Order 98-1-27 - Florida West International Airways, Inc.

Order 98-1-27

Florida West International Airways, Inc. (Renewal of Certificate Authority, Exemption Authority and Frequency Allocations)

Order 97-1-27 | OST-97-2646 | OST-97-2648 | Issued January 26, 1998 | Served January 27, 1998

Order Renewing Certificate and Exemption Authority

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By this order, we find that Florida West International Airways, Inc. (FWIA) continues to be fit, willing, and able to provide interstate and foreign scheduled all-cargo air transportation, and we renew its certificate and exemption authority.

Mansour Rasnavad, the carrier's majority shareholder and its then-Chairman had been the Chief Executive Officer of Buffalo Airways, another certificated air carrier, during a time when that carrier's compliance with FAA regulations and the Department's Form 41 reporting requirements was deteriorating. Our concerns were exacerbated by what appeared to be an evasiveness on the part of Mr. Rasnavad concerning his involvement with Farhad Azima, Buffalo's owner and a long-time associate of Mr. Rasnavad's. Prior to our tentatively finding FWIA fit in Order 9-6-19, however, FWIA advised us that Mr. Rasnavad intended to divest himself of all, or most, of his interest in FWIA.

After carefully considering the supplementary information he had provided, we advised Mr. Rasnavad by letter dated July 3, 1997, that it was our tentative view that his past performance at Buffalo did not reflect an unsatisfactory compliance disposition on his part. As a result, at that time, we noted that we had no objection to Mr. Rasnavad's voting his stock and serving on FWIA's Board pending a decision in the instant renewal proceeding. We remain of that view and will not impose any restrictions on Mr. Rasnavad's financial or directorial involvement with FWIA at this time.

Certificates | Attachment - Service List

By: Charles Hunnicutt