FAA Revokes StarFlite Aviation’s Part 135 Certificate
The Federal Aviation Administration has issued an emergency order revoking the Air Carrier Certificate of StarFlite Aviation of Houston, alleging the private charter operator falsified pilot training records and operated flights with unqualified crew members.
According to the FAA, the Part 135 operator’s management personnel knowingly made numerous false entries in pilot training documentation between November 2019 and November 2024. The agency alleges that records for at least 10 pilots, including the company’s chief pilot, falsely indicated that required check rides and competency checks had been completed in various aircraft when they had not.
As a result, the FAA claims StarFlite used unqualified pilots on at least 170 charter flights.
In its emergency revocation order, the FAA stated that the company “lacks qualified management personnel to ensure the safety of its operations” and that its conduct demonstrated “a disregard for the safety of the flying public.”
StarFlite can appeal the revocation by filing a notice with the National Transportation Safety Board.
FAA records show that StarFlite previously operated multiple aircraft under its Part 135 certificate. While earlier listings showed more than 10 aircraft associated with its charter authorization, the most recent FAA database indicated only one aircraft, a Piper PA-31-350 Chieftain (tail number N713WT), remained on its certificate as of this week.
The FAA had temporarily removed its public Part 135 operator list earlier in the week to verify accuracy before republishing updated data.
StarFlite received approximately $856,000 in federal relief funding through the CARES Act in May 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic. As of publication, the company’s website displays a notice stating it is under construction, and a representative reached by phone declined to comment.
Emergency certificate revocations are rare and signal serious safety concerns. If upheld, the action prevents StarFlite from conducting charter operations unless and until the FAA determines the company has met all regulatory requirements for reinstatement.
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