Certificated dispatchers, expanded manifest record-keeping requirements, and enhanced safety management systems (SMS) could bolster safety in commercial aviation operations governed by U.S. Federal Aviation Regulations (FARs) Part 135, according to a report by the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB).
The report — Special Investigation Report AIR-24-03, Safety and Industry Data Improvements for Part 135 Operations, issued Aug. 13 — was based on an NTSB investigation of 576 accidents involving Part 135 operations, including commuter air carriers, air tour operators, air ambulance services, and on-demand business jet charters. The investigation revealed what the board called “safety vulnerabilities” in those segments of the industry.
“The safety issues … include operational control and flight-locating deficiencies that can be addressed by using certificated di…
