FAA PROPOSES $247,000 CIVIL PENALTY AGAINST THE COLLINGS FOUNDATION
October 28, 2020
On September 4, 2020, the FAA proposed a $247,000 civil penalty against the Collings Foundation of Stow, Mass., for allegedly conducting unauthorized flights in a P-51D Mustang airplane. The FAA alleges that between January 17, 2020 and January 30, 2020, the Foundation improperly operated the Mustang on 26 flights carrying people it had charged for flight training. The FAA further alleges that before the operations occurred, FAA inspectors advised the Foundation that such flights would violate FAA regulations.
Previously, the Collings Foundation legally offered revenue rides in their aircraft under the FAA’s Living History Flight Exemptions program, an approval operators can renew every two years. However, following the FAA’s investigation into the crash of the foundation’s B-17G Nine-O-Nine at Windsor Locks, Connecticut, on October 2, 2019, the FAA declined to approve the Collings Foundation’s latest request for a renewal. The FAA found that the Foundation failed to follow agreed-upon training and maintenance requirements of the program.
The Collings Foundation has 30 days after receiving the FAA’s enforcement letter to respond to the agency.
If you have any questions, please contact Evelyn Sahr (esahr@eckertseamans.com or 202-659-6622); Drew Derco (dderco@eckertseamans.com or 202-659-6665), or Andy Orr (aorr@eckertsemans.com or 202-659-6625).
Share This Post
Authors
