Charter Industry Prepares For New Operational Control Mandate

Part 135 charter operators will begin receiving notification soon from Federal Aviation Administration inspectors that they must adhere to a new Operations Specification, OpSpec A008, designed to ensure that operators have clear operational control of their aircraft. The long-awaited OpSpec was released in late December after months of close collaboration between the agency and industry.

FAA generally drew praise for the final OpSpec document. National Air Transportation Association President James Coyne said, "Overall, NATA is pleased with the outcome of the year of coordinated government-industry efforts. The resulting OpSpec will require changes to many Part 135 operations, but is far less draconian than the OpSpec proposed by the FAA almost a year ago now."

Both NATA and the National Business Aviation Association have alerted their members about OpSpec A008 and are urging them to make sure they are aware of the new requirements and take the steps necessary to satisfy them. The associations have co-hosted a series of seminars on the expected requirements of OpSpec A008, and more seminars are expected in upcoming months. "All Part 135 operators must be diligent in the implementation of this OpSpec," Coyne said. "The FAA is investigating operational control violations even as A008 is being published."

NBAA President and CEO Ed Bolen immediately wrote members of the importance of the new OpSpec.