If a catering truck damages an airliner while only cleaning crew are present, is notification of a government agency required?

The assertion that notification of a government agency is not required because there was no intention to fly is valid in the context of aviation regulations and the specific incident described. In general, reporting requirements to government agencies, such as the FAA, typically arise from circumstances that may impact flight safety or operational integrity.

In this scenario, the catering truck's damage occurred while the aircraft was on the ground and under no immediate threat of departure. Since the airliner was not actively preparing for a flight, the situation does not pose an immediate risk to aviation safety as it would if the aircraft were in the midst of takeoff preparations or in a situation where a flight was imminent.

Furthermore, if the damage is minor and does not impair the aircraft's ability to operate safely when it is next in use, the need for formal reporting is further diminished. The determination of whether damage is "reportable" generally considers factors such as the severity of the damage, potential risks to safety, and the operational status of the aircraft at the time of the incident. In this case, the absence of an intention to fly implies that the damage was likely not significant enough to necessitate governmental notification.