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Photo from Lyon Aviation FacebookThe FAA is proposing a $104,650 civil penalty against Lyon Aviation, alleging the company allowed seven pilots to conduct over 1,000 flights without reviewing their qualifications and medical records.
The FAA is issuing the penalty against Lyon Aviation for alleged pilot record violations, giving the charter company 30 days to respond to the agency. The agency is alleging that Lyon Aviation failed to review the pertinent qualifications and medical records for seven pilots before hiring them and allowing them to fly for the company. The FAA is also alleging that the company failed to report these records to the FAA's Pilots Record Database. The seven pilots in question conducted more than 1,000 flights between Feb. 4, 2022 and Sept. 7, 2023.
The PRD is used for sharing pilot records among air carriers and operators and is managed by the FAA. Air carriers and operators can register to review FAA data for each individual pilot before hiring them. Pilots are also able to access the database to review their records. As of Dec. 7, 2021 the FAA said all air carriers and operators that are required to review records following the Pilot Records Improvement Act and/or PART 111 are also required to use the PRD to obtain related FAA records. Civil penalties against persons other than individuals and small business concerns can be up to $400,000 and those against individuals and small business concerns can be up to $50,000. Typically the penalty for violations ranges from about $1,100 to $27,500 depending on the violation and category of violator.
Lyon Aviation is based in Pittsfield, Massachusetts and according to the company website, offers private jet charters, avionics services, aircraft management, and sales and acquisitions. The company has a fleet of heavy and super-midsize jets, including the Gulfstream V, Gulfstream IV-SP, Falcon 50EX and Falcon 50. Lyon Aviation has operated since 1980 and said it is one of the top-5 largest private jet charter operators in the North East, along with one of the earliest charter certificates in the U.S.