August 30, 2011 - The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is proposing a $298,500 civil penalty against Capital Cargo International Airlines, Inc. (CCIA) of Orlando, Florida, for allegedly operating eight Boeing 727 aircraft when the aircraft were not in compliance with federal aviation regulations. 

Specifically, the FAA alleges that CCIA permitted an unqualified mechanic to perform certain aircraft inspections and to sign airworthiness releases on the company?s aircraft.

The FAA said the certificated mechanic in question had not completed a required general familiarization course for the B-727 and did not have prior training or experience equivalent to that course.

The FAA also said the mechanic had not taken the required examination and the company had not evaluated his prior experience and training to perform required inspections on the B-727. As a result, he was not qualified to work on the B-727. As a consequence, CCIA operated the aircraft on 46 flights in 2008 and 2009 while they were not in compliance with federal aviation regulations. The FAA also alleges that the same mechanic performed required inspections on one B-727 on March 13, 17 and 19, 2009, when he was not qualified to do so.

As a result, the company operated that aircraft on 463 revenue flights when it was not in compliance. CCIA has 30 days from the receipt of the FAA?s enforcement letter to respond to the Agency. Capital Cargo International Airlines, Inc. is a cargo airline based in Orlando, Florida, USA. It provides on-demand and wet lease aircraft charter. Its main base is Orlando International Airport. It is owned by the Air Transport Services Group. 

The airline was established in September 1995 and started operations in April 1996. It was founded by Peter Fox, the airline's Chairman, and obtained its operating certificate on 24 April 1996. It is wholly owned by Cargo Holdings International (CHI) and has 265 employees. 

On November 2, 2007, Cargo Holdings International, the parent company of CCIA entered into an agreement to be acquired by Wilmington, OH-based ABX Holdings, Inc. The company along with sister company Air Transport International is runned as separate companies under the Air Transport Services Group umbrella.