Some pilot training courses have been temporarily halted at Polk State College as the vendor providing portions of the aerospace program coursework had its certificate suspended by the Federal Aviation Administration.
“Sunrise Aviation is suspending all (FAA) Part 141 flight training for the Instrument Rating and Commercial Pilot certification until further notice,” Maria Jodoin, coordinator for the college’s aerospace program, wrote in a May 20 email to students.
Ian Gregor, public affairs specialist with the FAA, would not speak about the suspension. But in an email, he said, “Speaking generally and not in relation to any specific case: Companies can generally get their suspended certificates back when they fix the issue(s) that led to the suspension. The timeframe depends on how long it takes the company to fix the issue(s).”
What happened with Sunrise?
In a letter obtained, which Sunrise had shared with Polk State College, the FAA said the company had gone more than 60 days without a chief flight instructor and candidates for the position who were interviewed by the FAA were unprepared for the position.
“During the oral portion of the checks, several discrepancies were discovered,” the FAA letter said. “Some discrepancies relate to the entire operation of Sunrise Aviation, while others were deficiencies presented by both Chief Instructor candidates.”
The FAA met with two candidates for the chief flight instructor position on May 13 in Lakeland, but they failed to pass questions related to safety and the curriculum to be taught, the letter said. The next day marked a 60-day period without a chief instructor so the company had to forfeit its certificate.
Concerning safety procedures, the letter said: “There were three copies of Safety Practices and Procedures, one for each location, and procedures contained within varied from location to location. Neither Chief Instructor candidate was knowledgeable regarding the contents of the documents for the locations other than Lakeland.”
With regard to what the candidates would be teaching in the approved training course, “Neither Chief Instructor candidate was aware of all the courses which Sunrise Aviation (FPQS) holds approval for. Therefore, they were unable to demonstrate the objectives and approved course completion standards for the courses they seek to obtain designation of.”
According to FAA Part 141 regulations, a flight school “must, after 60 days without a chief instructor, cease operations and surrender its certificate to the Administrator; this office requests you immediately cease 141 operations and place your 141 Air Agency Certificate of deposit until you are able to comply.”
The FAA can reinstate its certificate once the discrepancies have been addressed and a chief instructor can be approved, the letter said.
In state records, Sunrise Aviation Inc. is run by Devon Dorato and Jeff Lefever at Ormond Beach Airport. The letter from the FAA was addressed to Lefever, president of Sunrise.
The company was first incorporated in 2002. The company’s website shows it operates out of two other airports in Florida — in Lakeland and Jacksonville. Pilot training in Jacksonville is through Florida State College.
The Sunrise Flight Academy website says since 1983 it has trained professional pilots from more than 50 countries and has “one of the best safety records in the industry.” The website also displays several aircraft painted with the words, Polk State College, on the side.
What can students do?
In her letter to students, Jodoin said “other courses, including Private Pilot, Certified Flight Instructor (CFI), and Multi-Engine, will continue without interruption.”
“We are currently working on developing a plan to resume the Instrument and Commercial training as soon as possible,” she said. “Updates will be provided regularly, and we encourage students to stay in close contact with their instructors and the Aerospace office for the latest information.”
Madison Fantozzi, associate vice president of communications at Polk State, told us in an email Wednesday that immediate action was taken by the college to secure a “secondary flight training provider to ensure that flight training will resume as soon as possible.”
She said 71 students from the spring and summer semesters have been affected because the courses cannot be offered.
Students taking the impacted courses are being provided other options, including full refunds, an extension to complete program requirements and a means to address incomplete grades, Fantozzi said.
“Safety remains a top priority and there is no indication from the FAA notice that students or instructors were at risk,” Fantozzi said.