Feds ground Dallas charter, alleging it used unqualified pilots when flying pro teams
Federal authorities have grounded a Dallas-based aviator for allegedly flying professional sports teams — including the Texas Rangers — with unqualified pilots.
The Federal Aviation Administration revoked the license for Paradigm Air Operators citing dozens of unauthorized charter flights, the administration said Wednesday. Those flights also included ones for Arizona Diamondbacks, Cleveland Indians and Oakland Athletics of Major League Baseball and the New York Rangers and Toronto Maple Leafs of the National Hockey League.
Paradigm must immediately surrender its operating certificate. The company faces a civil penalty of $13,669 for each day it fails to surrender the certificate. Phone calls to Paradigm were not answered.
Rangers spokesman John Blake said the team used Paradigm “sparingly” when its other plane was out of service and that it no longer uses the company.
According to the FAA order, Paradigm flew for the Rangers at least 15 times between 2015 and 2017. The Dallas Morning News reported Paradigm was also contracted by the Texas Rangers and Dallas Stars as a team jet until the ownership group for the teams filed bankruptcy in 2010.
The company’s flight license allows it to fly for a small number of private companies. But if service outgrows the “private carriage” limit, the company becomes a “common carriage” provider, which requires more oversight.
The FAA claims Paradigm used a broker or consultant to hire more companies than its license allowed. Paradigm flew unauthorized flights at least 34 times between 2013 and 2018, according to the FAA. To get around the requirement, the company said the flights were demonstrations, but investigators believe the flights were paid charters.
During those flights, the company used pilots who had not completed training and flight proficiency checks that are required for crews engaged in common-carriage operations. Paradigm conducted these flights when it lacked required personnel including directors of safety, maintenance and operations, and a chief pilot and chief inspector, the FAA said.
