Story ID: 
FAA Loses Appeal of Air Trek Revocation
By: Chad Trautvetter
Caption: Charter operator Air Trek’s battle to reinstate its Part 135 certificate following an FAA attempt at revocation appears to be back on track.
Word Count: 186
Charter operator Air Trek’s battle to reinstate its Part 135 certificate following an FAA attempt at revocation appears to be back on track. The NTSB denied the FAA’s appeal of an administrative law judge’s modification of the emergency order and ordered the FAA to work with Air Trek to reinstate its charter certificate. Air Trek’s troubles began last May, when the FAA issued an emergency order of suspension, followed by an order of revocation on June 10, accusing Air Trek of weight-and-balance, maintenance logging, AD noncompliance and other violations. The NTSB’s denial of the appeal noted that the FAA’s brief was “long on argument and short on proof.” Wayne Carr, co-owner of Punta Gorda, Fla.-based Air Trek, said the company has spent $300,000 defending itself and paying for maintenance, hangaring and insurance while its fleet sat idle. “The problem is most companies don’t have the wherewithal to fight back,” he said. The FAA sent a letter to Air Trek on May 1, asking company officials to meet this Friday “to establish the review process to return Air Trek to an operating status.”