Title 14—Aeronautics and Space--Volume 1
PART 372—OVERSEAS MILITARY PERSONNEL CHARTERS
§ 372.1   Applicability.
This part establishes the terms and conditions governing the furnishing of overseas military personnel charters in air transportation by direct air carriers or foreign air carriers and by overseas military charter operators. This part also relieves charter operators from the provisions of section 41102 of Title 49 of the United States Code (“the Statute”), for the purpose of enabling them to provide overseas military personnel charters utilizing aircraft chartered from such direct air carriers or foreign air carriers. Nothing contained in this part shall be construed as repealing or amending any provisions of any of the Department's regulations, unless the context so requires.
§ 372.2   Definitions.
As used in this part, unless the context otherwise requires:
Charter means overseas military personnel charter.
Charter operator means overseas military personnel charter operator.
Charter participant means a member of the overseas military personnel charter group.
Charter price means the total amount of money paid by the charter participant to the charter operator for air transportation.
Immediate family means only the following persons: the spouse, children, parents, parents of the spouse, children of the parents, and children of the parents of the spouse of (1) military personnel on active duty with the United States Armed Forces (including Coast Guard) stationed outside the contiguous states of the United States and the District of Columbia, and (2) civilian employees of the Department of Defense who are citizens of the United States and are stationed in a foreign country, or in a U.S. territory or possession, where U.S. military personnel are stationed.
Overseas military personnel charter means a charter, either one-way or round-trip, limited to military personnel on active duty with the U.S. Armed Forces (including the Coast Guard), stationed outside the 48 contiguous States of the United States and the District of Columbia, and/or civilian employees of the Department of Defense who are citizens of the United States and are stationed in a foreign country, or in a U.S. territory or possession, where such U.S. military personnel are stationed, and/or the immediate families of the foregoing persons, where the following conditions are met: (a) All military personnel and civilian employees of the Department of Defense participating in the charter are on official furlough, leave, pass, or other authorized absence from duty, and (b) the transportation is between a place in the 48 contiguous States of the United States or the District of Columbia and a place in Alaska, Hawaii, or a territory or possession of the United States, or a foreign country in which military personnel of the United States are stationed: Provided, however, That nothing contained herein shall preclude an overseas military personnel charter operator from utilizing any unused space on an aircraft chartered by it pursuant to this part for the transportation, on a free or reduced-rate basis, of such charter operator's employees, directors, and officers, and the parents and immediate families of such persons, subject to the provisions of part 223 of this chapter.
Overseas military personnel charter operator means any citizen of the United States, as defined in section 40102(a)(15) of 49 U.S.C. Subtitle VII authorized hereunder to engage in the formation of overseas military personnel charter groups and who complies with the provisions of this part.
Person means any individual, firm, association, partnership, or corporation.
§ 372.3   Waiver.
A waiver of any of the provisions of this part may be granted by the Department upon its own initiative, or upon the submission by a charter operator of a written request therefor: Provided, That such a waiver is in the public interest and it appears to the Department that special or unusual circumstances warrant a departure from the provisions set forth herein.
§ 372.4   Enforcement.
In case of any violation of the provisions of 49 U.S.C. Subtitle VII, or this part, or any other rule, regulation, or order issued under the Statute, the violator may be subject to a proceeding pursuant to section 46101 of 49 U.S.C. Subtitle VII before the Department, or sections 46106 through 46108 of 49 U.S.C. Subtitle VII before a U.S. district court, as the case may be, to compel compliance therewith, to civil penalties pursuant to the provisions of section 46301 of 49 U.S.C. Subtitle VII, or in the case of willful violation, to criminal penalties pursuant to the provisions of section 46316 of 49 U.S.C. Subtitle VII; or other lawful sanctions.
§ 372.5   Suspension or revocation of authority.
The Department reserves the power to suspend the authority of any charter operator, without hearing, if it finds that such action is necessary in order to protect the rights of the traveling public, or to revoke such authority for cause.
§ 372.10   Exemption.
Charter operators are hereby relieved from the provisions of section 41102 of 49 U.S.C. Subtitle VII only if and so long as they comply with the provisions of this part and the conditions imposed herein, and to the extent necessary to permit them to organize and arrange overseas military personnel charters.
§ 372.20   Requirement of operating authorization.
No person shall engage in air transportation as an overseas military personnel charter operator by organizing, providing, selling, or offering to sell, soliciting, or advertising an overseas military personnel charter or charters unless there is in force an operating authorization issued pursuant to § 372.31 authorizing such person to engage in such transportation.
§ 372.21   Solicitation.
Solicitation of charter participants through advertising by charter operators shall be restricted to the following:
(a) Radio and television stations operated by the U.S. Armed Forces;
(b) Newspapers, periodicals, or other printed media disseminated and distributed primarily among military personnel or civilian employees of the Department of Defense: Provided, however, That any printed advertisement of a charter operator shall include a statement explaining that eligibility for participation in such charters is limited to military servicemen who are stationed outside of the 48 contiguous States and the District of Columbia, and/or U.S. citizen civilian DOD employees who are stationed in a foreign country, or a U.S. territory or possession, where U.S. military personnel are stationed, and their respective immediate families.
§ 372.22   Discrimination.
No charter operator shall make, give, or cause any undue or unreasonable preference or advantage to any particular person, port, locality, or description of traffic in air transportation in any respect whatsoever or subject any particular person, port, locality, or description of traffic in air transportation to any unjust discrimination or any undue or unreasonable prejudice or disadvantage in any respect whatsoever.
§ 372.23   Methods of competition.
No charter operator shall engage in unfair or deceptive practices or unfair methods of competition in air transportation or the sale thereof.
§ 372.24   Surety bond, depository agreement, escrow agreement.
(a) Before selling or offering to sell, soliciting or advertising any charter flight, a charter operator shall comply with one of the three following requirements:
(1) The charter operator shall furnish a surety bond in an amount not less than the maximum fare held out for charter flights proposed to be operated during each calendar month multiplied by 90 percent of the number of available seats on such flights: Provided, however, That the liability of the surety to any charter participant shall not exceed the charter operator's applicable tariff fare. Such bond shall be filed with the Department not less than 45 days prior to the commencement of the calendar month covered by the bond together with a list of flights proposed to be operated during the month showing charter price, departure dates, equipment to be used for each flight and the seating capacity: Provided, however, That the amount of the bond shall be increased if additional charter flights are proposed or may be reduced if proposed charter flights are canceled, in which event a substitute bond and amended list of proposed flights shall be filed with the Department within 10 days of the date that the charter operator adds flights or cancels flights previously proposed, but in no event later than 2 days prior to the operation of any such additional charter flights; or
(2) The charter operator shall:
(i) Furnish and file with the Department a surety bond in the amount of $100,000 for the protection of the charter participants: Provided, however, That the liability of the surety to any charter participant shall not exceed the charter operator's applicable tariff fare; and
(ii) Enter into an agreement with a bank, the terms of which shall include the following:
( a ) Each participant shall pay for his deposit and subsequent payments comprising the charter participant's tariff fare only by check or money order payable to such bank which shall maintain a separate accounting for each flight: Provided, however, That if the participant makes a cash deposit, the charter operator who receives such cash deposit shall forthwith remit to the designated bank a check for the full amount of the deposit;
( b ) The bank shall not pay the air carrier or foreign air carrier the charter price for the transportation earlier than 60 days (including day of departure) prior to the scheduled day of departure of the originating or returning flight, upon certification of the departure date and price by the charter operator;
( c ) The bank shall reimburse the charter operator for refunds made by the latter to the participants upon written notification from the charter operator;
( d ) If the charter operator notifies the bank that a flight has been canceled, the bank shall make the applicable refunds directly to the participants;
( e ) Except as provided in paragraph (a)(2)(ii)( c ) of this section, the bank shall not pay any funds from the account to the charter operator prior to 2 banking days after completion of each flight when the balance in the account shall be paid to the charter operator upon certification of the completion date by the charter operator and direct air carrier;
( f ) Notwithstanding any provisions above, the amount of total cash deposits required to be maintained in the depository account of the bank may be reduced by one or both of the following: The amount of surety bond in the form prescribed herein in excess of the minimum bond required by paragraph (a)(2)(i) of this section; an escrow with the designated bank of Federal, State, or municipal bonds or other securities, consisting of certificates of deposit issued by banks having a stated policy of redeeming such certificates before maturity at the request of the holder (subject only to such interest penalties or other conditions as may be required by law), or negotiable securities which are publicly traded on a securities exchange, all such securities to be made payable to the escrow account: Provided, That such other securities shall be substituted in an amount no greater than 80 percent of the total market value of the escrow account at the time of such substitution: And provided, further, That should the market value of such other securities subsequently decrease, from time to time, then additional cash or securities qualified for investment hereunder shall promptly be added to the escrow account, in an amount equal to the amount of such decreased value; or
(3) The charter operator shall:
(i) Furnish and file with the Department a surety bond in the amount of $100,000 for the protection of the charter participants: Provided, however, That the liability of the surety to any charter participant shall not exceed the charter operator's applicable tariff fare; and
(ii) Enter into an agreement with a bank, the terms of which shall include the following:
( a ) Whenever the gross amount of customers' deposits exceeds 25 percent of the charter operator's net worth, as computed under generally accepted accounting principles, the charter operator shall, on or before the 30th day of the succeeding month, place in escrow or in trust with the bank cash in an amount at least equal to the amount by which such deposits exceed 25 percent of its net worth: Provided, That negotiable securities may be substituted for cash, but the market value thereof shall at all times be not less than the amount of cash for which they are substituted;
( b ) The escrow agreement or the trust agreement between the bank and the operator shall not be effective until approved by the Department. Claims against the escrow or trust may be made only with respect to the nonperformance of air transportation.
(b) As used in this section, the term bank means a bank insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation.
(c) Any bond furnished under this section shall insure the financial responsibility of the charter operator and the supplying of the air transportation in accordance with the contract between the charter operator and the charter participants, and shall be in the form set forth as appendix A to this part. Such bond shall be issued by a bonding or surety company (1) whose surety bonds are accepted by the Interstate Commerce Commission under 49 CFR 1084.6; or (2) which is listed in Best's Insurance Reports (fire and casualty) with a general policyholders' rating of “A” or better. The bonding or surety company shall be one legally authorized to issue bonds of that type in the State in which the charter originates or in which the charter operator is incorporated. For purposes of this section, the term “State” includes any territory or possession of the United States, or the District of Columbia. The bond shall be specifically identified by the issuing surety with a company bond numbering system so that the Department may identify the bond with the specific charter or charters to which it relates: Provided, however, That these data may be set forth in an addendum attached to the bond which addendum must be signed by the charter operator and the surety company. It shall be effective on or before the date the operating authorization becomes effective. If the bond does not comply with the requirements of this section, or for any reason fails to provide satisfactory or adequate protection for the public, the Department will notify the direct air carrier and the charter operator, by registered or certified mail, stating the deficiencies of the bond. Unless such deficiencies are corrected within the time set forth in such notification, the subject charters shall in no event be operated.
(d) Any bond furnished under this section shall provide that unless the charter participant files a claim with the charter operator, or, if he is unavailable, with the surety, within sixty (60) days after termination of the charter, the surety shall be released from all liability under the bond to such charter participant. The contract between the charter operator and the charter participants shall contain notice of this provision.
§ 372.25   Tariffs to be filed for charter trips.
Effective October 1, 1972, a charter operator shall not operate or sell or offer to sell, solicit or advertise, any charter trips unless such operator shall have on file with the Department a currently effective tariff showing all rates, fares, and charges for such charter trips and showing the rules, regulations, practices, and services in connection with such transportation.
§ 372.26   [Reserved]
§ 372.27   Name of operator.
It shall be an express condition upon the exercise of the exemption herein granted and the operating authorizations issued hereunder, that the charter operator concerned, in holding out to the public and performing air transportation services, shall do so only in a name the use of which is authorized under the provisions of part 215 of this chapter.
§ 372.28   Record retention.1
1 Whoever, in any matter within the jurisdiction of any department or agency of the United States knowingly and willfully falsifies, conceals, or covers up by any trick, scheme, or device, a material fact, or makes any false, fictitious, or fraudulent statements or representations, or makes or uses any false writing of document knowing the same to contain any false, fictitious, or fraudulent statement or entry, shall be fined not more than $10,000 or imprisoned not more than 5 years, or both. Title 18, U.S.C. sec. 1001.
(a) Every charter operator conducting a charter pursuant to this part shall retain for 2 years after completion of the charter or series of charters true copies of the following documents at its principal or general office in the United States:
(1) All documents which evidence or reflect deposits made by, and refunds made to, each charter participant;
(2) All statements, invoices, bills, and receipts from suppliers or furnishers of goods and services in connection with the charter or series of charters.
(b) Every charter operator shall make the documents listed in this section available upon request by an authorized representative of the Department and shall permit such representative to make such notes and copies thereof as he deems appropriate.
§ 372.30   Application.
(a) Application. Any person desiring to operate as an overseas military personnel charter operator may apply to the Department for an appropriate operating authorization. Contact the Office of International Aviation, Special Authorities Division, for filing instructions. The application shall be certified by a responsible official of such person and shall contain the following information:
(1) Date;
(2) Name of applicant, trade names, and name in which authorization is to be issued;
(3) Address of principal office and mailing address;
(4) Form of organization ( i.e. , corporation, partnership, etc.), State under whose laws company is authorized to operate and date company was formed;
(5) A list containing the names of each officer, director, partner, owner, or member of applicant, and holder of more than 5 percent of outstanding stock if a corporation, or owner of more than a 5-percent interest if other than a corporation; an indication as to whether or not 75 percent or more of the voting interest is owned or controlled by citizens of the United States or one of its possessions; if more than 5 percent of applicant's stock is held by a corporation, an indication must be made as to whether or not 75 percent or more of the voting interest in such corporation is owned or controlled by citizens of the United States or one of its possessions;
(6) A description of current business activities and of former business experience in, or related to, the transportation field;
(7) Description of operating authority granted applicant by agencies of the U.S. Government (such as customs broker, surface or air freight forwarder, motor carrier, ocean freight forwarder, etc.), and, if applicable, reasons for revocation or other termination;
(8) List of names of the officers, owners, etc., of applicants who have at any time applied for any type of authority or registration from the Civil Aeronautics Board or the Department of Transportation and, if applicable, reasons for revocation or other termination;
(9) List of officers, owners, etc., of applicants who have at any time been employed by or associated with any air carrier authorized to operate by the Civil Aeronautics Board or the Department of Transportation indicating dates of employment and capacity in which employed;
(10) Any additional information in support of application;
(11) Balance sheet as of a date not more than 3 months prior to application and profit and loss statement for the full year ending as of date of balance sheet;
(12) Brief account of any arrangement by which applicant will have available financial sources and facilities of other companies or individuals;
(13) The charter operator's surety bond and, where applicable, a copy of the depository, escrow or trust agreement with a bank as provided in § 372.24. 2
2 The surety bond and, where applicable, a copy of the depository escrow, or trust agreement with the bank should not be filed with the Department until the applicant is notified by the Department to do so.
(b) Additional information. The applicant shall also submit such other additional information pertinent to its proposed activities as may be requested by the Department with respect to any individual application.
§ 372.31   Issuance.
(a) If, after the filing of an application for an operating authorization, it appears that the applicant is capable of performing the air transportation authorized by this part as an overseas military personnel charter operator and of conforming to the provisions of the Act and all rules and requirements thereunder, and that the conduct of such operations by the applicant will not be inconsistent with the public interest, the applicant will be notified by letter. Such notification will advise the applicant that, upon the filing of a valid tariff pursuant to § 372.25, an operating authorization will be issued to the applicant.
(b) If, after the filing of an application for an operating authorization, it appears that the applicant has not made a due showing of capability or that the conduct of operations by the applicant might otherwise be inconsistent with the public interest, the Department shall by letter notify the applicant of its findings to that effect. The Department may dismiss any such application unless within 30 days of the date of the mailing of such letter, the applicant has in writing requested reconsideration and submitted such additional information as it believes will make the necessary showing, or requested that the application be assigned for hearing, in which case the applicant shall outline the evidence to be presented at such hearing and shall show the need for hearing in order properly to present its case.
(c) In the event that reconsideration or hearing is requested, the Department may, without notice or hearing, enter an order of approval or of disapproval in accordance without notice or hearing, enter an order of approval or of disapproval in accordance with its determination of the public interest upon the showing made, or on its own initiative may assign the application for hearing.
§ 372.32   Effective period.
Each operating authorization shall be effective upon the date specified therein, and shall continue in effect, unless sooner suspended or revoked, during such period as the authority provided by this part shall remain in effect, or if issued for a limited period of time, shall continue in effect until the expiration thereof unless sooner suspended or revoked.
§ 372.33   Nontransferability.
(a) An operating authorization shall be nontransferable and shall be effective only with respect to the person named therein or his successor by operation of law, subject to the provisions of this section. The following persons may temporarily continue operations under an operating authorization issued in the name of another person, for a maximum period of 6 months from the effective date of succession, by giving written notice of such succession to the Department within 60 days after the succession:
(1) Administrators or executors of deceased persons;
(2) Guardians of incapacitated persons;
(3) Surviving partner or partners collectively of dissolved partnerships; and
(4) Trustees, receivers, conservators, assignees, or other such persons who are authorized by law to collect and preserve the property of financially disabled persons.
(b) All operations by successors, as above authorized, shall be performed in the name or names of the prior holder of the operating authorization and the name of the successor, whose capacity shall also be designated. Any successor desiring to continue operations after the expiration of the 6-month period above authorized must file an application for a new operating authorization within 120 days after such succession. If a timely application is filed, such successor may continue operations until final disposition of the application by the Department.