Enhancing Security in Civil Aviation

Airline Operations

The Airline Certification Process And Dot Reporting Regulations

Airline certification is a complex process that involves a series of steps an airline company should follow and meet its requirements for the certification process. The certification provides the airline company with the authority to carry out its operations in the global markets with minimal limitations. The certification process begins with filling in the application form in the air carrier authority. The information provided when filling the form includes supporting information, confidentiality treatment, service, and filing. The application is then processed by the carrier authority staff where they make decisions based on the information provided by the company and their credibility. Upon the acceptance by the staff, evidence requirements are submitted by the organization applying for the certificate. Evidence requirements include information such as fitness test, corporate ownership and structure, technical ability and management expertise of the organization, and operating plans of the organization.

The evidence information to be provided to the authority also includes compliance disposition, accident plans, passenger manifest information, and limits of liability, and trade name among other evidences. Similarly, the company should submit continuing fitness information that includes operating limits of the organization, progress of the first year, dormancy, and transfer of authority. The airline organization will be certified to operate fully in the local and international markets upon meeting the above requirements (United & National, 1998).

Department of Transport (DOT) has developed reporting regulations that affect the running of activities and reporting of the performance of the airline companies significantly. The report regulations released by the DOT dictates that the airline organizations should disclose their points of sale and fee information for the basic ancillary services. The reporting regulations also want the airline companies to disclose ancillary services related information such as their global distribution systems and ticket agents. In addition, the reporting regulations of the DOT stipulate that the airline organizations should include in their reports, incidents that involve loss, death, or injury of an animal when being transported by air. Such regulation aims at providing the consumers with a clear picture of the safety of the airline record when it comes to the safety of their animals. Similarly, the revised regulations require first-time airlines to provide a report for the total number of animals transported in a fiscal year, including the number of animals injured, lost, or died during the transportation (Parsons et al., 2008). Cumulatively, these reporting regulations aim at ensuring responsibility of the airline companies and establishment of consumer trust towards the services provided by the airline companies.