The United States Federal Aviation Administration - FAA revoked Part 135 air carrier certificate #T8VA299J of Starflite Aviation (Texas) (Houston Hobby) through an emergency order on February 27, alleging that company management knowingly falsified pilot training records over a five-year period.
According to the FAA, between November 2019 and November 2024, Starflite Aviation management personnel made numerous false entries in the training records of at least 10 pilots, including the chief pilot.
The agency alleges that rides and competency checks were recorded as having been conducted in various aircraft when, in fact, those events never occurred. As a result, the FAA claims the Part 135 operator used unqualified pilots on at least 170 flights.
Beyond the falsified records, the FAA stated that Starflite Aviation lacked the qualified management personnel necessary to ensure safe operations. The emergency order says that the company's conduct “demonstrates a disregard for the safety of the flying public.”
The FAA's most recent data indicate that Starflite Aviation's Part 135 certificate comprised a single 1977-built PA-31 Piper (twin piston), N713WT (msn 31-7752138). The aircraft completed 14 flights during 2025, the latest on December 7, operating a roundtrip between Houston Hobby, where it remains parked, and New Iberia.
Starflite Aviation's website displays the message “This site is under construction.” ch-aviation has contacted the company for comment.
In early 2025, Starflite Aviation's Part 135-certified fleet included 10 additional aircraft, namely a Learjet 45, two Citation IIIs, two GIVs, two GIV-SPs, a GIV-G400, a GV, and a King Air B200 Beech (twin turboprop).
Of the two 1984-built Citation IIIs, N650SF (msn 650-0034) has been acquired by aircraft parts specialist BAS Part Sales, while N651SF (msn 650-0063) is now under the Part 135 certificate of ETC Jets. The latter also added the 1978-built King Air B200 N378SF (msn BB-378), previously operated by Starflite Aviation.
Both aircraft joined another Citation III and another King Air B200 in ETC Jets' Part 135-certified fleet, which further includes a Citation I/SP and a newly inducted Citation X.
One of Starflite Aviation's former GIVs, 1987-built N400SF (msn 1026), is now the sole aircraft on the Part 135 certificate of Stebbins Aviation, where it replaced a GIV-SP retired in late 2024 and following the retirement of a Citation Mustang. The 22.1-year-old GIV-G400 has joined the charter fleet of Jet Linx Aviation, while the 1999-built GV N563BB (msn 563) operates under the Part 135 certificate of Business Jet Services.
The remaining aircraft previously operated by Starflite Aviation, which include the 24.5-year-old Learjet 45 N345FM (msn 45-151), the 1992-built GIV N570DC (msn 1185), and the GIV-SPs N300SF (msn 1250) and N551CB (msn 1449), aged 30.5 and 24 years, respectively, are not currently listed as Part 135-certified. All remain active and stationed at Houston Hobby.
