by Donald Wood
Last updated: 8:55 AM ET, Wed June 19, 2024
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced new
plans to address concerns about public charter flights' rising frequency and
complexity.
Public charter services operate like scheduled airlines but
under less rigorous safety regulations. The FAA is exploring new ways to
integrate the flights into the airspace safely for all travelers.
As part of the plan, the FAA will initiate a rulemaking to
amend Part 110's definitions of scheduled, on-demand, and supplemental
operations. This would make public charters subject to operating rules based on
the same safety parameters as other non-public charter operations.
“Part of the safety mission of the FAA is identifying risk
early on, and that’s exactly what we’re doing on public charters as usage
expands,” FAA Administrator Mike Whitaker said. “If a company is effectively
operating as a scheduled airline, the FAA needs to determine whether those
operations should follow the same stringent rules as scheduled airlines.”
In addition, the FAA will seek comments on an effective date
that would allow the industry to adapt to any change in the regulatory
environment. The federal agency will also explore opportunities to align
aircraft size and certification standards with the operational needs of small
community and rural air service.
The FAA’s public charter work is coordinated with the
Transportation Security Administration (TSA). While the FAA focuses on the
safety of the flying public, the TSA focuses on the security of transportation
systems.
“At the same time, we want to look at how future innovation
might cause us to think differently,” Whitaker continued. “Safe air travel
options should be available to everyone, not limited to only those living near
a major airport.”
“We want to put a safety lens over the options of future
innovation, as we work to further connect small and rural communities to open
up more options for everyone at the same high level of safety,” Whitaker
concluded.
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