The US Department of Transportation (DOT) has revoked the certificate of public convenience that allowed Clay Lacy Aviation (CLY, Van Nuys) to engage in interstate charters carrying passengers and freight using large aircraft.

According to the DOT order, served on September 5, the charter specialist is no longer authorised to provide ad-hoc flights using large aircraft - that is, any aircraft originally designed to have a maximum passenger capacity of over 60 seats or a payload of more than 18,000 pounds (8,165 kg).

Clay Lacy was originally authorised to use large aircraft in 2004 when it was set to use a 16-seat, executive-configured Boeing Business Jet.

However, in a letter dated January 26, 2024, the DOT informed the carrier that since it had "not operated any large aircraft in over a year, its interstate and foreign charter certificates were automatically suspended” unless the company submitted an application to have its fitness redetermined. Clay Lacy did not respond to the letter, leading to the revocation of its authority.

"Following an internal review and discussions with the DOT and FAA, we have allowed our interstate certificate to lapse, as we have no plans to operate VIP Airliners under this certificate in the future. This decision came after consultation with industry experts and upon recommendation of the DOT," Clay Lacy Aviation told ch-aviation.

The charter company operates an in-house fleet of over 50 various business jets. It also runs FBOs at Van Nuys, Santa Ana, CA, and Oxford, CT airports across the United States.