LEA is now permitted to charter and operate unrestricted commercial flights between the European Union and the US.

Chris Watson, commercial manager, LEA, says: “As part of the Luxaviation Group, we are seeing increased demand for transatlantic charter flights. Achieving this status is a reflection of LEA’s continued dedication to operational excellence and means the team can continue to offer clients an unrivalled quality of service, wherever they need to fly to.”

In addition to obtaining Part 129 status, LEA has also been awarded Electronic Flight Bag (EFB) approval. Using iPads to house electronic information, LEA’s flight crews can perform flight management tasks more easily and efficiently whilst also having instant access to weighty documents such as aircraft flight manuals, flight crew manuals and navigation charts and maps.

Karl Ratcliffe, director of flight operations, LEA, says: “In just one year, LEA has succeeded in attaining EFB approval, enhancing safety and allowing for the updating of information at the touch of a button. The result of condensing approximately 40kg of aircraft manuals into an iPad also offers a significant payload advantage for smaller aircraft and reduces LEA’s carbon footprint.”

Part 129 is a set of operational rules that apply safety standards to foreign operators who fall within the jurisdiction of the FAA and a comparable Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) of another country. For operators wishing to fly within US jurisdiction, they must first ensure their aircraft comply with FAA requirements.