Pilots Bill of Rights

In late 2010, experienced pilot and U.S. senator James Inhofe was issued a pilot violation by the FAA. Displeased with the violation process, he created and sponsored the Pilots Bill of Rights 1 and 2. The NTSB is supposed to be an impartial entity to which a pilot may appeal a certificate suspension or revocation. For decades, aviation attorneys have known this is not reality.

Fred Simonds

Thursday, June 15, 2017 at 12:00 AM ET

Verified

Key Takeaways:

The Pilot's Bill of Rights (PBR) 1 and 2 significantly reformed FAA investigation and NTSB appeal processes, ensuring greater due process and fairness for pilots and all certificate holders.
Key provisions include mandating timely notification of investigations, providing access to air traffic data, requiring stricter evidence standards, and granting NTSB administrative law judges greater discretion.
The PBR also expanded appeal options, allowing pilots to challenge NTSB decisions in local federal courts and choose direct appeals to district courts or the NTSB.
Additionally, the legislation led to major improvements in the NOTAM system's accessibility and searchability, and provided civil liability protections for aviation designees and pilots flying for public benefit.

See a mistake? Contact us.

In late 2010, experienced pilot and U.S. senator James Inhofe was issued a pilot violation by the FAA. Displeased with the violation process, he created and sponsored the Pilot’s Bill of Rights 1 and 2.

The NTSB is supposed to be an impartial entity to which a pilot may appeal a certificate suspension or revocation. For decades, aviation attorneys have known this is not reality. They have accused the FAA repeatedly of unfairness in both the investigation and prosecution of such cases. They also contended that the NTSB’s review of an FAA order almost always comes down on the FAA’s side. Years of such decisions are well-known in the aviation community and have rarely favored the pilot. That all changed for the better once the Pilot’s Bill of Rights became law.