FAA PROPOSED $1.8 MILLION IN CIVIL PENALTIES AGAINST SIX COMPANIES FOR CARRYING OUT ALLEGED ILLEGAL CHARTER FLIGHTS
September 10, 2021
On August 5, 2021, FAA issued a press release, available here, regarding over $1.2 million in civil penalties proposed against five companies for allegedly conducting illegal charter flights. The companies noted in this press release include PottCo Airlease, PottCo Tactical Air, Wikert Air, Oracle Aviation, and East Shore Aviation. FAA also issued another press release on August 27, 2021, available here, detailing a proposed fine against Oklahoma-based Interstate Helicopters for conducting illegal charter flights. With the proposed fine against Interstate Helicopters, FAA has now proposed over $1.8 million dollars in fines for illegal charter operations within the last month.
Specific details of each case are as follows:
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PottCo Airlease was accused of conducting 16 paid passenger-carrying flights without the required air carrier or operating certificate and without FAA issued Operations Specifications. FAA also alleged that PottCo Airlease lacked the required personnel to conduct the flights and had employed pilots who had not completed their required training, nor passed required written or oral tests. PottCo Airlease is facing a fine of $344,672.
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FAA is also targeting sister company, PottCo Tactical Air. The company is accused of allegedly conducting 43 passenger-carrying flights without required air carrier or operating certificates and FAA issued Operations Specifications. It has also been accused of lacking the required personnel to carry out the flights and employing pilots lacking the appropriate credentials and training. PottCo Tactical Air is facing a fine of $301,676.
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FAA has proposed civil penalties totaling $233,133 against Wikert Air for allegedly conducting 21 paid passenger-carrying flights without required air carrier or operating certificates, and without FAA issued Operations Specifications. FAA has also alleged that Wikert Air lacked required personnel to carry out the flights and employed pilots who lacked the appropriate credentials and training.
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Oracle Aviation is facing a civil penalty of $191,536 for allegedly conducting 9 paid passenger-carrying flights without required air carrier or operating certificates, and without FAA issued Operations Specifications. FAA has also alleged that Oracle Aviation lacked required personnel to carry out the flights and employed pilots who lacked the appropriate credentials and training.
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FAA has also proposed civil penalties totaling $157,654 against East Shore Aviation for allegedly conducting 9 paid passenger-carrying flights in three, single-engine Pilatus PC-12s. FAA said that two of these planes had been operated without FAA issued Operations Specifications. Additionally, FAA alleged that the third plane was authorized to be used under visual flight rules, but that East Shore had been operating the plane under instrument flight rules. East Shore is also accused of employing pilots to fly all three planes that had not completed their required training nor passed the required written or oral checks.
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FAA has proposed a $617,100 civil penalty against Oklahoma-based Interstate Helicopters for allegedly conducting 24 paid passenger-carrying flights in jets when the company was only allowed to conduct flights in helicopters. FAA has also alleged that the company employee unqualified pilots.
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