FAA proposes $15.7M penalty for Aery Aviation over unapproved Learjet banner- and target-tow modifications

The FAA alleges Newport News, Virginia–based Aery Aviation installed banner- and target-tow equipment on multiple Learjets without performing required maintenance or preserving required documentation, operating aircraft the agency says were potentially unairworthy. The FAA has proposed a $15.7 million civil penalty.

Discovered 2025-12-22T09:19:10.939807-08:00 | 2025-12-22T09:19:10.939807-08:00

Briefing

What Hype is tracking

The FAA’s proposed $15.7M civil penalty is a large enforcement action that follows other notable regulatory fines, including a recent $3.1M proposed penalty for Boeing, highlighting elevated financial and compliance risk for operators.
The FAA alleges unapproved modifications and missing maintenance records on Learjets used for banner- and target-tow ops; the agency says those omissions rendered the aircraft potentially unairworthy, raising immediate safety and operational concerns.
This enforcement coincides with contracting pressure on Aery — the GAO recently denied Aery Aviation’s protest of a U.S. Navy contract award — creating overlapping regulatory and contractual implications for the company.

Reported By

ch-aviation GlobalAir.com AINonline aerotelegraph.com airnewstimes.com FAA