I am curious about how to deal with ancient issues on my PL. In my research I understand that prior to Nov. 2005 if you had an incident, accident or violation resulting in an FAA action against your pilot license after a 5 year period you could request to have it expunged. In Nov 2005 I understand they made that process automatic and deleted any of those items off your record if there were no further violations within the 5 year period. In 2010 the FAA apparently discontinued that practice and now everything stays on.
Can anyone help me figure this out?

Don't lie about it, even if you think it was egpunged, or should have been expunged.

Expungement of criminal records may give you some rights regarding disclosure to some employers.

"Expungement" of FAA records does not grant any legal protections, ie it is not a legal "clean slate" which grants you the right to lie and be legally protected from the consequences.

If you lie and the airlines find out you will be fired, and that will largely blacklist you from 121.

That's just my understanding.

My intention is not to decieve. I am just interested in how to approach this issue with regard to what the airlines are requesting. I actually contacted the AOPA and signed up for their legal services. Well worth the money. They talked through the issues with me and of the three that were a concern for me we came to the conclusion that only one was of reportable significance. Leaving the other concerns out would not be a falsification or misrepresentation.
I do appreciate your reply and advice. Thanks!

AOPA is probably talking out their butts when it comes to airlines. That's not their wheelhouse at all.

A better source of advice would be one of the airline interview prep outfits, at least as far as how the airlines will disclosure or non-disclosure of issues.

If you disclose a trivial issue, the airlines will happy that you're abundantly honest. If you get caught not disclosing something which they think they asked you to disclose then you're toast.

Their legal services are simply a 'prepaid legal' service that lets you choose from a list of thousands of aviation lawyers. They, themselves, avoid giving legal advice and the service is the best 100 bucks (or so) I've ever spent.

Yes, I have their legal insurance in case I get violated. They're good at that.

But competent advice relevant to airline employment issues is hard to come by. Best make sure your getting advice from someone who knows what they're talking about.

the bottom line is that airlines ask if you have ever had an incident, accident, violation, or check-ride failure.

So even if it is expunged, it exists. (cue: amateur lawyers....)

Report it.

Three (3!) issues that were of concern?