FAA Proposes $400,000 Fine Against Kalitta Air for Navigation Violations

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has proposed a hefty civil penalty of $400,000 against Kalitta Air, a cargo airline based in Ypsilanti, Michigan. The FAA alleges that the airline conducted 44 flights in a restricted area with a faulty navigation unit, breaching federal aviation regulations.

The issue centers on the Boeing 777 freighter operated by Kalitta Air, which reportedly lacked the necessary software to correct a known fault in its navigation equipment. This equipment, a multimode receiver, is crucial for receiving land-and-satellite-based signals that enable precision navigation essential for safe flight operations.

This violation traces back to a 2020 FAA order that prohibited aircraft equipped with Collins GLU-2100 multimode receivers, containing specific software, from flying in parts of the world where GPS data could be lost or degraded. The directive highlighted the risks associated with this fault, noting that improper mapping within the operational software could lead to “controlled flight into terrain” during high-precision approaches with GPS errors.

In response to this directive, airlines were required to update their flight manuals to inform pilots of the areas restricted due to potential navigational inaccuracies if the system’s position could not be calculated within three-tenths of a nautical mile.

Kalitta Air, which operates five Boeing 777s for DHL Express, has requested a meeting with the FAA to discuss the case further, potentially negotiating a reduction in the penalty. As of now, the company has not publicly responded to requests for comments on the matter.

Collins Aerospace, the manufacturer of the implicated navigation system, has since developed new software to address the GPS software issues, aiming to mitigate similar risks in the future and ensure compliance with aviation safety standards.

Sources: AirGuide Business airguide.info, bing.com, freightwaves.com