The Federal Aviation Administration has proposed a $2,388,500 civil penalty against Stratus Aviation LLC, doing business as Wings Flight School in Vacaville, California, over alleged operation of an unairworthy Cessna 172M Skyhawk.
The FAA’s October 30, 2026 announcement describes a proposed enforcement action. It does not announce a final penalty decision or payment.
What the FAA alleges
The agency alleges that Wings installed an unapproved temperature gauge in October 2022, rendering the aircraft unairworthy. It further alleges that the school operated the aircraft on approximately 280 flights between February 2023 and September 2024 in a manner that endangered lives or property.
Those dates concern the alleged installation and flights, rather than a newly reported accident. The announcement does not identify an aircraft registration, describe any resulting accident or injury, or establish the school’s current operating status.
Response period follows receipt of the notice
Wings has 30 days after receiving the FAA’s notice to respond, according to the agency. That period is tied to receipt, not automatically to the announcement’s publication date.
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