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.

A formal system is required to ensure maintenance activities are completed on time and within procedural and regulatory guidelines. Aircraft status must be accurately tracked using constant and effective communication; critical information must flow between maintenance and operations. Qualified personnel must monitor maintenance planning, ensure completion of maintenance actions, and track deferred discrepancies without exception. Auditing required tracking items is the most effective method of monitoring and verifying. Deferred maintenance actions should be identified to supervisory personnel and corrected in accordance with the criteria provided by the manufacturer and the operation’s own MEL.

Pilot Hiring Process: Established company policies and procedures are in place to ensure applicants are carefully screened as part of the hiring process, adequately assessing their suitability to perform the specific flight crew duties demanded by the organization. Consideration is given to applicant’s collective background, adaptability, and long-term ability to carry out all company missions safely. If a crewmember is hired who is lacking in some specific experience or qualification, a specific training and observation plan is developed to ensure requisite experience or qualification is obtained prior to assignment.

The maintenance training program is appropriate to the size and scope of maintenance functions the operation performs. A well organized and properly documented training program that includes appropriate indoctrination, initial, on-the-job, and recurrent training, and continuous opportunities for professional development and education will provide benefit to maintenance technicians and the operation as a whole. Accurate tracking of training requirements and a vigorous update review helps ensure training is appropriate and relevant.