Part 135 Oversight Concerns NTSB

NTSB recommendations issued last month call on the FAA to step up its oversight of Part 135 operators to ensure that improper record-keeping practices are identified and corrected “before accidents occur.” Additionally, the FAA should establish “specific criteria” regarding the number of accidents or incidents that would trigger increased FAA oversight of a particular operator. The recommendations were prompted by the investigation of a Cessna 402 that ditched in the Atlantic Ocean on July 13, 2003, killing two passengers. The airplane was operated by Air Sunshine under Part 135 commuter regulations.