Regulations and Government
FAA's Part 380 Plans Receiving Mixed Reviews
NBAA questioned the rationale for a rulemaking while ALPA cheered
JSX
JSX was appreciative that the FAA is exploring Part 380 possibilities for smaller aircraft but points out more than half of its operations are to small airports. © Flickr/Creative Commons

The FAA’s twofold approach to addressing its Part 380 operational concerns is drawing a mixed reaction from industry, with business aviation groups encouraged that the agency is willing to delve into the safety data and consider small operations but concerned that it is proceeding with a rulemaking that would tighten requirements for public charters.

On Monday, the FAA announced that it would release a notice of proposed rulemaking “expeditiously” to alter the definitions of “scheduled,” “on demand,” and “supplemental” surrounding operators flying under Part 380 public charter economic authority. At the same time, though, the FAA plans to form a Safety Risk Management Panel (SRMP) to discuss the potential for a new operating authority for scheduled Part 135 operations in 10- to 30-seat aircraft.