The way he does it is by using a FAR135 certificate holder as an umbrella for his own operations. He strikes a deal with a 135 AOC holder (as he is unable to get one himself), pays them money, and has his airplanes put on the AOC's fleet list. So, really, European 2000 is an American charter operator based in Malta.
This is actually a perfectly legal manner of operating, the only problem is that Micallef has abused it because he has lured serious professionals holding a 135 certificate into his obscure dealings. And he can actually get away with it because it is really hard to check what is actually going on in Malta when you are in Texas...
The last two FAR135 AOC holders who where allowing Micallef to operate commercially -- namely Hangar 10 and Berry Aviation of Texas -- have both pulled out after a few months, after they figured out what kind of man he was...
But, as Micallef puts it: "My pilots can leave, my partners can leave, I will find new ones and start everything over again!" Guys, watch out for that attractive job add for Metro pilots that is going to appear soon on Climbto350 or the like!!!
