NTSB Issues Safety Recommendation to FAA Regarding Part 135 Load Manifest Requirements

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has issued safety recommendation A-15-029, identified by reference number DCA13MA121, addressed directly to the Federal Aviation Administration. This recommendation calls for a significant expansion of the applicability of recordkeeping requirements currently found in 14 Code of Federal Regulations 135.63(c). The NTSB urges the FAA to extend these regulations to all Part 135 operations, explicitly including single-engine operations. The proposed changes would require operators to prepare an accurate load manifest that provides evidence that aircraft are within approved center of gravity limits for each flight. Additionally, the recommendation mandates the inclusion of a copy of this documentation on board the aircraft for every flight. Finally, it requires the preservation of a copy of this documentation for at least 30 days after the flight concludes.