FAA Enforcement Actions (Certificate Suspension and Revocations) and FAA Civil Penalty Assessments

Whether you are an airman, mechanic, air traffic control specialist, parachute rigger, aircraft dispatcher, or an air carrier, the last thing you want to see in the mail is a Letter of Investigation from the Federal Aviation Administration (“FAA”). A FAA Letter of Investigation is the first sign of an impending enforcement action against your airman certificate and/or medical certificate, and may otherwise be a sign that the FAA is investigating you for a possible violation of the Federal Aviation Regulations. While the urge to respond to a Letter of Investigation may be tempting, avoid doing so until you have spoken with your aviation attorney at The Ison Law Firm. An aviation attorney can help you avoid unknowingly making an incriminating statement to the FAA in response to your Letter of Investigation.
 
If despite competent counsel from your aviation attorney, the FAA insists on pursuing an enforcement or civil penalty action against you or your certificate, then the FAA will file a Notice of Proposed Certification Action or Notice of Civil Penalty – you will receive this document in the mail. Within these documents, the FAA Administrator has the power to suspend or revoke the certificate of an airman, mechanic, air traffic control specialist, repair station owner, air carrier, and/or other certificate holder, or issue a civil penalty against both certificate holders and non-certificate holders. Be wary that the Notice of Proposed Certificate Action and Notice of Civil Penalty are time sensitive documents – consult with a FAA enforcement attorney immediately if you receive either a Notice of Proposed Certification Action or Notice of Civil Penalty.
 
In an enforcement action against an airman’s certificate, a Notice of Proposed Certificate action can suggest sanctions ranging anywhere from a 30-day suspension to a revocation of an airman’s certificate. Moreover, the FAA can impose civil penalties against certificate holders and others for violations of the Federal Aviation Regulations up to $50,000.00.
 
Although physically located in Florida, The Ison Law Firm handles FAA Enforcement Actions and FAA Civil Penalty Assessments nationwide. From Letters of Investigation to Notices of Proposed Certificate Actions and Notices of Civil Penalty and from hearings before a National Transportation Safety Board (“NTSB”) Administrative Law Judge to appeals before the full NTSB Board, The Ison Law Firm handles every aspect of a FAA Enforcement Action and FAA Civil Penalty Assessment.