Article On Business Aviation Draws Intense Fire From NBAA

This just in from the NBAA...

An article in a recent edition of Forbes Magazine ("Flight of Fear," April 9), overlooked the strong safety standards, stringent levels of federal oversight, and outstanding operational history for charter aviation companies and their pilots. The fact is, the continuing emphasis on safety is the very reason that thousands of charter operators fly millions of hours each year without incident.

Here's the real story about the charter industry. Charter companies and pilots are certified by the FAA before they are allowed to fly. Thereafter, their operations are, at FAA's discretion and within its resources, subject to constant oversight under rigid safety regulations. This is the same model used by the FAA to oversee airline safety.

Obtaining a charter operator's certificate is a time-consuming, thorough procedure, sometimes taking up to a year. The process for certification is overseen by the FAA, and is subject to unannounced safety spot checks by FAA officials. Charter company operations manuals are required by the FAA, and must be approved by FAA officials. FAA staff routinely audit charter operators' records, which can also be subject to periodic safety review by independent safety auditors.

Charter pilot qualifications are comparable to those for commercial airline pilots, including minimums for training and flight-time experience. The facilities that conduct safety training programs for charter pilots are held to the same rigorous standards as the centers that train airline pilots. And, the requirements for ensuring that charter pilots fly in safe weather conditions are comparable to - and at times more stringent than - those for the scheduled airlines.
 
But why take our word for it? In a document produced by the Department of Transportation (DOT), entitled "Chartering an Aircraft, A Consumer Guide", the DOT states:

"Any air taxi operator that offers services to the public must by law be certified by the FAA and meet stringent operational, maintenance, and safety rules. In addition, the pilots must be specifically qualified.

"The regulations for air taxis provide for a high level of safety and control. They address flight operations, maintenance requirements, and crew member training and testing. The FAR's also address crew rest, physical examinations, and mandate a stringent anti-drug program for operators. The FAA closely monitors air taxi operators to make sure that they conform to the established standards of performance."

"Chartering an Aircraft, A Consumer Guide"
U.S. Department of Transportation

Finally, the story never made clear to readers that the FAA's tracking methods for the complex charter industry produce an unclear and misrepresentative depiction of the safety of various charter operations. For instance, the FAA lumps together single-engine piston-powered charter flights in Alaska with multi-engine charter jets operations, which have a significantly better safety record. The National Business Aviation Association has repeatedly requested that the FAA re-examine its methods for tracking charter safety data (so that statistical mischaracterizations like those included in the "Forbes" story can be avoided).

It's unfortunate that the charter industry was misrepresented to readers of "Forbes" magazine.

FMI: www.nbaa.org