Issue 15
December 3, 2003
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Welcome to the NATA Safety 1st e-Line Service newsletter, a quarterly summary of the latest NATA Safety 1st news and education, dedicated to line service staff. Please make copies available to all line service technicians, both full and part-time.

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In this Issue of NATA Safety 1st e-Line Service ...

****NATA Safety 1st Program and Other NATA News
****Featured Safety Article... Ground Mishaps
****FAQ --- NATA Safety 1st and Fueling Issues
****Safety Tips … Offered by NATA Safety 1st Participants
****Safety Review
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****NATA Safety 1st Program and Other NATA News
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PROGRAM NEWS
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NATA has a telephone number dedicated to the NATA Safety 1st Program. Please call (703) 575-2045 and ask for Amy Koranda or Louis Soares. Our direct FAX number is (703) 845-0396.

NATA Safety 1st has its own website at http://www.nata.aero/safety1st/. Check it out! There is information on training, testing, continuing education (including past issues of the e-Line), program information and additional links for line techs.
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NATA Safety 1st Participants Receive Update Notices

We mailed letters on November 21, 2003 for company review and to update as necessary. We also sent a listing of everyone who has trained and tested with your company during your participation in the NATA Safety 1st program. We want to thank those of you who updated this information and returned it. We look forward to receiving the rest in the near future.

As we said in our letter, please remember the NATA Safety 1st Program requires yearly training and certification every two years. Don't forget you have another option when it comes to retesting. We have NATA Safety 1st Safety Meeting Lesson Plans / Professional Line Service Supplemental Module Training.

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10th Module on Aviation Security Sent to NATA Safety 1st Participants

The new security module for NATA's Safety 1st program was distributed to all current Safety 1st participants in September. The module includes both a video and text portion on CD that gives guidance on proper security procedures for line service technicians. As such, subsequent training and testing should include this module of the program. PLEASE MAKE SURE TO USE THE CURRENT LINE SERVICE SPECIALIST CERTIFICATION FORMS AS THIS INCLUDES TRAINING AND TESTING ON THE AVIATION SECURITY MODULE.
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ChevronTexaco Chooses NATA's Safety 1st Program For Line Service Training and Testing

Alexandria, VA, October 17, 2003 --- The National Air Transportation Association (NATA) announced that ChevronTexaco has elected to implement NATA's Safety 1st line-service training and testing program as its standard line-service training protocol.

"We are delighted to join with ChevronTexaco in this partnership," commented James K. Coyne, NATA president. "It's gratifying to see ChevronTexaco acknowledge that, for line-service testing and training, the Safety 1st program is unparalleled."

The NATA Safety 1st program was developed to enhance safety by identifying the knowledge and skills required of professional aviation line-service personnel and assuring their competence through training and testing. The program consists of 10 training and testing modules, including a recently completed security module. Once the applicant completes the training and passes the test, he or she receives Safety 1st certification. The program is now used by nearly 600 FBOs throughout the country.

"ChevronTexaco obviously has a vested interest when it comes to promoting good line-service practices," stated Amy Koranda, manager of NATA's Safety 1st program. "They're the experts and we're pleased that they've recognized the Safety 1st program as the industry standard for excellence in line service."

"This is a partnership that really works," commented Tom Stephens, manager, airport compliance for ChevronTexaco. "When we were looking at developing a line-service safety training program, we realized we had to go no further than Safety 1st. NATA already had everything we were looking for in a first-rate training program; it will complement our 'product integrity' class."

NATA has a similar arrangement with other petroleum companies including Air BP, Phillips 66, Shell and AvFuel.

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Why We Support NATA Safety 1st …NATA Safety 1st is endorsed by Air BP, Avfuel, ChevronTexaco, ExxonMobil and Phillips 66

Safety is good business. Reducing aircraft ground accidents and incidents can happen only with consistent training and retraining. NATA's Safety 1st Professional Line Service Training Program provides FBOs, airports and aircraft operators the most comprehensive, effective and affordable ground service training alternative available anywhere.

Click here to see the latest advertisement by participating oil companies.

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NATA Safety 1st Participants Review Tug and Tow 101

The FAA solicited our comments on a CD ROM called Tug and Tow 101. The CD addresses safe ground operation tips to the industry. We want to thank the following NATA Safety 1st participants for their assistance on this review: Boca/Galaxy Aviation, Business Aviation Services, Duncan Aviation - Lincoln, Fort Lauderdale Jet Center, Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation, Jet Aviation - Teterboro, Jet Center - Ft. Lauderdale, Mercury Air Center - Fort Wayne, Midcoast Aviation - Cahokia, Million Air - Salt Lake City, National Flight Service, Inc, Tac Air - Windsor Locks, Vail Valley Jet Center and West Star Aviation. We will share the results of this review in our next eline.

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Aircraft Ground Service Guide (AGSG) and Aircraft Towing Guide (ATG) Can be Purchased Online

Purchasing copies of the AGSG and ATG couldn't be easier. Click the AGSG and ATG links and your copy will arrive before you know it! These guides will help your line technicians provide the ultimate customer service by giving them pertinent details on arriving aircraft.

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2004 Aircraft Towing Guide (ATG) Coming Soon

The ATG has been expanded and updated for 2004. When you renew your NATA Safety 1st participation in the new-year, you will receive a copy of this on your PLST CD ROM. Notices will be coming your way after the first of the year.

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NATA Safety 1st SAFETY MEETING LESSON PLANS / PROFESSIONAL LINE SERVICE SUPPLEMENTAL MODULE TRAINING

Are you looking for some fresh materials for your safety meetings? Do you need supplemental training for your line technicians? We have a year's worth of lessons learned on the line. All of these lessons are real-case mishaps that have happened on the line and serve as great training material.

If you'd like to see an example of one of these lesson plans, click here. The lesson plan is the feature article for Issue 12.

If you have an interest in purchasing the lesson plans, please CLICK HERE TO PRINT AN ORDER FORM.

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In the each e-Line, we ask you to share safety information or statistics about how the NATA Safety 1st Program has impacted your business. Please keep information coming our way! We really think you are doing a great job of keeping your lines safe.
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NATA NEWS
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2004 NATA Convention & AS3 Tradeshow

The National Air Transportation Association (NATA) & AS3/GSE Tradeshow will run May 18 - 20, 2004 at the Las Vegas Convention Center & Las Vegas Hilton. Mark your calendars and check our website in January for all the pertinent details!

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NATA's GENERAL AVIATION SECURITY GUIDE AVAILABLE

NATA's General Aviation Security Guide is now available. NATA prepared the General Aviation Security Guide for use by FBOs, aircraft charter companies, maintenance and avionics service providers, flight schools, cargo handlers and other general aviation service entities operating on an airport.

All airport employees are expected to be an integral part of maintaining a safe and secure aviation environment. To ensure that each aviation employer has the information necessary to assist its employees in this endeavor, NATA is actively, and continually, looking for ways and procedures to improve aviation security. This guide is a key part of that emphasis. We encourage all our members to review the General Aviation Security Guide and put into place those best practices that will assure the safe, secure operation of your aviation business.

The General Aviation Security Guide is available on CD ROM for $50.00 for NATA members and $100.00 for non-members. The guide is also available in a three-ring binder for $125.00 for NATA members and $250.00 for non-members. Call 800/808-6282 or email Susan Nicholson for your copy.

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REVISED HOLDOVER TIMES FOR DEICING AIRCRAFT

WHO: Distribute these tables to all part 121, 125, and 135 certificate holders who have an approved part 121 deicing/anti-icing program. They also should distribute HOT and application guidelines to operators who are not required to have an approved program, but who deice or anti-ice with fluids and use these guidelines during winter weather operations.

WHAT: The FAA has issued an FSAT (Flight Standards Information Bulletin for Air Transportation) that revises holdover times (HOT) for Types I, II, and IV deicing fluids.

FSATs focus on issues that may require immediate action, special- emphasis programs, or concerns that are time-critical or temporary. The intent of the FSAT is to provide the Flight Standards Service a
means to quickly disseminate information to the flight standards community. It is not intended to replace the air transport handbook bulletin, however, it may be incorporated or retained into handbook material at a later date.

For the latest copy of the FAA-approved deicing program updates, go to Winter 2003-2004 (FSAT 03-01).

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2003 NATA Compensation Study

NATA has released its 2003 Aviation Business Wage and Compensation Study. Member companies that participated in the study have received a complimentary copy. The study is available to members for $50.00 and non-members for $100.00. A copy of the study, available only in CD-ROM format, may be purchased from Susan Nicholson at 800/808-6282 or by emailing Susan Nicholson.
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Aviation Business Journal--- Getting Bigger all the Time

The National Air Transportation Association (NATA) launched the Aviation Business Journal (ABJ) in July of 2003. This quarterly publication provides NATA members with business management information to help them run more effective and profitable aviation service businesses.

Make sure you receive your copy of ABJ as it features some great line service issues and safety tips. If you haven't read it yet, check out the articles on "Debugging the Jet Fuel Additives Debate," "Boca Aviation Puts Safety First," "A Closer Look at Hold Harmless Agreements," "Breaking Down Unbundled Fuel Pricing" and "Great Ideas." There's really good information all in one publication.

An Aviation Business Journal media kit is available. For information on advertising in Aviation Business Journal, contact Cheryl Stratos or Marnie Murphy at 703/212-4967 or adsales@nata-online.org.

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SEMINAR NEWS
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Please remember the Line Service Supervisor Training Seminar (LSST) is a required part of the NATA Safety 1st Program. If you have already sent someone from your business, please feel free to skip to the next paragraph. If not, it is required that one person from your line service, usually the supervisor, attend an LSST. And remember, as long as that person remains with your company, the LSST requirement has been met for Safety 1st.
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The next LSST will be held in Denver, Colorado on January 29 & 30, 2004. Check our Calendar of Events for additional dates and locations. Hotel, seminar, registration and shuttle information are available online.

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Did you know?

Fifty-six percent of human resources professionals and employees agree that staff turnover will rise significantly once the job market improves, most likely within a year, according to the latest Job Recovery Survey by the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) and CareerJournal.com, the executive career site of The Wall Street Journal. With 83 percent of employees surveyed saying that they are extremely or somewhat likely to actively seek new employment in a stronger market and economy, "HR professionals need to place even more focus on retention efforts to ensure employers retain good, productive employees," advises SHRM Vice President Debra Cohen, SPHR. The top reasons cited for job hunting? Better compensation and benefits (53 percent), dissatisfaction with potential career development (35 percent), and readiness for a new experience (32 percent).

So What?
We thought this was a good spot to put these statistics for the new year. Why not show your line service team that you value their contribution by investing in their future? The payback you receive will be well worth the investment.

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Let us hear from you...If you’d like to share something with other NATA Safety 1st participants, send an email to Amy Koranda with information and/or pictures for the NATA e-Line and website.

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****Featured Safety Article...GROUND MISHAPS
AirSure Limited
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As part of this e-Line, we will include an educational article. Most of the articles will provide continuing education on issues of importance to line service. In addition, if you are currently taking the NATA Safety 1st written and practical exams, these articles will make great study material. Feel free to copy them and maintain a book for future reference.
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AirSure Limited detailed 2003 ground mishaps of their clients in the third quarter newsletter. We thought it would be educational, as well as thought provoking, for you to read through them. Keep in mind these are real mishaps. The names and locations have been left off for obvious reasons. You may also find it interesting that a cost has been associated with each mishap; try to the tune of a ground related mishap every eight days averaging $76,691! Again, this is only a partial glimpse of the cost. It does not include the insurance deductible paid by the insured.

When we read through these mishaps, we were taken back by the fact that nearly every one of these could have been prevented. We challenge you to read through these mishaps, go over them with your line crews and have them discuss how they would prevent these from happening at your operation. And don't accept, "This couldn't possibly happen here." It is quite possible so challenge them to a "zero" mishaps contest from this point forward. We'd be interested in hearing how this works for you.

This won't be the last time you hear about ground mishaps. We are working diligently to bring best practices and training your way to help minimize these risks. Stand by for further details…but in the meantime, read these interesting mishaps (PDF or Word), discuss them, learn from them and most of all work together to prevent them!

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****FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) --- NATA Safety 1st and Fueling Issues
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This section will help you with the paperwork and study process.
In addition, we will include other questions about fueling issues
that are frequently asked. If you have any tips to share, please
submit them to us and we will include them in upcoming e-Lines.

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I recently received the 10th module on Aviation Security for the NATA Safety 1st PLST program. Can we still use the ATI videos 1 through 9 or has NATA made any changes that require us to order NEW videos?
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Good question! The 10th module on Aviation Security is brand new to the NATA Safety 1st PLST, once known as the ATI / PLST. Modules 1 through 9 have been repackaged to reflect the name change, but none of the technical information on the videotapes has changed to date. Changes have been made to the written materials of the program. These updates are distributed to current program participants on CD ROM. You should have the current CD ROM dated September 2003.

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We are developing a service order form for our operation. Do you have one you recommend?
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Why reinvent the wheel? There are many good service order forms out there. The NBAA developed one with their dispatchers and it is one of the best we have seen. Click here to check it out.

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****Safety Tip...NATA Safety 1st Participant Submittal
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Our appreciation goes out to to Yancy Culp with Trajen Flight Support, Inc for the following safety tip:

"I recently revised our Fueling Facility Check and Fueling Vehicle Check ATA-103 forms.
I have added the following:

Fueling Vehicle Check:
Daily - General Condition of FSII Storage
Monthly - FSII System Calibration

Fueling Facility Check:
Daily - General Condition of FSII Storage (normally a 55 gallon drum)

We thought this was something that definitely needed to be added to the form. We are making this a Trajen wide change and we wanted to pass the information on to you as a suggestion for an industry wide change..."

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Please share safety information or tips that have increased safety awareness on your line. Your ideas will be printed here with credit given. Thanks for sharing with other NATA Safety 1st participants!
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****Safety Review
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The following safety review was taken from Driving on the Airport Operations Area, Airport Vehicle Operator Safety Study Guide. This publication was created and produced by Federal Aviation Administration Information Media Division, AMI-700A:

Airports Without Operating Control Towers
At some airports the control tower does not operate on a 24-hour basis while other airports may not have a control tower. The rules for driving on the AOA are basically the same as those at an airport with an operating control tower. The major difference is in radio communication. Since there is no control tower, you do not have to get a controller's permission before driving on a runway or taxiway. At some of these airports, the airport operator may only authorize you to drive on specific areas, e.g., ramps or ramps and certain taxiways.

If you need to drive on taxiways or runways, carry a radio tuned to the airport's Common Traffic Advisory Frequency (CTAF). If the tower is closed, the CTAF will usually be the same as the local control frequency; if the airport does not have a tower, the CTAF will usually be the same as the UNICOM frequency. Monitor radio transmissions on this frequency to maintain the location of aircraft relative to your location. Before entering and while driving on runways and taxiways, always announce your intentions on the CTAF. This allows both you and pilots operating on the airfield to maintain situational awareness.

Remember, aircraft at these airports may not be radio equipped or the pilot may not be making radio position reports. Therefore, always consider all runways to be active in both directions.

When you get near runways and taxiways, SLOW DOWN! Look both ways, and then look up for aircraft landing or taking off. Always yield the right-of-way to aircraft.

Driving on Taxiways: Give taxiing aircraft plenty of room. If an aircraft is on the same taxiway, move out of the aircraft's way.

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The NATA Safety 1st e-Line Service newsletter is distributed quarterly. We welcome your feedback on this newsletter and any topics you would like to see discussed. Send articles/email to Amy Koranda.

Thank you for your commitment to line service safety...
keep those ramps safe.