What is ATA
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What is ATA Information
What is ATA
Revision 2001.1
Air Transport Association of America, Inc.
1301 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Suite 1100
Washington, D.C. 20004-1707
USA
Copyright © 2001 by Air Transport Association of America, Inc. All rights reserved. No part of this document may
be reproduced or transmitted by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying and recording, or by
any information storage or retrieval system, except as may be expressly permitted in writing by the publisher.
Copyright 2001, Air Transport Association
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What is ATA
Important Information About This Document
Read Before Using This Document
This document contains recommended specifications that have been developed for the covered topics. ATA does not
mandate their use. You must decide whether or not to use the recommendations in this document. You may choose to
use them in whole, in part, or not at all.
There may be practices, standards and/or regulatory requirements applicable to your operations that exceed the
recommendations in this document. You are solely responsible for determining if such practices, standards or
requirements exist and whether they apply to your activities, and for complying with those that are applicable. Such
practices, standards and requirements can change significantly over time.
ATA does not guarantee, promise or warrant that the specifications in this document will meet the needs of your
operations. This is a determination that you must make and for which ATA is not responsible.
For Additional Information
For more information or to order additional publications, refer to the ATA Publications Catalog, the website at
www.air-transport.org, e-mail pubs@air-transport.org., or call the ATA Distribution Center at:
1-800-497-3326 (U.S. & Canada)
1-301-490-7951
For Technical Information and Change Submissions
For technical information or to recommend an alteration or amendment to this specification, please submit the
recommendation and any supporting documentation to ATA:
E-mail: pubs@air-transport.org
1-202-626-4000
Fax: 1-202-626-4181
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Highlights
Release History
Revision 2001.1: January 2001
Revision 2000.1: January 2000
Originally Issued January 2000
Revision 2001.1 (January 2001)
Location
Description of Change
Chapter 1
Updated History & Profile
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What is ATA
Chapter 1. History & Profile
The Air Transport Association (ATA) was founded in 1936 by a group of 14 airlines meeting in Chicago. It was the
first and remains the oldest and largest airline trade association. ATA has played a significant role in all major
government decisions regarding aviation since its founding, including the creation of the Civil Aeronautics Board, the
air traffic control system and airline deregulation. Today, its membership of 23 U.S. and five associate (non-U.S.)
airlines carriers over 600 million passengers and more than 25 billion ton miles of cargo each year. U.S. members
account for more than 95 percent of the passenger and cargo traffic carried by U.S. scheduled airlines.
ATA maintains a reputation for excellence and is respected by Congress, state legislatures, Department of
Transportation, Federal Aviation Administration, the media and the public for its professional and accomplished
representation of the industry.
The ATA organizational structure reflects that of most major airlines and provides an efficient interface between
member carriers and key government and private-sector organizations. Professional departments within the association
deal with operations and safety, engineering and maintenance, airport operations, air traffic management, cargo,
electronic data interchange, facilitation, federal and state government affairs, international affairs, legal affairs,
passenger service, communications and security. Working side-by-side with these established organizations are a variety
of ATA committees and task forces, comprised of experts from member airlines formed to address industry issues.
The activities of the ATA center around its Board of Directors, which is comprised of the chief executive officers of all
U.S. member airlines. In an extraordinarily dynamic industry, ATA enables air carriers to pool their unparalleled
experience, technical expertise and operational knowledge, so that the industry as a whole can better serve the public
and improve airline safety, service and efficiency.
ATA also represents its members on major aviation issues in the technical, legal and political arenas. Its activities are
designed to advocate and support measures which enhance aviation safety, ensure efficiency, foster growth and protect
the ability of the airline industry to invest in the future, in order to meet the emerging demands of customers.
While the ATA agenda of issues continuously changes, its major priorities remain constant. They include:
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Assisting the airline industry in providing the world's safest system of transportation
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Advocating the modernization of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) air traffic control system, to
improve service for airline customers and to benefit the environment
!
Improving and refining the protection and security of airline passengers and cargo against threats directed at
the United States
!
Encouraging appropriate government action, while seeking to prevent legislative and regulatory intervention
that would penalize airlines and their customers by imposing rate, route, service and schedule controls on the
industry
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Endeavoring to reduce the disproportionate share of taxes and fees paid by airlines and their customers at the
federal, state and local levels
!
Improving the industry's ability to attract the capital necessary to meet future demand
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Helping to shape international aviation policy, to ensure that U.S. and foreign carriers can compete on equal
terms
During its more than 60-year history, the Air Transport Association has seen the airline industry grow form the small,
pioneering companies of the 1930s into key players in the global transportation market. ATA and its members continue
to play a vital role in shaping the future of air transportation.
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Chapter 2. ATA Membership
2-1.
ATA Member Airlines (as of December 2000)
Aeromexico*
Evergreen International Airlines
Air Canada*
FedEx
Airborne Express
Hawaiian Airlines
Alaska Airlines
KLM Royal Dutch Airlines*
Aloha Airlines
Mexicana*
America West Airlines
Midwest Express Airlines
American Airlines
Northwest Airlines
American Trans Air
Polar Air Cargo
Atlas Air, Inc.
Reeve Aleutian Airways
Canadian Airlines International*
Southwest Airlines
Continental Airlines
Trans World Airlines
Delta Air Lines
United Airlines
DHL Airways
United Parcel Service
Emery Worldwide
US Airways
*Associate member
2-2.
Membership Inquiries
The Articles of Association describe the membership criteria, dues formula and governance. The criteria provide that
applicants should be common carriers in air transportation of passengers and/or cargo; operate a minimum of 20 million
revenue ton-miles annually, and have done so for one year preceding the date of application and have a valid operating
certificate issued pursuant to section 604 of the Federal Aviation Act.
Air carriers interested in becoming full or associate (non-U.S. carriers) members of the Air Transport Association
should contact:
Mr. Nestor N. Pylypec
Vice President, Industry Service
Air Transport Association
1301 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Suite 1100
Washington, DC 20004-1707
USA
202-626-4218
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Chapter 3. ATA Specifications
The development of recommended specifications for industry is an important function of trade associations such as
ATA. These specifications allow industry participants to achieve major cost savings through the use of common systems
and procedures. The ATA role is to facilitate this process by bringing industry members together to reach a consensus
that all can support and implement. Thus, ATA specifications are voluntary industry agreements on accepted means of
communicating information, conducting business, performing operations or adhering to accepted practices.
The specifications used by the commercial airline industry must satisfy its rigorous safety and reliability requirements
and be maintained so that any new technology is introduced in a timely fashion. Specifications may be formulated as
recommended practices or implementation guidelines and deal with such diverse concerns as formats for developing
technical maintenance publications or approved parts acquisition.
U.S. airline industry specifications should be in agreement with international ones to the maximum degree possible. In
the engineering arena in particular, adherence to international specifications facilitates the international servicing and
support of aerospace products. Likewise, the use of international specifications in the automation sector provides the
industry with access to cost-effective, broadly supported software and hardware solutions. Some ATA specifications are
formulated for the international aeronautical community. While others, developed for the U.S. domestic industry, may
serve as a starting point for or complement related international specifications.
For a complete list of ATA specifications, please see the ATA Publications Catalog.
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Chapter 4. ATA Sponsored Events
4-1.
Engineering Maintenance & Materiel (EM&M) Forum
This event, held annually since 1939, brings together industry leaders to discuss issues pertaining to commercial airline
engineering, maintenance and materiel concerns.
Now co-located with AvWeek's MRO Conference, each year at the EM&M Forum, attendees can:
!
Participate in informative general and topical panel sessions
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Network with peers
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Make recommendations to ATA staff and committees for future action
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Visit the industry exhibition area
The EM&M Forum is also a great opportunity to show and sell your product or service to the aviation community. The
forum attracts commercial airline technical operations executives, government officials, manufacturers, suppliers,
distributors and aircraft maintenance companies.
If you are interested in additional EM&M Forum information, please contact:
Engineering Maintenance & Materiel
Air Transport Association
1301 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Suite 1100
Washington, DC 20004-1707
USA
Phone: 202-626-4038
Fax: 202-626-4081
Or, visit the ATA Web site at http://www.air-transport.org
4-2.
SPEC 2000 User Forum
Established and maintained by the commercial aviation industry, ATA Specification 2000 (SPEC 2000) defines
formats for the exchange of aircraft maintenance data to manage materiel acquisition, support and repair.
The forerunner of SPEC 2000, ATA Specification 200 (Spec 200), had been in use for 35 years for the exchange of
procurement and materiel-management information between airlines and suppliers using common formats. Airlines
and suppliers worldwide jointly developed SPEC 2000 under the auspices of ATA, building upon Spec 200 but
introducing variable formats and up-to-date electronic and telecommunication techniques.
SPEC 2000 provides specifications for the exchange of both business and technical information among customers,
manufacturers and suppliers by electronic message or magnetic media. Formats are defined for the following functional
areas of materiel management:
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Initial Provisioning
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Spares Procurement
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Order Administration and Invoicing
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Inventory Forecasting
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Repair Order Administration
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Repair and Overhaul Planning
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Bar Coding
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Excess Materials Sale and Purchase
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Warranty Claims Submission
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Aircraft Delivery Configuration
Learn how the SPEC 2000 program can assist your company in streamlining your business processes by attending the
SPEC 2000 User Forum. Held every November, the forum provides a comprehensive introduction to the program and
its benefits:
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Learn about the program's capabilities and how it can help your company save money
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Attend special breakout sessions, which will equip you with the knowledge and contacts necessary to begin
your implementation
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Exchange ideas and experiences with fellow users and expand your SPEC 2000 trading partner base
!
Attend software demonstrations to see the latest and greatest software solutions
Make sure you get an invitation by contacting ATA at 202-626-4039, or fax 202-626-4081. Or, visit the SPEC 2000
Web site at http://www.spec2000.com
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Chapter 5. ATA on the Internet
ATA has opened its doors to the Internet community with its Web site at http://www.air-transport.org.
Since the initial implementation, the ATA Web site has significantly grown in size and popularity. In October 1999,
Dow Jones & Company stated, "ATA's no-frills site does a good job of covering the industry for America's leading
airlines. ATA members also include couriers DHL Airways, Emery Worldwide, Federal Express and United Parcel
Service. The home page clearly indexes the information available at this site, including industry statistics. The Airline
Handbook gives an excellent overview of the industry and ranges from a history of aviation to an A to Y (airfoil to
yield management) glossary of industry terms."
For the general public, the ATA Web site provides a wealth of aviation information, including:
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ATA Publications Catalog
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Current press releases, speeches & testimony
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Industry data & statistics
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The Airline Handbook
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Air Transport Association Annual Report
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Statistics and contact information for ATA members
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Links to other aviation-related resources on the Internet
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Information on special ATA programs and events
In January of 1996, ATA expanded the site to include a members-only area. This password-protected area is used by
numerous ATA industry councils, committees and working groups to communicate and collaborate.
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