For Pilots, First DUI Has Greater Impact with the FAA

Pilots Can Lose Medical for Multiple DUI’s or Drug Charges

The Code of Federal Regulations, Formerly known as FAR’s, section § 61.15 specifically deals with offenses by pilots involving alcohol or drugs. A conviction for the violation of any Federal or State statute relating to the various actions related to narcotic drugs, marijuana, or depressant or stimulant drugs or substances is grounds for the denial of an application for any certificate, rating, or authorization for a period of up to 1 year after the date of final conviction or a suspension of your ratings. Read more

Unruly Airline Passenger Faces Federal Criminal Charges

FBI agents were recently called to respond to a JetBlue flight from New York to California. The flight was diverted due to an intoxicated passenger who caused a disruption during the flight. After the other passengers exited the aircraft, the unruly passenger was identified, interviewed, arrested and taken into custody and booked.

The suspect faces a federal criminal complaint, charging him with the assault and intimidation of flight attendants and crew members of an aircraft, thereby interfering with the performance of the duties of the flight attendants and crew members and lessening the ability of the flight attendants and crew members to perform their duties.

Federal Aviation Regulation (Code of Federal Regulations) 91.11 explicitly states: “No person may assault, threaten, intimidate, or interfere with a crewmember in the performance of the crewmember’s duties aboard an aircraft being operated.” This regulation applies to ANY person, regardless as to whether they are certificated as an “airman”. All persons travelling on board airplanes, commercial or general aviation, are held accountable to adhere to the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR’s). The CFR’s are federal law. They apply uniformly to all passengers in any airplane flying in U.S. airspace. Failure to adhere to federal guidelines will result in civil penalties and possibly criminal penalties as well.

If you have received a notice of enforcement action from the F.A.A. for violation of a federal aviation regulation, you need the assistant of a competent aviation lawyer immediately. If you are charged with criminal misconduct while on an airplane, you need the assistance of a criminal defense attorney well versed in the federal aviation regulations. Houston & Blanco emphasizes criminal defense as well as aviation law. We are among the few that understand both fields and we can best represent you on both the civil as well as criminal allegations. Do not wait and do not make any statements to any investigators without first speaking to you’re the aviation and criminal defense attorneys at Houston & Blanco. It is important to safeguard your rights by contacting the aviation attorney’s at Houston Law of California immediately. Call 714.841.3921 today, or email at info@HBLawyers.net.

Flying Too Low In Orange County May Lead to FAA Enforcement Action for “Buzzing”

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) recently cleared a pilot of wrongdoing in several alleged “buzzing” incidents over a Northern California neighborhood in July.

The FAA’s case was based on reports that a single engine Beechcraft Bonanza was seen flying low over a neighborhood belonging to the alleged pilots ex-girlfriend several times over a two-week period.

Nevertheless, unable to establish sufficient evidence to determine conclusively that the Bonanza’s pilot violated the minimum 1,000-foot AGL requirement Read more

Aviation Law 101: Operating Under Part 91 vs. Part 135

Recently a Fixed Base Operator (FBO) contacted me concerned that they may be violating a Code of Federal Regulation (CFR). Their concern was whether their actions would constitute a flight operation under Part 135, which would require must more regulation and oversight, or whether the operation would qualify under Part 91, a much more relaxed area of regulations in which to operate. The issue was whether an individual business person, who independently rents an aircraft from the FBO and then hires an independent pilot to fly him in that aircraft to various locations on an “as needed” basis would constitute an operation under CFR Part 91? Read more

TFR imposed over Fossett’s Crash Site

A blogger “investigator” managed to piece together a virtual view of the crash site of a millionaire pilot that has been missing for over a year. Frank Taylor, author Google Earth Blog, pieced together information about the general location of the crash site moments after authorities discovered the wreckage of Steve Fossett. The investigator discovered Read more

Pilot’s license found may be Fossett’s

A hiker in a rugged part of eastern California found a pilot’s license and other items that appear to belong to Steve Fossett, the adventurer who vanished on a solo flight more than a year ago.

The hiker said he found an FAA identity card, a pilot’s license, a third ID and $1,005 in cash tangled in a bush off a trail just west of the town of Mammoth Lakes on Monday. Read more

Cessna Crashes at Fullerton Airport, Minor Injuries for Pilot

A pilot was seriously injured as his small plane crashed just after takeoff from Fullerton Municipal Airport. Police say the single-engine Cessna Skyhawk SP had just taken off at about 6:30 Tuesday night when it suddenly veered left Read more