FAA Proposes To Decertify Nantucket Airline

MARTHA’S VINEYARD, MA — The Federal Aviation Administration is looking to shut down a Nantucket airline for conducting passenger-carrying flights using unqualified pilots over a two-year period. The FAA is proposing the revocation of the air carrier certificate of Nantucket Express, LLC after it said the unqualified pilots were used on 76 flights not listed on its air carrier certificate from March 2015 to Sept. 2017.

The FAA said in a statement that the pilots were "unqualified by either not being listed on the air carrier certificate as an authorized pilot, or by failing to pass a required knowledge test and competency and flight checks."

The FAA said their investigation determined 39 of the flights were operated in an aircraft that had not gone through a required safety inspection.

"Nantucket Express's actions were careless or reckless, and its numerous violations of the Federal Aviation Regulations demonstrate that it lacks the qualifications to hold an air carrier certificate, the FAA alleges," the FAA said in the statement.

Nantucket Express has 15 days from when it receives the Notice of Proposed Certificate Action to notify the FAA on how it will respond to the proposed revocation. If the company fails to respond within that time, the FAA will issue a revocation order.