The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) held a public board meeting Tuesday on how some revenue passenger-carrying flight operations are conducted as general aviation flights. The board is calling for the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to enhance a series of safety requirements.
The FAA has made allowances for certain revenue passenger-carrying operations to be governed by Part 91, general aviation regulations, which have less stringent safety requirements.
Part 91 revenue passenger-carrying operations result in inadequate aircraft maintenance, deficiencies in pilot skills and decision-making, a lack of structured pilot training, and a lack of FAA oversight, the NTSB said.
“The NTSB remains concerned with the inadequate safety standards the FAA allows for some revenue passenger-carrying general aviation operations,” NTSB Chairman Robert L. Sumwalt said. “When someone pays for an air tour, a parachute jump flight, or an extreme aerobatic experience flight, they have the right to expect effective safety standards for such operations. Currently, that is not the case, and this exposes customers to unnecessary risks.”
Members of the public spoke at the meeting, sharing their flying experiences. The majority of the public is unaware many flights are not subject to the same maintenance, airworthiness, and operational requirements as other revenue flight operations.