Charter & Fractional
European bizav taking hard line on illegal flights
The European Business Aviation Association (EBAA) is leading fresh industry demands for a clampdown on illegal charter activity.

The European Business Aviation Association (EBAA) is leading fresh industry demands for a clampdown on illegal charter activity. The campaign wants to make charter customers more aware of the risks they run by flying in aircraft not operated under commercial aircraft operating certificates (AOCs). It also wants authorities to be more aggressive in catching those operating illegally.

According to Marwan Khalek, chief executive of UK-based charter group Gama Aviation, as many as half of all for-hire flights could be operating illegally. In addition to paid-for flights in private-licensed aircraft, his estimate includes aircraft operated by AOC holders who do not have permission under cabotage rules to fly in another territory–most notably, U.S. N-registered jets making flights within Europe.