VLJ NPRM Expected Later This Year, PSS Regs Coming

Washington, DC – FAA Manager 135 Air Carrier Operations Dennis Pratte told attendees at the National Air Transportation Association Air Charter Summit last week he expects the Very Light Jet Notice of Proposed Rulemaking to be issued later this year and indicated the agency is working on regulations covering Passenger Service Specialists.
However, it will not be restricted to commercial operations such as air charter as originally suggested by FAA when AviationToday’s Very Light Jet Report interviewed the FAA for its launch issue. Related Story At that time FAA’s Acting Manager of AFS-250 Harlan Sparrow indicated the work is part of the agency’s re-write of its Part 135 rules as recommended by the Aviation Rulemaking Committee in 2003. However, Associate Administrator for Aviation Safety Nick Sabatini, also speaking before the NATA summit, indicated the rules will likely extend provisions of the very expensive single-level-of-safety regional airline regulations to the charter sector. Related Story
Pratt noted that trying to get a rulemaking out in an election year is difficult because it must be reviewed by the outgoing Department of Transportation and Office of Management and Budget. “Things tend to slow down in an election year,” he said.
Pratt would not discuss the proposed regulations further saying it was precluded by the rulemaking process. But Sabatini did comment after NATA President James Coyne noted that the charter industry has gone three years without a fatal accident for the first time in history. “The accident rate is admirable but the new regulations are not because the industry is traveling in the wrong direction,” he said. “We are reinforcing safety. There is a major difference between 135 and 121. What we are trying to do is bring that 121 safety level to turbojets of nine seats or under and we are signaling that we have a level of expectation and performance for VLJ operation. We want the safest system possible no matter what you are traveling on.” Sabatini pointed to the fact that rejected take offs are not taught to general aviation pilots and the fact that VLJs do not have the climb performance as reasons to incorporate a single level of safety rule on the emerging industry.
Pratte indicated that the industry has been pushing for regulations for Passenger Service Specialists and the agency is now reviewing the Part 135 ARC recommendations. The rule will outline requirements for PSSs for those with safety duties similar to a flight attendant and for those that do not have any safety function.