Originally Posted by
fatmike69
I would in NO WAY fess up to the FAA. If you have an altitude/course deviation during your career, would you call the FAA immediately to "fess up"? One is just inviting enforcement actions here. To be honest with you, there is an extremely low chance of this ever being noticed. Have him file the NASA form for protection, and then leave it at that. Stay away from the FAA at all times whenever possible, that's my advice. If he feels absoloutely compelled to self-disclose to the FAA, be sure to consult an aviation attorney first.
I completely agree. This is not the first that person has ever violated a FAR, nor will it be the last. Same goes for any pilot. If you accidentally speed on the way home, do you call the cops? If you accidentally walk out of a restaurant without paying do you call the cops on yourself? No, you go back, apologize and pay. If you get off altitude by over 300 feet and tgen immediately correct, do you turn yourself in to the FSDO? I know a pilot that got off by over 300 feet, corrected, but told on themselves to ATC. Wrong move. I could go on..but if you like violations and kicking a hornets nest, go ahead. It sorta reminds me of the drunk captain interview question.....are you gonna throw people under the bus and get violatuons started, or can you use your head and make the safe choice that protects others careers? This is freaky stuff man. I would not want to fly with someone who goes to the feds right away. That is not to say don't use CRM, speak up for safety, and have postflight debriefs, etc. But now we are talking about unleashing the legal hounds here! Be thinking damn hard before getting the law involved. I say this for everyone's good.