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Former Iowa Aircraft Maintenance Company Owner Pleads Guilty to Forging Inspector's Signature on Aircraft Maintenance Logs

Summary

On June 7, Clark Calta, former owner of Air America, Mt. Vernon, IA, pled guilty in U.S. District Court in Des Moines, IA to four felony counts of making false statements regarding airplane and engine maintenance records. Our investigation found that Calta forged the name of an FAA- certified mechanic on the maintenance logbooks of four private aircrafts, indicating that the annual inspections had been performed, when they in fact had not. Annual inspections are used to determine the airworthiness of the aircraft and are important in protecting public safety. A sentencing date for Calta has not yet been set.