The NTSB Investigates, It Doesn’t Enforce The National Transportation Safety Board is unique within the massive federal organization chart. One might expect to find it next to the FAA among the “subsidiaries” of the Department of Transportation. The NTSB was originally established in 1967, but in 1974, Congress reestablished the NTSB as a completely separate […]

Rewriting FAR Part 135 Rest & Duty In one of my favorite movie scenes, a swashbuckling pirate is about to lead the beautiful princess into a dark morass of vegetation. The princess stops short and says, “We can’t go in there! It’s the Fireswamp! We will never come out alive!” The pirate confidently replies, “Nonsense. […]

If You See Something, Say Something(?) TSA signs at the airport decree If You See Something, Say Something! But once you take your seat in the cockpit, the Non-Disclosure Agreement (“NDA”) that you signed when you were hired decrees that what happens in the cabin, stays in the cabin. There are many legitimate reasons for […]

Taking the Long View on Short Term Solutions Contract Pilots Taking the Long View on Short Term Solutions With more business aircraft pilots joining the scheduled carriers, the importance and appeal of temporary contract pilots is gaining attention. What are the operational, insurance and legal considerations for these pilots and the companies that need them? […]

Charter by the Seat? You find a complex variety of buying options within the FAR Part 135 charter. Some of the variations seem to cross over into scheduled operations. For example, if you buy an “empty leg” of an existing charter, is that a scheduled flight? How can you possibly buy a seat on an […]

How to Handle FAA Medical Issues Many pilots fear that a medical misunderstanding will cost them their career. Due to the draconian laws surrounding the FAA medical process, these fears are justified. Since flying is a “privilege” and not a constitutional right, pilots don’t have the legal protections that most Americans take for granted. What […]