Proposed Branch Would Oversee On-Demand Charter, Air Cargo Ops

Friday, Regional Air Cargo Carriers Association (RACCA) President Stan Bernstein confirmed the association’s strong support of a new branch within the FAA.

The proposed new organization, initially known as the "Part 135 Branch" within the agency is designed as a clearinghouse for issues related to activities conducted under Part 135 of the Federal Aviation Regulations. These include on-demand charter operations, certain scheduled passenger and sightseeing flights, cargo and air transportation of US mail chiefly in smaller aircraft.

"RACCA's endorsement of an FAA branch dedicated to FAR 135 flying predates the recently-concluded Part 125/135 Aviation Rulemaking Committee (ARC) meetings," said Bernstein. "We are convinced that a 'one-stop shop' for operators and FAA personnel alike, at the headquarters level, will be of great benefit to the agency and the industry it regulates."

Likely tasks for a headquarters-level Part 135 Branch include implementing revisions arising from the Part 125/135 ARC's recommendations. Those regulatory proposals are expected to be released over the next few years and include modernization and other changes to Part 135's existing rules addressing pilot minimum experience and flight-duty-rest rules.

Additional issues likely to be addressed by a dedicated Part 135 Branch within FAA headquarters include air cargo operations, policies related to minimum equipment lists used by Part 135 operators, analyzing operator activity and agency oversight of this industry segment, to name a few. The proposed branch would also serve as a focal point both for industry and other government institutions involving aircraft operations under Part 135.

"Recent events, like industry-wide meetings to address concerns raised in Congress with the Mitsubishi MU-2 fleet have suggested better standardization is needed among various operators and at the FAA, for example," said Bernstein.

"Ground and in-flight icing issues with the Cessna 208 Caravan fleet are another hot issue," he continued. "A branch within the FAA dedicated to serving as both a central resource and advocate for Part 135 operators on these and other issues will help enhance both aviation safety and the agency's efficiency."

Recently, RACCA's leadership was briefed on the FAA’s plans to create a Part 135 Branch during a meeting with James J. Ballough, director of the FAA's Flight Standards Service, and others at the agency's headquarters in Washington, DC.

FMI: www.raccaonline.org, www.faa.gov