The FAA is trying to tighten safety rules for public charter flights

The Federal Aviation Administration intends to implement more stringent safety requirements for public charter airlines like JSX.

The federal agency said some public charter flights operate like commercial airlines but are not subject to the same safety regulations, which is often not clear to customers. If the changes are approved, both will operate under the same rules.

“Part of the FAA’s safety mission is to identify risk early, and that’s what we’re doing with public statutes as use increases,” said FAA Chief Mike Whitaker. “If a company does operate as a scheduled airline, the FAA must determine whether those operations should be subject to the same stringent regulations as scheduled airlines.”

Problem for JSX

Such a move could be a blow to carriers like JSX because part of their appeal comes from offering customers a private jet-like experience. For example, JSX operates small private terminals, so customers don’t go through the typical TSA security screening – JSX says passengers can arrive as little as 20 minutes before departure.

Additionally, under current FAA regulations, JSX pilots do not have to meet the 1,500 flight hour requirement or the mandatory retirement age of 65.

“As the nation’s largest public charter air carrier, JSX has led the way toward safe and reliable regional operations,” a JSX spokesperson said in a statement to Skift. “We look forward to working with our regulators to strengthen the importance of public charters and expand access to key air routes in the future.”

Major airline lobby against JSX business model

Last year, the FAA and TSA began analyzing whether public charter flights should be subject to similar regulations as commercial airlines. The FAA said it plans to “expeditiously” issue a final rule after receiving 60,000 public comments on the matter.

American Airlines, Southwest Airlines and pilot unions have been lobbying the federal government to consider tightening safety rules aboard the JSX, arguing that the carrier is taking advantage of a regulatory loophole.

JSX CEO Alex Wilcox said in a June 2023 submission to the Department of Transport that he rejected the argument that there was a regulatory loophole.

“There is no ‘public charter loophole’ as American and ALPA claim because JSX’s activities are clearly permitted under the regulations,” he wrote.

“American and ALPA’s attempts to fabricate regulatory controversy where none exists and to put political pressure on DOT to complete a workaround of existing regulations, all in an effort to force JSX out of business, should be unequivocally and loudly rejected,” Wilcox said.

Photo: JSX aircraft tails. JetSuite