DAVID LEARMOUNT / LONDON
Safety audit spot-check reveals that some first officers flying under FAA licensing rules have been contravening regulation
Some first officers flying US-registered business jets in Europe under US Federal Aviation Administration licensing regulations have been contravening International Civil Aviation Organisation standards, an ICAO safety audit spot-check has revealed. The UK Civil Aviation Authority says it has advised the FAA to notify US pilots and operators about crew qualification requirements of which they might not have been aware.
During a spot-check carried out under the ICAO international aviation safety audit system, some pilots flying as co-pilots in N-registered business jets at London Luton airport were found not to have type ratings, although the pilots in command did. This is permitted in the USA under regulation FAR 61.55, but under European and ICAO rules both pilots must have full type ratings to fly commercial transport aircraft or any aircraft with a maximum take-off weight of more than 5,700kg (12,500lb), according to the CAA.
It is understood that a US-based Dassault Falcon crew was spot-checked and that the co-pilot was found not to have a type rating on his licence. The operations manager of the London Luton airport fixed-based operation affected says he is aware of the incident. The manager understands that other crews had been found to be operating the same way under FAR 61. The CAA says it has contacted the FAA, which is to disseminate the information to pilots and operators who may have not been aware of the rule.
Source: Flight International
