FAA Suspends Charter Operator's Certificate

The FAA has issued an Emergency Order of Suspension to Muscle Shoals, Ala.-based charter operator Darby Aviation, which is also known as AlphaJet International. The FAA's order cites the company for not having an accepted operations manual or approved training program; not identifying names of management personnel or people authorized to exercise operational control; not having proper procedures for weight-and-balance, airworthiness, accident notification, compliance with emergency procedures; and much more. Darby's charter certificate was previously suspended following the February 2005 Platinum Jet Management Challenger overrun accident in Teterboro, N.J. (pictured), but the company was able to resume operations after that. Darby, which has 10 days to appeal the new suspension, is working on a response to it, according to director of operations John Morrison, who told BJT sister publication Aviation International News "It's time to fight back."