Order 2013-2-15

Served: February 14, 2013

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY

WASHINGTON, D.C.

Issued by the Department of Transportation

on the 14th day of February, 2013 

Fitness Determination of

STAR MARIANAS AIR, INC.

as a commuter air carrier under section 49 U.S.C. § 41738

 Docket DOT-OST-2010-0235

ORDER CONFIRMING ACTION AND

ISSUING EFFECTIVE COMMUTER AUTHORIZATION

Summary

By this order, we (1) confirm our action of February 6, 2013, making the authority of Star 

Marianas Air, Inc. (“Star”), effective on that date, and (2) reissue Star’s commuter air carrier 

authorization to reflect its effective date. 

Background

By Order 2012-7-37 issued July 31, 2012, the Department found Star fit to conduct scheduled 

passenger service as a commuter air carrier. Under the terms of that order, the authority would 

become effective on the sixth business day after we had received (1) a copy of the air carrier’s 

Air Carrier Certificate and Operation Specifications from the Federal Aviation Administration

(“FAA”) authorizing it to engage in scheduled passenger service, (2) evidence of liability 

insurance coverage that meets the requirements of section 205.5(b) for all its aircraft, (3) a 

statement of any changes it had undergone in areas affecting its fitness subsequent to the 

issuance date of the Show Cause Order in this case (Order 2012-7-21), and (4) updated financial 

information and evidence that the air carrier still had available to it funds sufficient to meet the 

Department’s financial fitness criteria.

Fitness Update

On November 7, 2012, Star advised us of several personnel changes. Specifically, Star notes 

that Mr. James Bell, Star’s Chief Pilot, replaced Mr. Robert Christian as the air carrier’s Director 

of Operations. However, Star states that Mr. Christian will remain a Board Member of Star. 

Subsequent to this, on January 29, 2013, Star provided to the Department the resume of its new 

Chief Pilot, Mr. James Mezzapeso. 

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
2

Mr. Mezzapeso, a citizen of the United States and a licensed Commercial Pilot, was named 

Star’s Chief Pilot in November 2012. He previously served as an Airline Captain with Star 

(December 2011-Present) and with Freedom Air (September 2007-December 2011); a Courier 

and Ramp Transport Driver for Federal Express (May 1996-May 2007); and a Flight School 

Lineman for Horizon Aviation (June 2000-February 2004). 

Additionally, on November 7, 2012, Star provided the Department a copy of Star’s Air Carrier 

Certificate and Operation Specifications, and on January 29, 2013, Star provided a copy of OST 

Form 6410 evidencing liability insurance meeting the requirements of 14 CFR 205.5(b), and 

third-party verification from Bank of Guam and Bank of Saipan showing that it has access to 

$650,646 on deposit, meeting the Department’s financial fitness requirements of approximately 

$548,139.

1

Other than those changes noted above, the air carrier states that it has undergone no substantial 

changes in ownership, key personnel, compliance history, operating plans or financial posture 

since the issuance of the Show Cause Order. 

Upon review of these documents, we concluded that Star remained fit to conduct its proposed 

commuter operations. Therefore, on February 6, 2013, we advised Star that we were making its 

commuter authority effective on that date. 

By this order, we confirm our action and reissue to Star its commuter air carrier authorization to 

reflect its effective date. 

ACCORDINGLY: Acting under authority assigned by the Department in its regulations, 

14 CFR 385.12:

1. We confirm our action of February 6, 2013, making the commuter authority issued to 

Star Marianas Air, Inc., effective on that date.

2. We reissue the Commuter Air Carrier Authorization issued to Star Marianas Air, Inc., by 

Order 2012-7-37, in the attached form to reflect its effective date.

3 We direct Star Marianas Air, Inc. to submit to the Air Carrier Fitness Division a first-year 

progress report within 45 days following the end of its first year of commuter operations.2

4. We will serve a copy of this order on the persons listed in Attachment A.

 

1 The $548,139 noted here is one-quarter of the applicant’s forecast of approximately $2.19 million in first year 

expenses. See Order 2012-7-21, at fn 4.

2 The report shall include a description of the air carrier’s current operations (number and type of aircraft, 

principal markets served, total number of full-time and part-time employees), a summary of how these operations 

have changed during the year, a discussion of any changes it anticipates from its current operations during its second 

year, current financial statements (including a balance sheet at the end of its first year of flight operations and a 12-

month income statement ending that same date), and a listing of current senior management and key technical 

personnel. The air carrier should also be prepared to meet with staff members of the Fitness Division to discuss its 

current and future operations.
3

Persons entitled to petition the Department for review of this order under the Department’s 

Regulations, 14 CFR 385.30, may file their petitions within 10 days of the service date of this 

order.

The action confirmed in this order was effective when taken and the filing of a petition for 

review shall not alter its effectiveness.

TODD M. HOMAN

Director

Office of Aviation Analysis

An electronic version of this document is available on the World Wide Web at:

http://www.regulations.gov
 

Commuter Air Carrier Authorization 

(as reissued)

This Certifies That

STAR MARIANAS AIR, INC.

is authorized, subject to the provisions of Subtitle VII of Title 49 of the United 

States Code, the orders, rules, and regulations issued thereunder, and the 

attached Terms, Conditions, and Limitations, to engage in scheduled passenger 

air transportation operations as a commuter air carrier.

This authorization is not transferable without the approval of the Department of 

Transportation.

 

 

By Direction of the Secretary

Issued by Order 2013-2-15 Todd M. Homan

On February 14, 2013 Director 

Effective February 6, 2013 Office of Aviation Analysis
 

Attachment

As reissued by Order 2013-2-15

Terms, Conditions, and Limitations

STAR MARIANAS AIR, INC.

is authorized to engage in scheduled passenger air transportation operations as a commuter air 

carrier.

This authority is subject to the following provisions:

(1) The holder shall at all times conduct its operations in accordance with the requirements of 14 

CFR Part 298 and any other regulations prescribed by the Department of Transportation for the 

services authorized here, and with such other reasonable terms, conditions, and limitations as the 

Department of Transportation may prescribe in the public interest.

(2) The holder may not operate aircraft designed to have a maximum passenger capacity of more 

than 60 seats or a maximum payload capacity of more than 18,000 pounds.

(3) The holder's authority under this certificate is effective only to the extent that such operations 

are also authorized by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), and comply with all U.S. 

Government requirements concerning security, including, but not limited to 49 CFR Part 1544.

(4) The holder shall at all times remain a "Citizen of the United States" as required by 49 U.S.C. 

40102(a)(15).

(5) The holder shall maintain in effect liability insurance coverage as required under 14 CFR Part 

205. Failure to maintain such insurance coverage will render this authority ineffective, and this or 

other failure to comply with the provisions of Subtitle VII of Title 49 of the United States Code or the 

Department's regulations shall be sufficient grounds to revoke this authority.

(6) The holder may reduce or terminate service at any point or between any two points, subject to 

compliance with the provisions of 49 U.S.C. 41734 and all orders and regulations issued by the 

Department of Transportation under that section.

(7) The holder may not provide scheduled passenger air transportation to or from Dallas (Love 

Field), Texas, except within the limits set forth in section 29 of the International Air Transportation 

Competition Act of 1979, as amended or as modified by any future legislation addressing access 

restrictions to or from Love Field.

 

 This authority is being reissued to reflect its effective date.

 To assure compliance with all applicable U.S. Government requirements concerning security, the holder 

shall, before commencing any new service (including charter flights) to or from a foreign airport, contact its 

Principal Security Inspector (PSI) to advise the PSI of its plans and to find out whether the Transportation 

Security Administration has determined that security is adequate to allow such airport(s) to be served.
2

(8) Should the holder propose any substantial change in its ownership, management, or 

operations (as defined in 14 CFR 204.2(l)), it must first comply with the requirements of 14 CFR 

204.5.

(9) In the event that the holder commences but subsequently ceases all scheduled passenger 

operations, the authority granted here shall be suspended under the terms of 14 CFR 204.7 and the 

holder may neither recommence nor advertise such operations unless its fitness to do so has been 

redetermined by the Department. Moreover, if the holder does not resume such operations within one 

year of its cessation, its authority shall be revoked for dormancy.

(10) The holder’s authority is limited to operations conducted pursuant to Part 135 of the Federal 

Aviation Regulations. In the event that the holder wishes to institute operations that would require 

Part 121 certification from the FAA, it must first be determine fit for such operations.
 

Attachment A

SERVICE LIST FOR 

STAR MARIANAS AIR INC

MR SHAUN CHRISTIAN

MS PAZ CHRISTIAN

STAR MARIANAS AIR INC

PO BOX 520461

SAN JOSE VILLAGE

TINIAN MP 96952-0461

OFFICE OF AIRLINE 

INFORMATION

DOT/RSPA/BTS E-36

1200 NEW JERSEY AVENUE SE

WASHINGTON DC 20590 

MR MARK MAZOR 

CERTIFICATION SECTION 

MANAGER

FAA AFS-900

45005 AVIATION DRIVE 

SUITE 131

DULLES VA 20166

MR THOMAS BREHM

FAA

POI FOR STAR MARIANAS 

135 NAKOLO PLACE

HONOLULU HI 96819

MR WILLIAM CHADWICK

RITA

1200 NEW JERSEY AVENUE SE

WASHINGTON DC 20590

MR PETER LYNCH

FAA ASST CHIEF COUNSEL 

FOR ENFORCEMENT 

800 INDEPENDENCE AVE 

SW

WASHINGTON DC 20591

REGIONAL COUNSEL 

FAA

PO BOX 92007 

LOS ANGELES CA 90009-2007