Centurion Air Cargo (Miami International) has been granted a three-month extension (i.e. until March 30, 2018) to submit adequate supporting documentation in its bid to retain its operating authority and thus, resume commercial flight operations.
The Floridian freight specialist had applied to the US Department of Transportation (DOT) for a three-month extension of the revocation for dormancy provisions of 14 CFR 204.7 in late December. However, in its response, the DOT said Centurion had not provided adequate documentation concerning its fitness to operate as a scheduled cargo operator.
"Generally, it is not our practice to grant requests for extensions from the provisions of section 204.7, unless the applicant has provided evidence that it still meets the Department's fitness criteria and that it completed nearly all the steps to recommence operations (i.e., has the necessary personnel, financial resources, aircraft, and FAA operating authority)," the DOT said.
The regulator said that while Centurion had claimed to still have access to a management team and substantial funding, "it did not provide evidence to demonstrate it still meets the Department's fitness criteria or that it is taking necessary steps to return its FAA-issued Operation Specifications (OpSpecs) to a level which would allow it to resume operations."
As such, the DOT has given Centurion until the end of March to submit the proof needed to show its fitness and that it is indeed taking steps to return its OpSpecs to a level which would allow it to resume operations.
"If this information is not received by March 30, 2018, we intend to proceed with the revocation of Centurion's economic authority for reason of dormancy," it added.
The ch-aviation fleets module shows Centurion has a fleet of three MD-11(F)s of which only one is active - N986AR (msn 48426) - but operated by sister carrier SkyLease Cargo (GG, Miami International).
