The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has accused a charter aircraft operator of using unqualified pilots and unauthorized aircraft, and has ordered the firm to halt its charter flights while an emergency order of revocation against the firm is in effect.
TapJets, based in Spring, Texas, and Fargo, North Dakota, “knowingly used unqualified pilots, operated in a careless or reckless manner that endangered liver or property, and exhibited a cavalier attitude toward regulatory compliance,” the FAA alleged in announcing the order last week.
The FAA said the allegations involve 10 passenger-carrying flights between Sept. 28, 2016, and Jan. 22, 2017, in which pilots were unqualified.
“On one of those flights, the airman who served as second-in-command only had a student pilot certificate, when a commercial pilot certificate was required,” the FAA said. “Additionally … both TapJets’ president and its director of operations piloted several of these flights when either the crew was unqualified or the aircraft being used was unauthorized.”
The FAA also said that, on 14 passenger-carrying flights, the company used aircraft that were not listed on its air carrier certificate and that it was not authorized to operate.