FAA Adding Safety Rules for Public Charter Flights

Image: (Photo Credit: FAA funding major improvements at airports across the United States.)

by Donald Wood
Last updated: 8:55 AM ET, Wed June 19, 2024

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced new plans to address concerns about public charter flights' rising frequency and complexity.

Public charter services operate like scheduled airlines but under less rigorous safety regulations. The FAA is exploring new ways to integrate the flights into the airspace safely for all travelers.

As part of the plan, the FAA will initiate a rulemaking to amend Part 110's definitions of scheduled, on-demand, and supplemental operations. This would make public charters subject to operating rules based on the same safety parameters as other non-public charter operations.?

“Part of the safety mission of the FAA is identifying risk early on, and that’s exactly what we’re doing on public charters as usage expands,” FAA Administrator Mike Whitaker said. “If a company is effectively operating as a scheduled airline, the FAA needs to determine whether those operations should follow the same stringent rules as scheduled airlines.”

In addition, the FAA will seek comments on an effective date that would allow the industry to adapt to any change in the regulatory environment. The federal agency will also explore opportunities to align aircraft size and certification standards with the operational needs of small community and rural air service.

The FAA’s public charter work is coordinated with the Transportation Security Administration (TSA). While the FAA focuses on the safety of the flying public, the TSA focuses on the security of transportation systems.?

“At the same time, we want to look at how future innovation might cause us to think differently,” Whitaker continued. “Safe air travel options should be available to everyone, not limited to only those living near a major airport.”

“We want to put a safety lens over the options of future innovation, as we work to further connect small and rural communities to open up more options for everyone at the same high level of safety,” Whitaker concluded.?

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