Contributor - Accidents and Regulations

Gordon Gilbert

<p>While the FAA did rescind Notice N8000.336 regarding addition of airplanes to Part 135 certificates, on December 18 it reissued the notice in a new form with only one change. Like N8000.336, Notice N8000.343 requires FAA principal inspectors to obtain concurrence from FAA headquarters before allowing an operator to add a new turbine-powered airplane to its OpSpecs. The change in N8000.343 is an exemption for “newly manufactured airplanes delivered directly to the certificate holder.” N8000.343 could slow the addition of airplanes to OpSpecs, according to National Air Transportation Association manager of regulatory affairs Lindsey McFarren. “Previously, additions were approved at the FSDO level or referred to the regional level if circumstances warranted,” she explained. However, in regions where inspectors are reluctant to add new airplanes, the N8000.343 procedures “might speed the process,” she added, although NATA is disappointed “that the FAA did not accept our recommendations, including a ’grandfather’ clause for aircraft already in the conformity/approval process.”</p>


<p>News and issues concerning the aviation charter and fractional-ownership industries and markets, including company announcements, regulations, new developments and labor issues.</p>


FAA Reissues New Policy for Adding Charter Airplanes

While the FAA did rescind Notice N8000.336 regarding addition of airplanes to Part 135 certificates, on December 18 it reissued the notice in a new form wi