A drug and alcohol program is a regulatory requirement for a 119 certificate holder authorized to operate under FAR Parts 135, and air tour operators defined in FAR Part 91.147.

Records should be audited with an established frequency. The records should be well organized and thorough, and
reflect a pilot’s current experience, qualifications, and medical status. Many scheduling software programs can
keep track of pilot times and training cycles but must be backed up in case of a computer malfunction resulting in a
loss of data. The person assigned responsibility for the records must be given the time and resources to assure
the records are up-to-date and complete. Pilot records must be stored with appropriate security, and access
restricted.

A comprehensive process to ensure required aircraft inspections are completed routinely and the results are properly documented contributes significantly to operational safety performance. Maintenance inspection includes a process to evaluate contract vendors, suppliers, and their products. Inspection personnel are identified, trained (initial and recurrent), and provided guidance regarding inspector responsibility and authority. Whether maintenance is outsourced or done by in-house technicians, inspection activity provides assurance that the work being accomplished on aircraft is done to a prescribed quality standard.

All flight operations policies and procedures are relevant, comprehensive, reflect the current scope of operations, and are effectively utilized by all applicable flight operations employees. Operations managers are aware of mission requirements and demands, supervise with sufficient oversight, and employ risk management in daily activities. Employees are sufficiently empowered to perform assigned duties and responsibilities, are encouraged to report errors and strive for continuous improvement. Specific operational issues such as mountainous airports, winter operations, and TCAS RA procedures are adequately addressed.