Jonathan Echmalian advises international airlines and aircraft operators on a wide range of issues affecting their businesses. He guides clients through the licensing and compliance requirements of the various government agencies that oversee aviation activities in the United States, including the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Transportation Security Administration (TSA), and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), among others. He also assists these clients with Canadian Transportation Agency (CTA) and Transport Canada matters. Jonathan combines 30 years of aviation regulatory experience with extensive knowledge of the issues that impact aviation clients and a passion for delivering timely results. By anticipating, flagging and addressing the challenges aviation businesses typically encounter in this heavily regulated industry and maintaining close cooperative relationships with key government regulators, Jonathan is able to facilitate successful and compliant operations for various aviation entities.
Jonathan’s clients include passenger airlines, scheduled and charter all-cargo air carriers, and numerous global business jet companies. He prepares applications for DOT and CTA licenses and permits; resolves urgent CBP facilitation issues; prepares analyses of DOT, FAA, TSA and CBP regulations affecting clients' businesses; evaluates complex itineraries to identify pitfalls such as cabotage, trade sanctions, and visa concerns; and helps clients execute strategies to achieve regulatory compliance. Jonathan has also acted on behalf of more than 40 airlines and other international air operators to secure, optimize and maintain their FAA-issued Part 129 (foreign) operations specifications.