After 24 years of flying fighters in the U.S. Air Force, including a tour with the Thunderbirds, I retired in 2006 and started a new career as an airline pilot. Concurrently, the Patriots Jet Team, flying Experimental Aero L-39s, invited me to join its aerobatic team. After coming up as a pilot in general aviation in the early 1980s, I was excited to recultivate my civilian aviation roots. I had always believed that the FAA existed to promote a safe and mature approach to aviation. Little did I know that my assumptions would be severely challenged after a series of flights in January 2014.
A Tale of Two FAAs
Key Takeaways:
- An experienced former military pilot faced arbitrary and unjust enforcement actions from regional FAA officials for meticulously planned L-39 flights, despite strict adherence to safety and regulations.
- The FAA's initial investigation and subsequent certificate action violated established procedures and the Pilot's Bill of Rights, demonstrating an abuse of authority and a punitive rather than corrective approach.
- After a two-year legal and political battle, intervention from higher-level FAA officials led to the expungement of the pilot's record and refund of fines, acknowledging the regional FAA's arbitrary actions and procedural failures.
- The article highlights a dichotomy within the FAA between punitive regional enforcement and a more rational approach, expressing hope for a broader adoption of the agency's new "compliance philosophy."
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