NYAMA is continues to offer strategic learning opportunities with its upcoming Peer Review sessions.

Emergency Response Plans: Tuesday, June 8

This discussion will focus on the elements of a solid Airport Emergency Plan (AC 150/5200-31C). All attendees are urged to bring a copy of their current emergency plans. Representatives from the FAA airports division may be in attendance.

Mr. Vincent Cimino, FAA Runway Safety Program Manager, will be our featured speaker. We will be hosted by the Westchester County Airport. The moderators will be Steve Ferguson, Assistant Airport Manager and Jeremy Nielson, Airport Operations Supervisor & Training Supervisor.

The session will be held at the airport on Tuesday, June 8, 2010 from 10:00am to no later than 3:30pm.

The Emergency Response Plans flier is available here. Please return the form to our office by May 28, 2010.

Runway & Taxiway Maintenance: Tuesday, June 29

This discussion will focus on the individual elements of a successful Runway and Taxiway Maintenance Plan. Elements will include: rubber removal, friction measurement, concrete/asphalt repair, retexturizing, edge lights vs. delineators, paint markings, weed control, erosion control.

We will be joined by Fortbrand Services who will serve as our moderator. Our host will be Stewart International Airport.

The session will be held at the airport on Tuesday, June 29, 2010 starting at 10:30am.

The Runway & Taxiway Maintenance flier is available here. Please return the form to our office by June 22, 2010.

NYAMA hosted a strong Advocacy Day event on March 23, 2010. About 35 participants met with 70 key legislative offices over the course of the day. Most of the meetings were with members of the legislature, although some legislative and executive staff attended the meetings as well.

Facing a severe budget deficit, New York State lawmakers are eager to find new sources of revenue. However, NYAMA members urged caution and argued that exempting aviation from taxes will allow the industry to create jobs and State revenues in the form of income tax, gas tax and additional investments in local economies. Legislators are considering a proposed exemption from sales and compensation tax for aircraft purchased in the state and increased funding for New York's airports.

NYAMA was well supported by both national and regional aviation organizations. The National Business Aviation Association (NBAA), Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA), Long Island Business Aviation Association (LIBAA), and Westchester Aviation Association (WAA) all sent representatives to assist the effort.

Overall, legislators seemed to be more familiar with NYAMA and it message. Throughout the event, many members of the legislature were highly receptive to strengthening and protecting aviation needs across the state. One of the key goals for the day was to gather more members for the New York Legislative Aviation Caucus initiated by Assemblyman Robin Schimminger and Senator William Stachowski.

Attention All Airports! Airport CEO Summit

NYAMA kicks off this year's Peer Review line up with an Airport CEO Summit.

Are you in one of the following positions?

• Airport Chief Operating Officers
• Commissioners of Aviation
• Aviation Directors
• Airport Managers

Then you are invited to a Round Table discussion. The goal of the meeting is to gather the State's airport decision makers in one room to discuss mutual concerns and to share solutions. The attendance would be limited to the decision makers and their designated staff.

The Round Table will be held May 4, 2010 at Syracuse Airport beginning at 10:30 am. Please download the registration form here.

Future Peer Review Events include:

Emergency Response Plan
June 8, 2010
Westchester County Airport

Snow Removal
September 30, 2010
Greater Rochester International Airport

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to call NYAMA Headquarters at 518-432-9973.

February 9, 2010-Joel Russell, President and Carl Beardsley, Vice President of the New York Aviation Management Association (NYAMA) presented testimony before the NYS Joint Legislative Budget Committee on Transportation and the Budget Committee on Taxes. NYAMA used the opportunity to express alarm with the Governor's budget proposal as it threatens to disable the economic engine-the state's aviation industry-that drives a significant portion of the state's economy and sustainable jobs market.

New York's aviation industry is responsible for over $35 billion in annual economic activity, employs more than 350,000 state residents and generates $2.8 billion in State and local taxes annually.

NYAMA called for increased support for the FAA Airport Improvement Program (AIP) state match and the restoration of language that allows for the transfer of unallocated AIP funds to the state AIR 99 airport grant program.

The New York Aviation Management Association (NYAMA) is hosting an Aviation Advocacy Day in Albany on March 23, 2010. The program provides airport managers and other aviation officials with timely information on state budget issues and state-funded airport development programs; and provides a forum for constructive dialogue between colleagues and state lawmakers.

All NYAMA members and aviation officials are asked to attend the advocacy program. The program will begin with a briefing at the Crowne Plaza Albany, followed by appointments with state legislators and a legislative briefing at the Legislative Office Building in downtown Albany. The success of the advocacy program is directly related to the level of participation we receive from the aviation industry. Please plan to attend!

The Deadline for Hotel Reservations is February 24, 2010! You may call the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Albany directly to reserve a room at (800) 227-6963. Please be sure to mention the code "BDJ" to get the special room rate of $142.00 per night.

REGISTER ONLINE TODAY! (Members should login to have their contact details pre-filled on the registration form)

Click Here to download a brochure and sponsorship information

Click Here to go to the NYS DOT report on "The Benefits of Aviation in New York"

Download Legislative Testimony to Joint Tax Committees

Download Legislative Testimony to Joint Transportation Committees

Thank You to Our 2010 Advocacy Day Sponsors!

Gold Sponsor

Westchester Aviation Association

Silver Sponsor

AvPORTS

C&S Engineers

Bronze Sponsors

Albany International Airport

AOPA

CHA

National Business Aviation Association (NBAA)

5 Year Capital Plan

NYAMA continues to be your advocate for aviation in New York. We are gearing up quickly for a new legislative season and there are many important discussions we must have with legislators. Our Board has been very active in reviewing the current legislative activities and thinking through our priorities for the coming year.

Recently, the New York State Department of Transportation released its 5 Year Capital Plan. The capital plan is intended to represent the financing needed to support the entire state highway system; state, county, city and village roads and local bridges; capital needs of public transportation systems other than the MTA; and passenger and freight rail, port and aviation capital projects. NYAMA objects to the level of funding the plan dedicates to aviation projects-$101 million-as being far less than is necessary to maintain important aviation infrastructure and services. This funding is needed to assist in the development of aircraft hangars, repairs of existing facilities, safety enhancements and other important projects.  NYAMA is urging lawmakers to appropriate at least $145 million over the next 5 years for these purposes.

Since then we have testified before the Transportation Committees of both the Senate and the Assembly. We have also contacted the Executive Branch and plan to meet on this issue. We are pressing legislators to ask to why there is a 30% reduction for aviation when other transportation sectors are projected for increases of as much as 40% to the tune of BILLIONS of dollars!

New Aviation Jobs Bill

Last year, we were very successful in eliminating a proposed Luxury Tax on aircraft and the Sales Tax on the Maintenance and Service of GA Aircraft. However, we are still very concerned about the new Charter Tax that was implemented just this year as well as the Sales Tax on the Purchase of GA Aircraft.

Therefore, we are renewing our attempts to discuss an "Aviation Jobs Bill" with legislators. The elimination of these taxes will create parity with neighboring states and allow the industry to develop its own revenue. This will in turn create jobs and generate significant income tax revenue for the state.

What You Can Do!

1.       Mark your calendar to come to Albany for Advocacy Day on March 23, 2010. We will make appointments with key legislators representing districts with airports. We need you to come share your story!

2.       Please use the sponsorship form found here to support our efforts before, during and after Advocacy Day.

3.       Write a letter today! We need your help in securing letters stating how these taxes affect business at your airport. We are already aware that the Charter Tax has driven many planes out of state-but legislators are not! Please address the letter to your representatives letting them know how many aircraft were lost, to which states, and how much revenue has been lost. Also, please be sure to send a copy of your letters to our office at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . I want to be able to personally hand the letters to each legislator I meet.

Aviation stands ready to be a critical economic engine moving the state forward. Help us make that happen!