FAA proposes $2.9M in civil penalties against Asia Pacific Airlines, allegedly used unqualified pilots

The FAA is imposing five civil penalties against Asia Pacific Airlines, totaling $2.9 million. The Honolulu-based airline has 30 days after receiving the FAA's enforcement letters to respond. The largest fine imposed, for $2,436,850, is for allegedly using unqualified pilots on 163 Boeing 757 flights between Dec. 20, 2022 and Feb. 1, 2023. The FAA notified Asia Pacific Airlines on Dec. 16, 2022 that the pilots were unqualified but the FAA claims the company continued using them. Another $250,000 was for the alleged operation of a Boeing 757 on 121 flights without authority from an individual authorized to exercise operational control on the flights, which occurred between Dec. 20, 2022 and Feb. 1, 2023. The FAA fined Asia Pacific Airlines another $150,000 for allegedly conducting 30 flights in a Boeing 757 aircraft that did not comply with all the conditions and limitations when certain equipment was out of service. Asia Pacific Airlines was also fined $64,000 for allegedly failing to document engine monitoring and to continually assess engine reliability for the Boeing 757 used in Extended-range Twin-engine Operations Performance standards between Aug. 20, 2021 and Nov. 22, 2021. This FAA also alleged that the company failed to perform the required removal of an engine that had exceeded allowable temperatures on a July 21, 2022 flight. A final fine of $8,000 was for alleged violations of safety risk management regulations.