FAA proposes $330,000 civil penalty against Heli-Dudes

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is proposing a $330,000 civil penalty against Heli-Dudes LLC, of Salt Lake City, for allegedly operating sightseeing helicopter rides for hire when it was not authorized to do so, aviolation of Federal Aviation Regulations.

The FAA alleges that Heli-Dudes did not have an FAA operating certificate or letter of authorization when it conducted 30 sightseeing flights for hire between Feb. 6 and Feb 14, 2010, using a Robinson R-22, a two-seat, piston engine-powered helicopter.

The FAA denied two Heli-Dudes applications for a Letter of Authorization in January and March, 2010. The first denial was because the company submitted the wrong employee drug-testing certificate. The second denial came because Heli-Dudes conducted for-hire flights when it was not authorized to do so.

Heli-Dudes has 30 days from receipt of the FAA's enforcement letter to respond to the agency.
(Source:www.transportweekly.com)