Castagna Edifies Dallas Morning News

In a letter to the editor of the Dallas Morning News regarding an article titled Experts Eye Charter Jet Operators — American, Southwest Raise Alarm Over Less Regulated Service Model, National Air Transportation Association (NATA) president and CEO Curt Castagna set forth:

“This story repeats claims by airlines and pilot unions that Part 135 charter operators “are allowed to forgo TSA lines and other regulations placed on traditional airlines.” That misrepresents the Part 135 operating environment and perpetuates mischaracterizations of this critical transportation sector.

“Part 135 operators follow existing, well-defined Federal Aviation Administration and Transportation Security Administration regulations to offer safe, secure transportation options to countless communities not serviced by the airlines.

“For more than 45 years, such carriers have also partnered with public charter entities operating under the Department of Transportation Part 380 public charter regulations. These types of operations do not flout regulations or game the system.

“Proposed wide-sweeping changes to public charter regulatory definitions could have unintended negative consequences felt throughout the entire Part 135 industry, disrupting the critical emergency services and powerful economic growth our industry facilitates. Any regulatory examination must be factual, transparent and data-driven — and the facts prove that public charter flights operated by Part 135 carriers provide safe and secure services to diverse communities.”

Founded in 1940 and headquartered in Washington D.C., the National Air Transportation Association is a public policy group representing the interests of the general aviation business community before the U.S. Congress and federal, state, and local governmental agencies. All told, NATA advocates on behalf of nearly 2,300 member businesses—which include providers of aviation fuel and related services, Part 135 on-demand air charter, aircraft rental and storage, flight training, aircraft maintenance and parts sales, line support, business aircraft and fractional ownership fleet management, and Part 121 airline baggage and cargo handling services.

In accordance with its mission statement, NATA strives to “empower its members to be safe and successful aviation businesses.”

FMI: www.nata.aero