JIM Air Is Going Out Of Business

The Federal Aviation Administration has pulled the pilot license of Anchorage, AK air taxi operator Jim Bern following a crash two months ago.

The Associated Press reports Bern, who operated a business called Jim Air for almost 15 years, was flying a Cessna 206 with three passengers onboard through Portage Pass on August 19 when he attempted to fly through the mountain pass in bad weather. Bern says he attempted to turn around in the clouds, and impacted a mountainside. 

One of the passengers onboard suffered serious injuries in the accident... but all four were able to walk to nearby hittier.

It was the first time he'd ever had an accident in 30 years of flying, said Bern. The FAA revoked his license last week -- a punishment, Bern says, akin to receiving a death sentence for running a stoplight.

The FAA, as you might imagine, takes a different view to its action. Regional counsel Howard Martin says air taxi operators will receive no leeway with the FAA when it comes to flying into bad weather in mountainous terrain -- a proven recipe for disaster in Alaska.

The agency takes an especially harsh view of operations directors or company owners who make that call, Martin said.

Bern says he surrendered Jim Air's air carrier certificate in order to avoid further action against the company, including steep fines.

JIM Air was incorporated as an on-demand air carrier in 1992, and gradually grew its fleet. The company operates three Cessna 206s, one C182 and a Pilatus PC-12, according to the company website.

FMI: Read The NTSB Preliminary Report, www.flyjimair.com