Pilots Must Know and Use Their Rights

Recent high-profile cases underline the importance of knowing the law before an incident happens.

Michael Wildes

Tuesday, May 10, 2022 at 09:11 AM ET

Verified

If you found yourself up against 'Big Law,' would you know what to do? [File photo: Adobestock]

Key Takeaways:

Many pilots are unprepared for potential FAA regulatory actions and legal challenges, especially General Aviation pilots who may lack the protective programs available to those in more sophisticated flight operations.
The Pilot's Bill of Rights significantly empowers pilots by ensuring timely notification of investigations, requiring a higher standard of evidence, providing access to pertinent data, and simplifying the appeal process.
To effectively protect themselves, pilots should understand the FAA's Compliance and Enforcement Program (Order 2150.3C) and consider seeking counsel from an aviation attorney, especially with modern technology increasing scrutiny on pilot actions.

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A series of high-profile pilots facing regulatory action has caused many pilots to think about their rights. I suspect that if most pilots today found themselves up against “Big Law,” they might not know what to do.

It’s not always egregious cases of pilots pushing the limits, either. For instance, with the busy summer months ahead, the setting is ripe for pilots and controllers under pressure to make mistakes. One of the most chilling things for a pilot to hear over the radio is that they should be ready to copy a phone number down because of a “possible pilot deviation.”