WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) proposes a $742,677 civil penalty against AAR Airlift Group, Inc., of Palm Bay, Fla., for allegedly failing to properly document the maintenance performed on its fleet of Sikorsky helicopters and operating the fleet in violation of its operations specifications.

AAR Airlift holds an FAA certificate that allows it to conduct commuter and on-demand operations. The FAA alleges that between February 16, 2016 and January 27, 2017, AAR Airlift failed to properly document the replacement of components on 13 Sikorsky S-61N helicopters.

AAR Airlift allegedly documented in its maintenance records that it followed required maintenance procedures. However, the FAA alleges AAR did not at the time use or possess the special equipment necessary to properly replace the components. The components are hydraulic pistons that change the angle of the helicopters’ rotor blades in relation to the direction of the wind.

The FAA further alleges that AAR Airlift operated the helicopters in violation of its operations specifications after it failed to use the required special equipment to replace the components. The flights occurred in Afghanistan, the Central African Republic, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Niger and Uganda.

AAR Airlift has asked to meet with the FAA to discuss the case.