In a new GlobalAir.com article, NATA Air Charter Committee Co-Chair Andrew Schmertz, CEO of Hopscotch Air, examines how illegal charter activity creates safety, reputational, and economic risks for legitimate Part 135 operators and the broader aviation industry.
Schmertz underscores that illegal charter activity has consequences well beyond a single flight. Operators that follow Part 135 requirements make significant investments in certification, training, maintenance, insurance, safety management, and regulatory oversight. When others bypass those obligations, they put passengers at risk, distort the marketplace, and create reputational harm that can affect legitimate charter providers across the industry.
The article reinforces NATA’s ongoing work with the FAA and industry stakeholders to combat illegal charter through education, enforcement awareness, and resources such as AvoidIllegalCharter.com.
