On February 5, 2020, the Department of Transportation (DOT) opened the public comment period for its Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) Regarding Traveling by Air with Service Animals.  That comment period officially closed this week, with the proposed rule garnering over 14,000 comments.

While the comment period was open for 60 days, an unusually long period of time for a rulemaking such as this, it did not stop several groups from asking for an extension. … Read More

Each NTSB investigation poses unique problems for the parties involved.  Like a key entering a lock, each move a company makes needs to be just the right fit.  Nevertheless, in our collective 100+ years of experience guiding companies through the investigation process, we have found the list below to encompass the master keys.  They are, quite simply, the “Do’s and Don’ts.”.… Read More

For those of you who may have missed the live presentation of the latest Aviation Webinar Series, “The COVID-19 Bailout Legislation and the Aviation Industry,” you can view the entire presentation by clicking on the link below.

The webinar recording is available HERE

The slides are available for download HERE… Read More

For those of you who may have missed the live presentation of the latest Aviation Webinar Series, “They Have It All Wrong” Dealing with the NTSB: Winning and Losing, you can view the entire presentation by clicking on the link below.

The webinar recording is available HERE… Read More

The Department of Treasury is acting with uncharacteristic swiftness in the wake of the passage of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act).  On March 30, 2019, the Department released its preliminary guidance on how eligible aviation businesses can receive loans pursuant to Subpart A of the Act, and how air carriers can obtain payroll relief pursuant to Subpart B of the Act. … Read More

FREE WEBINAR – 2 PM, THURSDAY, APRIL 2

President Trump has signed a record-breaking $2 trillion stimulus and aid package to help combat the COVID-19 epidemic.  As expected, there is a lot of money in the bill for aviation, including loan guarantees and payroll assistance for passenger and cargo carriers.

There is also good news for other aviation related businesses.  The bill extends relief to contractors and service providers of airlines, such as caterers and baggage handlers, as well businesses that perform inspection, repair, replace, or overhaul services on aircraft. … Read More

With the wrenching and pervasive cessation of normal business and societal activities in the past few weeks, Fox Rothschild has been addressing questions from transportation industry clients concerning their ongoing responsibilities for complying with U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) drug and alcohol testing requirements during these difficult times.

On March 23, 2020, DOT issued Guidance on Compliance with Drug and Alcohol Testing Regulations. … Read More

Today’s new normal is that nothing will be normal.  It seems that each day we are greeted with yet another federal, state, or local order restricting activity.  These have ranged from travel advisories, to local bar and restaurant closures, to the statewide closing of all non-essential businesses.

What all of these shut-down orders have in common, however, is that there is little or no lead time between the issuance of the order and when it goes into effect.… Read More

On March 9, 2020, the Interim Investigation Report (“Report”) into the March 10, 2019, crash of Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302, a Boeing 737-8 (MAX) was issued.  The Ethiopian Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau’s (“Bureau”)138 page Report devotes approximately two pages to a description of the pilot’s/copilot’s experience, hours, etc., and one page to Ethiopian Airlines training program.  There is virtually no analysis anywhere in the 138 pages of the crew’s performance. … Read More

On March 11, 2020, an aircraft carrying an ill passenger landed at Palm Beach International Airport.  Apparently, the passenger had been feeling bad for a while, and had been tested for coronavirus.  A passenger on the plane was quoted as saying that the ill man’s wife:

was sitting in the same row as me and mentioned to others that he wasn’t feeling well.… Read More