David E. Schaffer Associates LLC

Led successful lobbying effort to include a provision in the FAA reauthorization bill to phase out noisy business jets.  See section 506 of the FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012, 49 U.S.C. 47534.

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Wrote a legislative provision to fund and encourage the use of zero-emission vehicles at airports and helped lobby to ensure its enactment.  See section 192 of the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018.

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Wrote a legislative provision to make airport microgrids eligible for Federal AIP funding and helped lobby to ensure its enactment.  See section 47102(3)(P) of Title 49 of the United States Code 

 

Assisted various energy companies in obtaining FAA approval (finding of “no hazard”) for the construction of tall towers.

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Advised the NFL on FAA rules governing approval of the construction of new football stadiums near airports.

 

Advised various companies on U.S. DOT citizenship requirements for establishing an airline in the United States.

 

Instructor for Congressional Quarterly’s Capitol Net on aviation, congressional relations, lobbying, and FAA regulatory and congressional issues.

 

Advised and provided legislative drafting services to the American Association Airport Executives on issues related to FAA reauthorization and airport slots.

 

Advised and provided legislative drafting services to the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association on various issues related to general aviation.

 

Advised a local general aviation pilots association on issues related to AIP grant assurances and aircraft noise.

 

Wrote a legislative history of the Civil Reserve Air Fleet Program (CRAF) for a leading cargo airline.

 

Wrote a history of FAA funding issues for a leading general aviation trade association.

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Advised a U.S. company on whether to register its corporate aircraft in the U.S. or a foreign country.

 

Prepared and submitted Permit and Exemption Applications to the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) to allow 2 different foreign airlines to fly to the United States.

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Advised a foreign airline on the implications of a citizen from another country purchasing a controlling interest in that airline.

 

Advised a foreign client on possible FAA penalties for operating a Part 91 aircraft as a charter.

 

Helped the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) staff prepare for the Congressional reauthorization process.

 

Assisted a foreign airline in dealing with a NTSB accident investigation.

 

Advised an aircraft parts manufacturer on dealing with NTSB investigators.

 

Advised an airport on dealing with a DOT Inspector General investigation of possible revenue diversion.

 

Advised the TSA staff on working with Congress.

 

Advised the Joint Planning and Development Office (JPDO) on issues related to air traffic control modernization, airports, airport capacity, the environment, aviation weather, unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) {aka drones}, and privacy issues raised by UAS flights.

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Advised the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) for its September 16, 2020 report on "Unmanned Aircraft Systems: Current Jurisdictional, Property, and Privacy Legal Issues Regarding the Commercial and Recreational Use of Drones".  See Appendix VI, page 2 of that report.

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Drafted legislative provisions for a drone company that, if adopted, would expedite the integration of unmanned aircraft into the National Airspace System (NAS).

 

Advised the FAA on issues related to FAA reauthorization, airline fees, and airport slots.

 

Helped a travel publication fend off a DOT enforcement action for an alleged violation of DOT’s full fare advertising rule.

 

Helped advise a foreign airline on requirements imposed on airlines by DOT passenger protection rules.

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Helped a foreign company navigate FAA rules in its successful effort to acquire a U.S. avionics manufacturing company.

 

Advised an aeronautical repair station on the regulatory issues raised by a change in its ownership and control.

 

Advised a U.S. company on FAA compliance issues raised by a transfer of a supplemental type certificate (STC) and a repair station certificate.

 

Advised investors in an aircraft manufacturing company of the effect of the manufacturing company's bankruptcy on that company’s type certificate (TC) and airworthiness certificates (AC).

 

Advised a foreign government on the typical division of responsibilities among an airport, local officials, and the national government involving a new airport.

 

Advised a U.S. aircraft parts manufacturer on the FAA process for permitting it to manufacture its products in China and import them back into the U.S.

 

Advised a sports league on a fractional aircraft ownership contract.

 

Contributed to a paper discussing the liability of airports for inaccuracies in Geographic Information Systems (GIS).