Tgaug6300

If the FAA calls you and wants to ask you questions about it, SAY NOTHING!!! They may try to say that they are calling to really just get some facts (try to be your friend)and that is it. But that is a lie and they can use whatever you say against you. Have them contact your lawyer for further details.
One of our crews experienced this too. The crew just wound up having to go to FlightSafety for additional training.

rickair7777

If you did it right it should protect you from disciplinary action...but if they violate you it will still go in your record which is the real concern (you don't want to explain it to future employers). I'd talk to a lawyer too.

Purpledriver

If you filed the NASA report you should be good. DON'T LOSE THAT RECEIPT THEY SENT YOU......That's your ticket protection. The other guys are right, contact you union office (if your in a union job) and don't talk to the FAA without a legal rep. I would bet you'll be done with this soon enough, but the FAA is under the scope themselves these days and they get bent about anthing over 200 feet in RVSM..
Good Luck

DigDug

If you really had a "faulty" Alt Cap and wrote it up then you are off the hook before you ever got on. You still may be able to use the issue to slide right off the hook nice and easy like even if wasn't written up and you can explain how it was still an automation glitch you had to recover from.

Spooled

It seems the FAA used to be like this 'no harm no foul'. Now its a different story. It seems as if they are reporting every minor issue to the FDSO's.

Watch out in Detroit. They have been REALLY bad in the last year. Small heading errors (flying 200 instead of 220) had resulted in NO separation issues, were reported.

I just talked to my buddy and he is saying the supervisors are the problem. The sups are getting so anal that the controllers have to report everything, if they don't its grounds for termination.
He also said the FAA gives 'points' to managers for writing controller up.

The way things are going now soon every pilot will have a violation on their record.

warhawk

What he said

The Denver contingent of the Friendly Aviation Association is legendary for being particularly prickly. Had the unfortunate opportunity to "work" with them in the past.

I assume you have received a certified letter officially stating the FSDO intends to investigate. If so, time to Lawyer up.

Best of luck.

warhawk

Also, As Tgaug6300 stated, do not talk to them when they call you on the phone for a "friendly conversation." This is textbook FAA strategy. His speaker phone will be on with another co-worker in the room writing down every word. Let your aviation lawyer draft your official response.

Unlike a court of law, the FAA adminstrative investigation process is not procedurely constrained. Stated another way, in the Kangaroo Court of the FAA, second, and third hand hearsay evidence is completely admissable. This includes whatever "evidence" an inspector can get you to share with him over the phone. Hence the reason never talk to one immediately after an accident or incident when you're still rattled from the experience.

alwaysflying

JetJock13:

First if the situation you speak about is over 2 weeks old, and the FAA did not call or write you, they can not violate you. The FAA has two weeks to contact and violate.

After the two weeks, the only thing they can do is issue a letter of warning that follows you for two years.

About 4 years ago, DFW center accused me of flying through the radial I was told to intercept. I stated I did not by all indications in the cockpit. As far as I know, we never received a TCAS, there was no loss of separation. When I told the inspector I would like to see the proof of what was on the tape, he said he would provide it, but in court and then he would try and get a violation. (That is they only way to violate after two week, in court.)

A friend had the same threat made with an altitude bust. The inspectors are not your friend. When something comes across their desk, someone is to blame, whether pilot or controller. I was told by a former inspector, the easiest way to get the file closed is to issue a letter of warning.

Hope this info helps.

Knightrider

Use the union lawyer. That is what you pay dues for. I dout it will come to anything, but it doesn't hurt to be prepared.

Chickenwolf

Isnt this why transponders have an off switch?

Best of luck to you man.