Florida Aviation Trades Association Selects The Anderson Law Firm as General Counsel

The Anderson Law Firm announced today that it has been selected by the Florida Aviation Trades Association (FATA) to act as FATA General Counsel. The FATA is an aviation trade group that has been actively promoting and protecting the rights, interests and development of Florida’s aviation industry since 1946. Attorney Daniel Anderson said that the firm is honored to be selected by such a prestigious aviation organization that is known throughout the state of Florida for its consistent and effective advocacy on general aviation issues.

"We're delighted to be able to support the important work of the FATA and its members and look forward to being involved in future FATA activities," Anderson said. Anderson noted that he had been working with the FATA during his tenure as a partner at his former law firm, Forizs & Dogali, P.L.. Anderson said the previous representation involved two legal cases potentially affecting FATA members in which he filed briefs on behalf of the FATA as amicus curiae, or "friend of the Court." According to Anderson, the two cases, Nolte v. Paris Air and Nolte v. Sun Aviation, were resolved in favor of FATA's members and against the property appraiser for Indian River County, Florida.

"The assistance we provided to FATA in the Sun Aviation and Paris Air cases is a great example of the cost-effective legal services we provide to non-profit trade groups that do not have the multi-million dollar budgets of the national associations," Anderson said. Anderson is a former Washington lobbyist and executive director of a national aviation trade group representing helicopter and airplane tour operators at Grand Canyon, Alaska, Hawaii, and New York.

"I hope to provide nonprofit trade groups and their members with the kind of legal support that we desperately needed when I was in Washington," Anderson said. "We did our best to serve our members, but we simply could not afford the rates charged by law firms inside the beltway," Anderson added. Anderson said that he plans to represent nonprofits through AmicusAppeal, a subdivision of his firm created for the sole purpose of providing representation at the appellate level on issues important to trade groups and their members.

"My guess is that there are other executive directors who are, like I was, faced with the difficult challenge of serving the needs of their members while working within a limited budget," Anderson said. "I know how that feels, and I hope to be able to help them meet those demands," Anderson added.

Burbank Airport Curfew Meets Resistance

According to Aviation Week, the FAA and Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa have voiced opposition to a proposed curfew at Burbank Airport in California.  The curfew was proposed as a result of a Part 161 study conducted by the Burbank-Glendale-Pasadena Airport Authority.  Interestingly, Airports Council International-North America and the Burbank Chamber of Commerce submitted comments in support of the curfew.  However, the FAA has concerns that the curfew will divert air traffic from Burbank to nearby airports and adversely impact the local and national ATC system.  LA's Mayor said that the problems at Burbank should be addressed regionally, citing Part 161 studies currently underway at Van Nuys (VNY) and and LAX.

Lawsuit Filed to Stop General Aviation Activities at March AFB

A Riverside County, California newspaper reports that an area environmental group has launched a lawsuit to stop general aviation activities at March Air Reserve Base's military-civilian airport.  According to the report, the Community Alliance for Riverside's Economy and Environment (CAREE) has previously sought to curtail aviation activities at March AFB.  In 2003, CAREE  halted construction of the 1,290-acre March Business Center for five months before a settlement was reached, which brought about a number of environmentally improved practices.  In 2004, CAREE tried unsuccessfully to block the DHL distribution center at March, saying the airport developer had misled the public about the airport flight path and noise. An independent investigation ordered by the March commission later determined the group was correct.