The FAA has advised that it is aware of data integrity issues with the agency’s Part 135 Operators and Aircraft list available on the Safe Air Charter Website. The FAA has temporarily deactivated the spreadsheet while it develops a solution to address the discrepancies. The list is commonly used to look up Part 135 certificate holders and associated aircraft (including by operator name and tail number) as part of charter verification.
NATA recognizes the importance of this resource to both the flying public and to legitimate air charter operators, as the data it contains must be current and accurate for compliance, consumer awareness, and business decisions. The FAA has committed to prioritizing data integrity, ensuring the information is as close to 100% accurate and up to date as possible before it is posted. NATA is in regular communication with the responsible FAA staff to ensure action is a top priority.
In the meantime, charter customers should:
- Verify the operator’s legitimacy by asking for a copy of the air carrier certificate and confirmation that the aircraft is authorized for charter use.
- Contact their local FAA field office to verify an operator and aircraft authorization: www.faa.gov/about/office_org/field_offices/fsdo.
- Use NATA’s Avoid Illegal Charter resources for common warning signs and due-diligence steps: www.avoidillegalcharter.com.
- Review resources on the Safe Air Charter site: www.faa.gov/charter.
NATA will continue to share updates as soon as they are available. Contact the NATA team with questions or concerns at hhuezo@nata.aero.