New York City-based Baltia Air Lines has assembled the captains, first officers and engineers it will train to start operations pending the receipt of an operating certificate from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
The three crews are awaiting the green light from the administration to start the training, which should start within the next month, says the airline, based at New York John F. Kennedy International (JFK) airport.
Baltia, which plans to start service from New York to St. Petersburg, Russia, with a Boeing 747-200, announced in April that it had moved past the initial phase of certification, which includes approval of its manuals. Additional tasks after crew training include proving flights and evacuation tests.
The carrier, which has been working towards FAA certification since 2009, is now coordinating with the FAA's East Michigan Flight Standards District Office for the approval. It says it has a goal starting operations before the busy year-end holiday season.
Source: Air Transport Intelligence news
