FAA revokes StarFlite Aviation’s Houston charter certificate after alleging falsified pilot training and competency records

Emergency order immediately halts Part 135 passenger operations

The Federal Aviation Administration has issued an emergency order revoking the Air Carrier Certificate of StarFlite Aviation, a Houston-based on-demand charter operator regulated under Part 135. The action immediately bars the company from conducting operations that require an FAA air carrier certificate, including selling or providing charter flights under that authority.

The FAA said the decision was based on allegations that company management personnel knowingly falsified pilot training records over multiple years and that the company lacked qualified management personnel required to ensure safe operations.

What the FAA alleges happened

In the emergency order, the FAA alleges that from November 2019 through November 2024, StarFlite management personnel made numerous false entries in training records for at least 10 pilots, including the chief pilot. The records allegedly indicated required check rides and competency checks were completed in various aircraft when those events did not occur.

The agency states that, as a result of the alleged falsifications, StarFlite used pilots who were not properly qualified for at least 170 flights during the period in question. The FAA also concluded that StarFlite did not have qualified management personnel in place to ensure the safety of its operations, a key requirement for Part 135 certificate holders.

An emergency order is designed to take effect immediately when the FAA determines that continued operations would not be consistent with safety requirements while enforcement proceedings continue.

Why training records matter in Part 135 charter operations

Part 135 operators are subject to training, checking, and recordkeeping requirements intended to verify that pilots remain qualified for the specific aircraft and types of operations they conduct. Check rides and competency checks are used to assess proficiency, procedures, and decision-making, and the associated documentation is a core compliance tool for both operators and regulators.

• Check rides and competency checks are used to confirm a pilot’s ongoing qualifications.
• Training records are relied on by companies to assign crews and by regulators to verify compliance.
• Falsified records can obscure whether required evaluations were completed before flights occurred.

What happens next

StarFlite can appeal the emergency order by filing a notice with the National Transportation Safety Board, the administrative body that reviews many FAA enforcement actions. Any appeal process typically focuses on whether the FAA’s action is supported by the record and whether the emergency determination is justified under applicable standards.

For passengers and clients, the revocation means StarFlite cannot legally provide charter flights under the revoked air carrier certificate unless and until it regains authority through the appropriate regulatory process.