The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has proposed a $56,000 civil penalty against Spring City Jet for alleged violations of drug and alcohol testing regulations. The agency claims the operator failed to include certain safety-sensitive employees in its required random testing pool, allowing them to perform duties without proper screening.
According to FAA enforcement procedures, airlines and operators must maintain random, unannounced drug and alcohol testing for employees in safety-sensitive roles, including flight crewmembers and flight attendants, as mandated by 14 CFR Part 120. This incident mirrors recent cases, such as the $65,000 penalty proposed against Avelo Airlines on March 10, 2026, where 10 flight attendants and crewmembers were omitted from the testing pool between April 2024 and November 2024. Those employees conducted safety-sensitive functions during untested periods.
Spring City Jet faces similar allegations, with the lapse potentially spanning multiple months. The FAA’s notice provides the company 30 days from receipt of the enforcement letter to respond, contest the findings, or pursue informal resolution. If upheld, the operator must implement corrective measures, such as updated policies and independent audits.
FAA regulations emphasize strict compliance to ensure aviation safety, with penalties scaled to violation severity. Past actions, like the $83,000 fine against AirMed International in 2020 for hiring 21 untested employees, underscore the agency’s focus on testing program integrity.