FAA today proposed a $4 million fine against Spitfire Aviation for violation of aviation regulations that include operating revenue flights without an air carrier certificate.
The agency states the Fayetteville, Arkansas-based company operated about 798 passenger revenue flights from November 2005 to October 2007, “even thought Spitfire had no air carrier certificate or the appropriate operations specifications required under federal regulations for charter operators”, says FAA.
In addition, 262 of those flights were conducted by a pilot that did not hold an Air Transport Pilot Certificate with the appropriate type rating for the aircraft being flown.
FAA says it was notified of the violations by a competitor to Spitfire, and during its investigation it determined Spitfire operated three aircraft, a Cessna Citation 550, a Beechcraft BE-20 and a BE-36 on charter flights largely in the central and southern US.
“During the time it was operating in violation of regulations, Spitfire experienced a crash that destroyed the BE-36 and resulted in the death of the pilot,” the agency says. “The three passengers on that flight survived the accident.”
Spitfire has 30 days to respond to the FAA.
Source: FlightGlobal.com
