4 Million Dollar Fine

Private aviation service operator Spitfire Aviation may be find by the FAA for flights made by a pilot who lacked the proper authorization when a crash occurred. A whistleblower informed the FAA of the violations. Also, at the time, Spitfire had no pilot training and testing, maintenance or drug testing and alcohol misuse prevention programs, which are all FAA mandated.

The FAA Press Release is below:

For Immediate Release
December 4, 2009
Contact: Lynn Lunsford
Phone: 817-222-4455

FAA Proposes $4 Million Civil Penalty for Spitfire Aviation Services

FORT WORTH, Texas — The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has proposed a $4 million civil penalty for Spitfire Aviation Services, LLC, of Fayetteville, Ark., for numerous violations of the Federal Aviation Regulations.

The alleged violations include conducting at least 798 passenger-carrying revenue flights between November 2005 and October 2007, even though Spitfire held no air carrier certificate or the appropriate operations specifications required under federal regulations for charter operators. Inspectors also found that 262 of those flights were conducted by a pilot who did not hold an Air Transport Pilot Certificate with the appropriate type rating for the aircraft being flown.

Spitfire had no FAA-approved pilot training and testing program in place, nor the approved maintenance program or drug testing and alcohol misuse prevention programs required by the government.

During its investigation, the FAA determined that Spitfire operated three aircraft, including a Cessna CE-550 Citation, a Beechcraft BE-20 and a Beechcraft BE-36, on charter flights primarily in the central and southern United States. The FAA became aware of the violations through a complaint from a competitor.

During the time it was operating in violation of regulations, Spitfire experienced a crash that destroyed the BE-36 and resulted in the death of the pilot. The three passengers on that flight survived the accident.

Spitfire Aviation Services has 30 days from the receipt of the civil penalty letter to respond to the FAA.

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