fuel providers to leverage technology to increase efficiency and visibility into their fuel quality management efforts and affords Part 135, Part 91 and Part 91k operators the ability to remotely audit fuel quality control.”

“The Safety 1^st FQMS is offered at an affordable, monthly rate to NATA members, allowing even the smallest FBOs to benefit from this technology,” added NATA Managing Director of Safety and Training Michael France.

Visit NATA at the upcoming NBAA Schedulers & Dispatchers Conference, Booth 840, or go to www.nata.aero/fqms for more information or to schedule an online demonstration today!

Click here to view the full press release.

Summary of Recent NATA Webinar: Filter Monitors and What You Need to Know

NATA would like to thank everyone who attended last week’s webinar on recent changes concerning filter monitors and give a special thanks to our expert panelists Amy Carico of Airlines for America (A4A) and John Leonard of Facet Filters.

The webinar was held to update our members on the status of filter monitors following the International Air Transportation Association (IATA), and Energy Institute’s (EI) position statement that filter monitors be phased out of all aviation fuel handling systems. The position statement came after eight separate documented incidents in which super absorbent polymer or SAP (which is the media used in filter monitors) was found downstream in engine/airframe fuel system components.

We have provided a summary of the questions and answers covered during the webinar below:

Q: How has A4A responded to the findings of the IATA and EI special interest group on SAP?

A: A4A has issued the following 6 actions to be implemented at sites which use filter monitors and operate to the ATA 103 standard:

Q: What if my site is not required to meet the ATA 103?

A: The recommendations of A4A concerning the action items above come after thorough industry research and are recommended to be implemented at all facilities currently using filter monitor elements. NATA also recommends you contact your filter manufacturer and fuel provider for additional guidance.

 

Q: Do the same concerns that exist regarding filter monitors for use with jet fuel also apply to avgas?

A: Yes, and while the ATA 103 does not provide a standard for avgas, the same recommendations provided for use with jet fuel are also recommended for avgas. NATA recommends you contact your filter manufacturer and fuel provider for specific guidance.

 

Q: The EI outlined a December 31^st, 2020 revocation date for the 1583 qualification standard for filter monitors. What does that mean for my location if we use filter monitors?

A: Filter manufacturers are currently working with the EI and other industry partners to develop a replacement for filter monitors by December 31^st, 2020. Until a replacement is decided upon and approved industry wide, the six action items outlined above should be implemented as a precaution against SAP media migration downstream.

 

Q: Is there currently a 7^th edition specification approved for 2’’, 5’’ and 6’’ in-to-out flow filter monitors?

A: 2’’ monitors have received 7^th edition EI qualification and are currently available from all three filter manufactures. 5’’ and 6’’ elements are currently awaiting EI 7^th edition qualification. NATA recommends you contact your filter manufacturer for timelines.

 

Q: What should I do if my site currently uses 6’’ in-to-out flow monitor elements?

A: 6’’ in-to-out flow monitor elements were developed to convert existing filter/water separator vessels (FWS), also known as coalescer/separator vessels, to monitor filtration. As noted by A4A in the table above, these vessels should be converted back to using filter/water separator elements. It is important to note, that FWS vessels require water defense systems so you must ensure that your vessel is equipped with a functioning water defense.

 

Q: What about 5’’ and 6’’ out-to-in flow monitor elements used in small canister vessels like the VF-61, VF-21, and VF-22?

A: The three major filter element manufacturers Facet, Velcon, and Faudi all make single-element filter/separator filters for these vessels so you should contact your filter supplier to determine the element which would be required. Like traditional FWS vessels however, a water defense system must be installed.