Originally Posted by
av8rrob
EMPLOYEE BULLETIN NO. 17
CO AND UA SET PATH FOR OBTAINING A SINGLE FAA OPERATING CERTIFICATE
CO and United Airlines (UA) have agreed on a path to obtain a single operating certificate from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). This is a long-term process that will follow a series of steps to be outlined in a transition plan to be submitted to the FAA later this month.
Currently, the following separate operating certificates exist among the carriers:
Continental Airlines - Part 121 Air Carrier Operating Certificate
Continental Airlines - Part 145 Repair Station Certificate
Continental Micronesia - Part 121 Air Carrier Operating Certificate
United Airlines - Part 121 Air Carrier Operating Certificate
United Airlines - Part 145 Repair Station Certificate
The carriers have decided on the following steps to integrate the certificates that will ultimately result in one Part 121 certificate and one Part 145 certificate. All of this activity is expected to occur in the months following legal closing on Oct. 1:
First, the Continental Micronesia (CMI) Part 121 operation will be combined with the CO Part 121 operation, resulting in a single Part 121 operating certificate. This will simplify the later certificate integration steps between CO and UA.
Second, the UA Part 121 operation will be combined with the CO Part 121 operation, resulting in a single Part 121 operating certificate. Ultimately, all air carrier operations for the merged airline will be conducted under the authority of this certificate.
CO’s Part 145 Repair Station activities will be combined with UA’s Part 145 activities, resulting in a single Part 145 certificate. Ultimately, all repair station activities for the merged airline will be conducted under the authority of this certificate.
Both the UA and CO certificates contain unique attributes that will be preserved following integration. CO’s Part 121 Certificate has enhanced technology authorizations and close conformity to current FAA standard language. UA’s Part 145 Repair Station Certificate enables increased maintenance capabilities, enhanced repair station authorizations and more maintenance volume when compared with CO’s 145 Certificate.
SINGLE OPERATING CERTIFICATE Q&A
What is a Part 121 operating certificate?
A Part 121 operating certificate is an airline’s authorization to conduct operations in accordance with its FAA-approved operations specifications (OpSpecs). OpSpecs include, for example, the airline’s specific authorizations, limitations, standards and procedures necessary to ensure safety and regulatory compliance for flight and ground operations.
What steps will occur in the process to obtain a Single Operating Certificate (SOC)?
This month, United (UA) and Continental (CO) will jointly submit a transition plan to the FAA. This plan will outline all the steps necessary to integrate our operations safely.
Based on FAA approval of the transition plan, we will have a logical and detailed framework for conducting all the integration steps in the correct order.
Adhering to the transition plan, UA and CO will harmonize thousands of technical and operations programs currently in effect at the two airlines. Training will be accomplished so that employees who are affected by a particular program understand how it will function at the combined airline. Finally, implementation of changes will occur in the operating environments (aircraft, hangars, terminal operations, etc.).
Once the required steps have been completed, the FAA will issue the SOC. Certain processes and procedures may remain separate (or parallel) after issuance of the SOC, pending final integration.
Does the plan to obtain an SOC affect any of the other decisions announced up to this point (for example, the United Airlines name, the Continental Airlines logo and livery, Chicago headquarters, etc.)?
No. The certificate plan is consistent with all merger-related decisions.
Which FAA offices will oversee our compliance with safety regulations at the combined carrier?
Currently, the FAA oversight teams assigned to UA and CO are concentrated in Houston, Denver and San Francisco. While there could be some changes in the FAA structure to accommodate Chicago (as well as other locations), these decisions on how best to locate and resource FAA staff will be made independently by the FAA. During the transition, we don't expect to see many, if any, personnel changes on behalf of the FAA.