The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has proposed a civil penalty of $15,744,352.50 against Aery Aviation LLC, based in Newport News, Virginia. The FAA claims that the company operated aircraft in an unsafe manner by using unairworthy planes.
According to the FAA, Aery installed equipment on several Learjets for banner- and target-tow operations without performing the required maintenance or keeping necessary documentation. The installations meant the aircraft should have been classified under a restricted category, which prohibits flying over densely populated areas, congested airways, or near airports with passenger service unless a waiver is granted by the FAA.
The agency further alleges that Aery did not obtain restricted-category airworthiness certificates for these aircraft and operated them on 431 flights between July 2021 and April 2022 without the required certification. During this period, Aery also conducted 945 flights with target-tow or electronic-warfare equipment installed but did not secure the necessary operational waivers from the FAA.
Most of these flights occurred near Newport-News Williamsburg Airport (PHF), an area described as having extensive passenger operations and congested airspace.
The FAA stated: "Aery’s operations using unairworthy aircraft were careless or reckless so as to endanger lives or property of others."
Aery has 30 days after receiving the enforcement letter to respond to the agency.
