Puerto Rican Airline Cited For Flights Involving Unqualified Pilots

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In an episode described as evidence of the worldwide pilot shortage, the FAA has proposed civil penalty fines totaling $134,475 against Puerto Rico-based carrier Vieques Air Link for allegedly conducting revenue flights crewed by unqualified pilots. The 11 flights occurred between July and August this year (2022). Vieques Air Link operates flights linking the island of Vieques with Culebra and mainland Puerto Rico.

The exact nature of the breach in pilot qualifications remains unclear. Vieques Air Link, founded in 1965, operates more than 30 daily flights to several destinations in Culebra, Puerto Rico, as well as and the U.S. and British Virgin Island with a fleet of 10 general aviation aircraft consisting of three Cessna C208 Caravans, five twin-engine Britten-Norman Islanders and two three-engine Britten-Norman Trislanders.

The company’s website maintains: “Our airline counts with a highly qualified group of pilots, certified mechanics and more than 60 employees committed to give each one of our passengers the best possible service and a delightful experience.”

Mark Phelps
Mark Phelps is a senior editor at AVweb. He is an instrument rated private pilot and former owner of a Grumman American AA1B and a V-tail Bonanza.

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12 COMMENTS

  1. Sounds like their normally scheduled operations require the use of ATP-rated pilots. Rumor is that they claimed some of their scheduled operations were unscheduled so that only commercially-rated pilots could fly the trips.

  2. “Puerto Rican Thing”?! “AOC being unqualified”?! Sad to see such racist drivel on what has been an otherwise informative, aviation-based site.

  3. Yeah, come on. That stuff is better suited for a different type of forum.

    And on topic, Pilot 1 is probably correct on the explanation of what it’s all about.

  4. Both a Cessna 208 and a Britten-Norman Islander carry 9 passengers. Multi-engine aircraft pilot needs an ATP for a scheduled flight but not a charter flight and the scheduled single engine pilot does not require an ATP. Maybe it’s about time to drop the ATP requirement for aircraft under 12,500 lbs. The FAA would rather enforce bad regulations rather then improve them. Is the FAA going to require an ATP to fly a scheduled eVTOL flight? The regulations say they do….

  5. Vieques Air Link has flown me and my family to Vieques and Culebra from San Juan many times – I’ve even sat right seat on some of those island hopping short flights. Always felt that the PIC was qualified and capable, but of course that doesn’t mean that the carrier hasn’t cut some corners from time to time as the FAA is alleging here. My only complaint with them is that the interiors of those Britten-Norman Islanders are frightfully loud – bring along earplugs!

  6. And there you have it folks, I thinks it’s safe to say Andrew P. just shot down the carrier’s “delightful experience” contention. It’s not looking good for these people, not good at all……..

    • Ha — yes, I would certainly stop short of calling any of the flights truly delightful. The views of islands and coastlines aren’t bad, though!

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