Second Cease and Desist Order for Platinum Jet

Platinum Jet Management has been slapped with a cease and desist order for the second time since the Challenger overrun accident at Teterboro Airport on February 2 last year. The June 12 DOT order claims Platinum Jet operated the Challenger and other charter flights without economic or regulatory authority. Further, the order contends that because one of Platinum’s three owners was not a U.S. citizen, neither was the company and thus it violated U.S. cabotage rules. Platinum Jet had a charter management agreement with a Part 135 holder (Darby Aviation dba Alphajet), but the DOT said that Platinum Jet held itself out as a certified operator and flew multiple charter trips, including the Challenger accident flight. Platinum Jet and its three owners were penalized $175,000. One month after the Challenger accident, the FAA issued a cease and desist order against Platinum Jet and proposed civil penalties totaling more than $1.86 million for alleged FAR violations involving 49 for-hire, passenger-carrying flights.