Practice Areas

Aviation Regulatory Issues

Central to our aviation practice is our broad regulatory experience. We work extensively with industry groups and governmental teams in the real time development of FAA and DOT policy – including handbooks, orders, policy notices and regulations. As a result, we spot issues earlier and offer more creative solutions sooner – in litigation, aviation business structures, and aircraft transactions. Our team includes three former FAA lawyers, two of whom formerly served as Regional Counsel and one of whom formerly served as a Regional Administrator. Active participation at the highest levels in prominent aviation trade associations keeps us at the cutting edge of the latest FAA and DOT developments. Our client base of aviation businesses of all types provides us with an unparalleled breadth of experience across multiple aviation business segments.

A sample of our nationwide aviation regulatory matters includes:

  • FAA and DOT certification and compliance, e.g. defending aviation businesses worldwide from FAA and DOT enforcement proceedings, risk mitigation measures such as VDRP, ASAP, and DOT air carrier financial fitness applications and public charter applications;
  • representing aviation businesses in NTSB and FAA accident investigations, including proactive emergency response planning and training;
  • protecting FBO and other aviation user’s access and lease rights at airports, including FAA grant assurance violations (economic discrimination, exclusive rights, rates & charges, revenue diversion), FAA Part 13 and 16 actions, and litigating those disputes before FAA, state and federal courts nationwide where necessary;
  • airport related commercial real estate development, including challenging airspace and zoning decisions in and around airports, addressing runway protection zone (RPZ) negotiations and FAA 14 CFR Part 77 Hazard Determinations;
  • acting as aviation regulatory counsel to successful bidder in a $1 billion airport privatization transaction under FAA’s Airport Privatization Pilot Program (APPP); and
  • counseling businesses operating Unmanned Aircraft Systems (“UAS”).