The Jet-A Concern: Infrastructure

OSHA, NATA Form Alliance

The National Air Transportation Association, through its sister division, the Airline Services Council, in February announced that it has formed an alliance with the Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) to advance safety and health for employees involved in ramp and airfield operations.

In particular, the initiative will focus on reducing and preventing injuries on ramps during inclement/severe weather conditions.

The move is the latest in a series of initiatives by NATA to reduce injuries by airport operations and service personnel. It follows the association's popular Safety 1st program, and comes at a time when the trade group is preparing to unveil its Safety Management System at its upcoming annual convention in March in Las Vegas.

The Changing Face of Distribution

Among the hot topics at this year's Jet Fuel Conference was the role of second tier distributors, who have filled a necessary void in the marketplace.

Historically, the major fuel suppliers have controlled the fuel distribution marketplace. No more, according to officials meeting here for the annual Jet Fuel Conference meeting in Orlando in January.

According to John Armbrust, publisher of the newsletter the "Jet Fuel Report" and sponsor of the conference, "The resellers are changing the game." That is, while the major oil companies continue to play a significant role in supplying direct fuel product to fixed base operators, into-plane operators, and airports, the direct supply channel is changing due to market forces.

"The resellers are changing the game," says Armbrust. It's not by force, he says, but by market forces.

Much of the change, says Armbrust, has to do with the consolidation of the oil industry and a need for independent distribution channels.