Aviation Law Center

Representing airmen, aircraft owners and operators, commercial operators, FBOs, airlines, flight schools, aviation departments, repair stations, and airplane brokers in all regulatory and transactional aviation legal and business matters.

FAA Enforcement Proceedings
Airline start-ups and certifications
Aircraft purchases, sales and leases
Airport Agreements
Exports
Repair Station Certifications
Aviation business combinations, sales and aquisitions
Representation before FAA, DOT, NTSB, Customs

PHILOSOPHY OF THE FIRM

Aviation Law Center, based in Williamsburg, Virginia (in close proximity to federal government offices in Washington, D.C.) focuses its efforts in a variety of aviation and aviation/business related matters. The firm's goal is to provide legal services of the highest caliber and professional standards. Aviation Law Center assists clients throughout the United States, as well as Canada, Europe and Africa.

THE FIRM'S PRACTICE AREAS

Aviation Law Center's practice encompasses virtually every aspect of aviation regulatory and transactional law. Over the years the firm has represented individual airlines in a wide variety of matters. The airlines represented include established carriers and new entrants, U.S. and foreign, scheduled and charter. The firm also represents other aviation-related businesses, including travel agents, tour operators, air freight forward-ers and air freight agents, fixed base operators, flight training companies, manufacturers and other vendors, and financial institutions (including credit card companies), leasing companies and other aircraft lessors and lessees).

Although many matters handled by the firm involve several legal disciplines, its principal area of expertise within the aviation field are highlighted in the following skills summary.

Regulatory & Administrative Matters

The firm regularly practices before a variety of federal administrative agencies having jurisdiction over avia-tion-related matters. The firm handles all forms of licensing issues for U.S. and foreign clients before the U.S. Departments of Transportation, State and Commerce, and the Federal Aviation Administration. The firm regularly advises clients on matters involving acquisition of control of air carriers in compliance with the citizenship and control requirements of the federal aviation laws. The firm also handles a variety of complaint and enforcement matters before the National Transportation Safety Board, the Department of Transportation and the FAA..

Corporate Matters

Aviation Law Center handles the full range of corporate matters, including those related to the inauguration of air service and operation to/within the U.S. of foreign carriers. The firm advises clients on the estab-lishment of their operations, compliance with local requirements in connection with their qualification to do business, licensing, and other legal requirements incidental to the startup of service to and/or within the United States.

Commercial Transactions

Aviation Law Center is experienced in documenting and negotiating commercial transactions for its avia-tion and business clients. The firm represents clients in connection with the negotiation and documenta-tion of aircraft leases, aircraft sales agreements, charter contracts, various forms of joint operating agree-ments and aircraft financing documents. The firm also regularly serves as special aviation counsel in mat-ters involving the registration of aircraft and the recordation of security interests and other documents af-fecting title to aircraft with the Federal Aviation Administration and other documentary recording estab-lishments, and advises clients on matters relating to compliance with the citizenship requirements of the federal aviation laws and regulations.

Customs & Immigration Matters

Aviation Law Center is experienced in handling aviation-related customs and immigration problems. The firm advises clients regarding compliance with the various requirements of the immigration and customs laws of the United States, and represents airmen, aircraft owners and operators, and airlines in enforcement matters before the Customs Service and the Immigration and Naturalization Service.

Intellectual Property

Aviation Law Center represents clients in copyright and trademark matters. Representation ranges from advising clients prior to the development and use of a work or mark, to registration of the work or mark with the appropriate federal government agency.

Manufacture & Repair

Assist manufacturers, dealers and distributors with type certification ("TC") and supplemental type certification ("STC") of aviation products, with civil aviation authorities.
Questions dealing with repair stations, foreign repair stations, parts manufacturing authority ("PMA") and technical standard orders ("TSO's") will be researched and answered to a client's specific needs.
The firm advises clients on compliance with both U.S. and foreign laws and regulations in business transactions involving one or more of the above subjects.

Airworthiness and Registration

The firm advises clients on all elements of U.S. and foreign aircraft registration requirements, includ-ing aircraft title and lien issues. De-registration of aircraft from the U.S. registry, aircraft import and export, and registration on foreign registries are all matters handled by the firm.

Airports

Provide assistance to airport operators, tenants and users in all aspects of local, state and federal avia-tion laws and regulations.

Investigations & Enforcement

Serve as defense counsel for individuals and companies charged with violation of aviation-related laws and regulations. Representation includes informal negotiations with regulatory authorities, to formal trial proceedings and appeals before administrative and judicial tribunals.
Advise individuals and businesses involved in investigative proceedings before the FAA, DOT, NTSB, Customs and other governmental agencies responsible for enforcement of aviation laws and regulations.

Operations

Assist clients with all elements of air carrier certification under FAA and DOT regulations.
Furnish legal advice for all air carrier activities conducted under the FAA operating rules (Parts 91, 119, 121, 125, 129 and 135) as well as aviation activities conducted under other operating rules such as non-air carrier operations (Part 91), skydiving, ballooning, rotor craft and parachute pack-ing/maintenance.
Represent holders of FAA Airman certificates and air agency certificates in all matters dealing with civil aviation authorities.
Advise on operational considerations arising out of aircraft leasing, chartering, time sharing and other commercial arrangements.
Assist in obtaining flight school certification and visa-issuing authority.

Customs/Export/Re-export Issues

Advise, apply for approval and/or licenses from the Departments of Transportation, Defense, State and Commerce for the operation and export/re-export of aircraft, parts, munitions, etc.
Provide advice regarding Customs Service requirements.

Commercial Transactions

The firm has assisted and advised clients in a variety of aviation-related commercial transactions, such as
Finance Leases
Sale/Lease-backs
Operating Leases
Export Finance
Sales Transactions
Business Combinations

An additional asset which Aviation Law Center brings to the table in every aircraft transaction is an extensive knowledge of and background in aviation regulatory matters. Often, the aviation policies of the U.S. and other governments on particular aviation issues (i.e. citizenship requirements, foreign control, wet/dry aircraft leases, slot transferability, noise standards, or aging aircraft) will have a critical bearing on aircraft transactions.

Please contact Aviation Law Center for a no-cost evaluation of your legal needs.

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Contacting Aviation Law Center

Aviation Law Center
295 McLaws Circle, Suite One.
Williamsburg, VA 23185 U.S.A.
Tel.: 757.229.0557
Fax: 757.220.5818
email: AVLAWUSA@aol.com