By Bryan Manabat
Asia Pacific Airlines, a Guam-based air cargo service, is facing $2.9 million in civil penalties proposed by the Federal Aviation Administration for several safety violations including the hiring of unqualified pilots.
According to a notice published by the FAA, Asia Pacific allowed unqualified pilots on 163 Boeing 757 flights between Dec. 20, 2022 and Feb. 1, 2023, and continued to do so despite the agency's warning,
FAA also cited the carrier for "conducting 30 flights with Boeing 757 aircraft that did not comply with conditions and limitations when certain equipment was out of service."
Asia Pacific allegedly failed "to document engine monitoring and continually assess engine reliability for Boeing 757 aircraft used in extended-range twin-engine operations performance standards between Aug. 20, 2021 and Nov. 22, 2021.
The federal regulators also failed the airline for failure to remove an engine that exceeded allowable temperatures on a July 21, 2022, flight."
Asia Pacific has 30 days after receiving the FAA’s enforcement letters to respond to the agency's notice published on April 10.
Last year, FAA grounded the Asia Pacific Airlines' fleet after revoking the company's operating authority.
Operating Boeing 757 freighters, Asia Pacific Airlines provides cargo service to Palau, Yap, Pohnpei, Chuuk, Kosrae, Manila, Hongkong and Honolulu.
Asia Pacific is a subsidiary of Tan Holdings Corporation
