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California Man Sentenced to Prison for Piloting Private Jets without a Type Rating
On April 27, 2016, Arnold Gerald Leto III was arrested on federal charges of illegally piloting a private airplane from Los Angeles to Las Vegas without a pilot’s license. The Department of Justice and FAA determined that Leto had illegally piloted a number of flights dating back to at least 2015, and he ultimately pleaded guilty to the charges. This week, Leto was sentenced to 10 months in federal prison, and required to pay a $5,500 fine. (www.flyingmag.com) Más...Sort type: [Top] [Newest]
This may be an amateurish question, but where were the owners of these aircraft? Why would they let an unqualified person to pilot some very expensive aircraft?
Kenneth, I think that you would be very surprised to learn of the extent some "less than honest", shall I say, Part 135 charter companies will do to make a buck. They sully the reputation of the good companies.
The owner of the jet usually turns over management of his jet to a charter management company to operate it in support of the owner (Part 91 - a private, non-commercial flight) and then charters the jet to the general public (Part 135 - a commercial operation) for revenue when not in use by the owner. The owner trusts the charter management company to follow the management agreement which includes complying with all FAR's and Federal laws, that includes using appropriately qualified crews. These owners are not typically knowledgeable of the regulatory details of operating the jet and rely on trustworthy managers, some turn out to be snake oil salesman. Let the buyer (owner) beware!!
The owner of the jet usually turns over management of his jet to a charter management company to operate it in support of the owner (Part 91 - a private, non-commercial flight) and then charters the jet to the general public (Part 135 - a commercial operation) for revenue when not in use by the owner. The owner trusts the charter management company to follow the management agreement which includes complying with all FAR's and Federal laws, that includes using appropriately qualified crews. These owners are not typically knowledgeable of the regulatory details of operating the jet and rely on trustworthy managers, some turn out to be snake oil salesman. Let the buyer (owner) beware!!
So who was he working for? Was he hired by the owners, a charter management company, or working as an independent contractor?
Was this an isolated case and a significant outlier?
I did find this fluff piece about how the FAA recognized him as a shining example a few years prior:
http://aviation-business-gazette.com/A3/B58/Pilot-Arnold-Gerald-Leto-Iii-Ontario-CA.html
Was this an isolated case and a significant outlier?
I did find this fluff piece about how the FAA recognized him as a shining example a few years prior:
http://aviation-business-gazette.com/A3/B58/Pilot-Arnold-Gerald-Leto-Iii-Ontario-CA.html
Whoa.
That is an automated program run by a web site that has a page for everyone in the FAA airmen database.
Thanks, it did seem odd.
Did he pull this off on his own? Did someone look the other way, just didn't look, or is there one or more 'unindicted co-conspirators'?
Did he pull this off on his own? Did someone look the other way, just didn't look, or is there one or more 'unindicted co-conspirators'?
You are right 30west,a lot of shoddy maintenance practices along with pilots flying" The Parker Pen" for qualifying hours.
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