FAA hotline complaint

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airborne840

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airborne840
I’m posting to see if anyone has had a situation similar to mine and want to seek advice on how to handle an unfortunate situation that I have found myself in.
Earlier in the year, a family member and I had a personal disagreement and because of this persons personal vengeance towards me, called my airline and the FAA in an attempt to get me fired from my job. The false complaint made to the FAA was that I am mentally unstable and also an alcoholic. Both are untrue.
Due to this hotline complaint, I received a certified letter from the FAA requesting a plethora of documents to be sent in within 60 days. I completed all required items and sent the paperwork and test results to the FAA. Here is my dilemma. My medical is up for renewal soon, and from calling the regional office, I found out that they haven’t even reviewed my file. I was advised by the regional office, that if my file is still under investigation, that my AME will be required to defer me. So due to a long backlog and a false complaint, I may not able to continue working as a full time pilot as a result. Does this all sound correct? Does anyone have any advice on how to speed up this process?
 
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How would your AME know? Is there anything on the med application that would require disclosure of this? Would you have known any different if you had not placed the call to FAA and received their “opinion”? Comply with the written rules (regs), answer the med express application truthfully, and follow the requirements in the certified letter. No more, no less.
 
To the OP: That all is correct. For such a complaint, You're going to need eventually the HIMS psychiatrist, and you'll bear the brunt of the cost as it's not insurance work. The only way to get that with the HIMS AME version of the FAA medical record, is through a HIMS AME.

Those of use who work in positions of trust just bear this burden. You're going to be down for a period....buckle in. And if you haven't seen the "crazy hot matrix", google it and spend 4:30 with it on youtube. That stuff is ALL TRUE.
 
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www.pilotsofamerica.com

False Accusations

I have a student with a first class medical who is in her solo cross country phase of training. She received a letter from FAA medical saying that they got a safety hotline tip claiming that she has debilitating back issues due to a car accident. We are pretty sure that the anonymous tip is...
www.pilotsofamerica.com www.pilotsofamerica.com
 
Wow. So anyone can call the FAA, make false claims about a pilot, and the pilot is done flying until he forks over thousands and waits months? The FAA should, in all things, be held to the same standards as the prosecution is in criminal cases: proof beyond a reasonable doubt, and it’s on them to prove it.
 
ateamer said:
Wow. So anyone can call the FAA, make false claims about a pilot, and the pilot is done flying until he forks over thousands and waits months? The FAA should, in all things, be held to the same standards as the prosecution is in criminal cases: proof beyond a reasonable doubt, and it’s on them to prove it.
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This is administrative law, and the FAA has a safety mandate.

Unfortunately people will use the FAA in this manner knowing a) the FAA must investigate and b) the person making the report can do it anonymously.
 
Do I understand that zero evidence is required before being pronounced "guilty until proven innocent?" Wouldn't the complainer have to point to an arrest record, recent DUI, other witnesses, a doctor's statement, or perhaps a bar tab? Something? Anything?

If such accusations were made against the pilot's of AF1 I'm guessing they would never be put through the wringer like this ... :nono:
 
Did the FAA notify you that your current medical is not required? I'm wondering how an AME would know that he allegedly has to defer you.
 
jbarrass said:
This is not a law, it's a policy that they could change if they wanted to.
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The response is also whatever the relevant investigator wants it to be. I'm aware of a hotline complaint about an intentional incident, that was closed without any additional investigation. Investigation because the available adsb information was insufficient to prove the complained of behavior (no witnesses were interviewed).
 
airborne840 said:
I’m posting to see if anyone has had a situation similar to mine and want to seek advice on how to handle an unfortunate situation that I have found myself in.
Earlier in the year, a family member and I had a personal disagreement and because of this persons personal vengeance towards me, called my airline and the FAA in an attempt to get me fired from my job. The false complaint made to the FAA was that I am mentally unstable and also an alcoholic. Both are untrue.
Due to this hotline complaint, I received a certified letter from the FAA requesting a plethora of documents to be sent in within 60 days. I completed all required items and sent the paperwork and test results to the FAA. Here is my dilemma. My medical is up for renewal soon, and from calling the regional office, I found out that they haven’t even reviewed my file. I was advised by the regional office, that if my file is still under investigation, that my AME will be required to defer me. So due to a long backlog and a false complaint, I may not able to continue working as a full time pilot as a result. Does this all sound correct? Does anyone have any advice on how to speed up this process?
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Once the FAA finds that the complaint was false, you need to turn around and sue the ever loving dog**** out of the family member who did it, and get them for every dime you had to spend plus lost wages and other damages. If you win that law suit, you may have precedent to have them arrested and charged for filing a false official report.
 
Jon Wilder said:
Once the FAA finds that the complaint was false, you need to turn around and sue the ever loving dog**** out of the family member who did it, and get them for every dime you had to spend plus lost wages and other damages. If you win that law suit, you may have precedent to have them arrested and charged for filing a false official report.
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Doesn't help the anonymous/vindictive incidences of this. I have no idea what the # of occurrences are that meet this profile, but it's infuriating and disturbing that someone can upend a career with zero evidence, anonymously and put the defendant in that position. :mad3:
 
UTLonghorn_1979 said:
Doesn't help the anonymous/vindictive incidences of this. I have no idea what the # of occurrences are that meet this profile, but it's infuriating and disturbing that someone can upend a career with zero evidence, anonymously and put the defendant in that position. :mad3:
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Completely agree. Yes it has to be investigated, but from my reading of the law there’s no requirement to send the accused through the HIMS process to disprove the accusation.
 
mryan75 said:
Completely agree. Yes it has to be investigated, but from my reading of the law there’s no requirement to send the accused through the HIMS process to disprove the accusation.
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One would hope that the FAA wouldn’t go Defcon 1, my experience tells me otherwise.
 
UTLonghorn_1979 said:
Doesn't help the anonymous/vindictive incidences of this. I have no idea what the # of occurrences are that meet this profile, but it's infuriating and disturbing that someone can upend a career with zero evidence, anonymously and put the defendant in that position. :mad3:
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Completely agree.
 
jbarrass said:
This is not a law, it's a policy that they could change if they wanted to.
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THIS is a few watts short of a bright bulb……
(See: Doc Holliday 5:19 PM who has the cite.)

They don’t all get mandated to HIMS but I do employ HIMS Consultants as this tends to be credible, authoritative, and every week down is about 5 K in lost wages…. And the idea is get a false accusation dismissed rapidly and authoritatively.

We’ll never be able to undo the whistleblower laws.
 
Doc Holliday said:
It’s not?

49 USC subtitle VII, Part A, sub part iv, chapter 461, 46101.
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They only have to investigate if there's a reasonable ground to believe there's been a violation. Satisfying an investigator that the report is false should be sufficient. Unfortunately, many false reports have enough truth to be believable.
 
And thus the immediate reply with the sledgehammer….(as in, do not bring a knife to a gunfight)
 
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Doc Holliday said:
It’s not?

49 USC subtitle VII, Part A, sub part iv, chapter 461, 46101.
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49 USC subtitle VII, Part A, sub part iv, chapter 461, 46101 is an authority. Not a mandate to investigate every call.

Notice the use of "May". The only relevant "Shall" is ....Administration shall investigate the complaint if a reasonable ground appears ..... " and then when a reasonable ground exists.

There is no requirement to chase ghosts.
 
jbarrass said:
49 USC subtitle VII, Part A, sub part iv, chapter 461, 46101 is an authority. Not a mandate to investigate every call.

Notice the use of "May". The only relevant "Shall" is ....Administration shall investigate the complaint if a reasonable ground appears ..... " and then when a reasonable ground exists.

There is no requirement to chase ghosts.
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The FAA's mandate is safety. This is why every complaint is investigated.

All it would take is for one complaint to be ****canned and a couple a days later a giant smoking hole with a few hundred dead as a result for the public to demand "Why didn't you do something!"

And 49 USC is a LAW, one which you claimed didn't exist.
 
Lindberg said:
They only have to investigate if there's a reasonable ground to believe there's been a violation. Satisfying an investigator that the report is false should be sufficient. Unfortunately, many false reports have enough truth to be believable.
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Once investigated if no evidence is found, that's exactly what happens. Unfortunately there are whackos that like to use a government entity to make malicious reports in order to stir up crap. And those entities have to sort out which are legit and which are malicious. The only way to sort it out is to investigate.
 
I would NOT talk to your union or union attorney about it. Get a real lawyer.

A. In HIMS, denial is a primary diagnostic criteria…

2. HIMS was created by the largest pilot union in existence.

iii. Airlines brag about a 10:1 return on investment sending people through the HIMS grinder.

While not covered by insurance, most airlines are happy to pay for the evaluation… Don’t fall for this trap, get a REAL evaluation, with a real lawyer involved. Start documenting EVERYTHING.
 
Doc Holliday said:
Once investigated if no evidence is found, that's exactly what happens. Unfortunately there are whackos that like to use a government entity to make malicious reports in order to stir up crap. And those entities have to sort out which are legit and which are malicious. The only way to sort it out is to investigate.
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Like with Bob Hoover?
 
Unfortunately, Bob Hoover is not relevant in this context. Unfortunately, he surrendered his certificate, and the FAA refused to return it.

He went through his ordeal to get requalified for a license.

As a result of the FAA position in that case, if any officer, FAA or other, asks to see your license, you show it to them, they do not have the right to hold it in their hand or even touch it. Make a stupid rule for a specific case, pay the price for future cases. There may be a newer chief counsels letter replacing that opinion, of course.

Members of our flying club made copies of that ruling, and carried them in our wallets for years, and we had a copy in the plane document case.

Flying out of KCGS, College Park MD puts us close to FAA headquarters, and visits by officials are common.
 
geezer said:
Unfortunately, Bob Hoover is not relevant in this context. Unfortunately, he surrendered his certificate, and the FAA refused to return it.

He went through his ordeal to get requalified for a license.

As a result of the FAA position in that case, if any officer, FAA or other, asks to see your license, you show it to them, they do not have the right to hold it in their hand or even touch it. Make a stupid rule for a specific case, pay the price for future cases. There may be a newer chief counsels letter replacing that opinion, of course.

Members of our flying club made copies of that ruling, and carried them in our wallets for years, and we had a copy in the plane document case.

Flying out of KCGS, College Park MD puts us close to FAA headquarters, and visits by officials are common.
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I’m referring to the “reports” that said he wasn’t cognitively or physically up to flying just from one person’s opinion/observation that lead to the whole ordeal.

The point is the allegation can lead to years of FAA BS to get your medical back.
 
"Earlier in the year, a family member and I had a personal disagreement and because of this persons personal vengeance towards me, called my airline and the FAA in an attempt to get me fired from my job. The false complaint made to the FAA was that I am mentally unstable and also an alcoholic."
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Were these calls anonymous? How do you know who it was that called, who they called, & what the accusations were? Did the family member admit to doing this?

Curious ...
 
Daleandee said:
Were these calls anonymous? How do you know who it was that called, who they called, & what the accusations were? Did the family member admit to doing this?

Curious ...
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This family member bragged about this after making the call . Fast forward to now, 8 months later, This family member is now regretting making the phone call due to the now knowing how much damage it has caused. My medical is up for renewal in 2 months and all I know is that my medical will be deferred and I will be without a job. I’m hoping that I qualify for company LTD while this gets sorted out but I don’t know the ins and outs of what is covered and what is not covered to qualify for LTD.
Does ‘being investigated’ and being deferred qualify for loss of medical insurance? (LTD)
Anyone know?
 
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geezer said:
As a result of the FAA position in that case, if any officer, FAA or other, asks to see your license, you show it to them, they do not have the right to hold it in their hand or even touch it.
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Handing an official your certificate for inspection is not surrendering it. Even if the inspector doesn’t give the certificate back, you haven’t surrendered it. Surrendering a certificate or license is a process whereby you knowingly and voluntarily are formally giving up your privileges granted by the certificate.
 
Geeezer: If you do not allow them to inspect it (for original signature) you will be in a world of hurt. The FAA's abuse of Hoover continues to blot co-operation.....if you must, hold on to the part that his folded over as he examines the "other part". Let HIM risk the destruction of your certificate. You can always order a duplicate, and he gets disciplined for tearing it. He wants to determine that the AME signature has a raised ball point impression on the backside. Just make clear you are not surrendering it. He no longer has the authority to confiscate it unless it's clearly a fake.

Run your iphone video, if you must.

And Tools, you continue to confuse "use of a HIMS Asset" with HIMS. I have restored more than a couple of guys by reading the demand letter and realizing, "this guy needs (a particular) consultant" and ASAP. The order of the AME version of the medical record as a STAT becomes critical.

And then the "Crazy Hot" matrix becomes required viewing for the recovered airman.
 
ateamer said:
Handing an official your certificate for inspection is not surrendering it. Even if the inspector doesn’t give the certificate back, you haven’t surrendered it. Surrendering a certificate or license is a process whereby you knowingly and voluntarily are formally giving up your privileges granted by the certificate.
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OK, time to dispel yet another OWT. Handing an Inspector is NOT surrendering your certificate. Even if the airman hands the certificate to the Inspector and states "I do not want this anymore, please take it", the Inspector can't.

FAA Order 8900.1 and FAA Order 2150.3 spell out the process of surrendering a certificate. This process must be followed step by step, and the airman must sign a letter stating he is giving up the certificate and understands the process if he desires to regain the certificate. It's not a simple process nor should it be.
 
First Doc, I agree… hot crazy matrix should start to be taught in grade school, ha!

I really haven’t confused the two, just trying to make the point that his “HIMS asset” IS (airline) HIMS in this case. NOT neutral objective territory… go find HIMS assets (AND a lawyer) so you can start to fill in your dope chart, do not loiter around airline ANYTHING.
 
airborne840 said:
This family member bragged about this after making the call . Fast forward to now, 8 months later, This family member is now regretting making the phone call due to the now knowing how much damage it has caused. My medical is up for renewal in 2 months and all I know is that my medical will be deferred and I will be without a job. I’m hoping that I qualify for company LTD while this gets sorted out but I don’t know the ins and outs of what is covered and what is not covered to qualify for LTD.
Does ‘being investigated’ and being deferred qualify for loss of medical insurance? (LTD)
Anyone know?
Click to expand...
Time to teach someone a lesson in reality. Get cleared and bring a bazooka to a knife fight.

My mantra is "if you don't start none, there won't be none."
 
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