Sarasota, FL, Operation Had Previously Been Subject Of Revocation Action

The FAA has proposed a $382,000 civil penalty against Universal Flight Training of Sarasota, FL, for allegedly conducting illegal passenger-carrying flights.

The FAA alleges that between October 2015 and February 2019, Universal Flight Training and its affiliate, Universal Flight Services, conducted at least 26 paid passenger-carrying flights in multiple airplanes. The agency alleges the companies did not have the required FAA operating or air carrier certificate to conduct those flights.

The FAA further alleges the companies used unqualified pilots who did not complete FAA-required training, testing, and competency checks.

Universal Flight Training and Universal Flight Services have been in contact with the FAA about the case.

Last June, the FAA issued an emergency order to revoke the ability of Universal Flight Services to charge passengers for flights. The FAA also revoked the pilot certificate of the owner of Universal Flight Services for allegedly conducting illegal charter flights.

In March 2019, Universal Flight Services obtained the FAA certificate required to conduct passenger flights. However, it operated seven subsequent flights using unauthorized pilots and/or aircraft between Sept. 9, 2019 and Sept. 20, 2020.

On two of the flights, the pilot did not have the medical certificate required to fly paying passengers, did not pass a flight check to fly in instrument conditions, and was not current to fly in instrument conditions. On two different flights, the aircraft that the company used had not undergone required inspections.

On all 33 flights conducted by Universal Flight Services between October 2015 and September 2020, the pilots had not passed required written and oral tests, competency checks, and flight checks in the type of aircraft they operated during this time.

FMI: www.faa.gov, https://www.flyuft.com/