The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has rebuked charter airline True Aviation over a compliance failure. The infractions involve a falsified flight log submitted in an authorization application.
True Aviation compliance problem
As reported by ch-aviation.com, US-based charter carrier True Aviation has been reprimanded by the FAA after falsifying data in its commuter air carrier authorization application. In a May 17th letter to True Aviation President and Founder Jesse Gallagher, FAA Air Carrier Fitness Division Associate Director Lauralyn J. Remo demanded to know "why it kept quiet about this information."
The letter then asks True Aviation to review its previous submission and provide an affidavit correcting its false statements. The airline was subject to an FAA order in September 2020, which revoked True Aviation’s and ground instructor's certificates after discovering a pilot flight instructor falsified flight logs.
The carrier has an ongoing commuter air carrier authorization application - this has been deferred until True Aviation can resolve this issue. A commuter air carrier authorization is necessary for any airline to operate at least five roundtrip flights per week with small aircraft of under 60 seats - True Aviation is applying for permission to operate five weekly services between Bozeman and Kalispell with a nine-seater Cessna turboprop.
What exactly is the issue?
The true nature of the compliance infraction is unknown; all we know at this stage is that it involves falsified flight log data. We also don't know if the falsified data was submitted knowingly or through administrative negligence, although reports have described the issue as a "blunder," suggesting the latter.
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As a result of this week's FAA reprimand, True Aviation will have to report "any accident, incident, or enforcement action" within the past ten years, either involving itself or key personnel and partners and will need to submit this information within the next 30 days. Depending on how this proceeds, the carrier could face anything from further authorization delays to fines, loss of authorization, or worse.
However, True Aviation has played down the significance of the compliance order, claiming it has already been dismissed by a National Transportation Safety Bureau (NTSB) judge. Simple Flying reached out to True Aviation founder Jesse Gallagher for comment on this report - Gallagher responded,
"The compliance order you are referring to was dismissed by a NTSB Law Judge."
About True Aviation
Aviation expert Jesse Gallagher founded True Aviation Charter Services. The company claims to have offered "expertise and guidance for the private aviation industry for over 30 years" through private aircraft charter, management, and maintenance services.
The certified US Part 135 operator utilizes a fleet of Falcon 50 and heavy Falcon 900 jets and plans to introduce Cessna aircraft to its operations. According to its LinkedIn page, the company has 11-50 employees and is based in Avoca, Pennsylvania, with additional offices in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
Do you have any experience in aviation compliance? Let us know your insights in the comments section.
Source: ch-aviation.com