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  #21  
Old 11-06-2015, 12:04 PM
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rolivi rolivi is offline
 
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Location: Fort Worth
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I suppose if you're in air and are instructed to advise when ready to copy a phone number, you need to write it down, read it back and call it. That's all on tape so it's hard to pull the "huh, wah" card.

If you get a call at home there's no tape. I'd probably wait for the letter.

They're good at sending letters.

In fact, even when you call them, you sometimes get a letter saying nothing more than that you called.
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  #22  
Old 11-06-2015, 12:07 PM
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pierre smith pierre smith is offline
 
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Default Nope

How do you know that it was, in fact, the FAA? Just because some guy over the phone says he is?

Best,
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  #23  
Old 11-06-2015, 12:15 PM
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Sam Buchanan Sam Buchanan is offline
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We had a situation at our local airport about a dozen years ago where an aggressive individual with an overbearing personality reported an "offense" to the FSDO because he wanted to sic the FAA on our tails. I listened to my answering machine pick up a call from an FAA inspector who wanted me to return the call. I decided I would wait on a letter if this was indeed a matter that needed investigation because I didn't want to get into a discussion about a deviant's personal agenda. I assumed a letter would be very specific about what needed to be officially investigated and this would allow me time to decide how to respond.

I never got another call or a letter. I suspect the inspector checked the boxes on his report and closed the case.
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Last edited by Sam Buchanan : 11-06-2015 at 12:33 PM.
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  #24  
Old 11-06-2015, 12:51 PM
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1001001 1001001 is offline
 
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Quote:
Originally Posted by pierre smith View Post
How do you know that it was, in fact, the FAA? Just because some guy over the phone says he is?

Best,
This was my first thought as well. There are well documented scams in which a caller uses publicly available information to impersonate a government official in order to extort money or information from the target. I myself have been the target of such attempted scams when I received several voice mails claiming to be from the IRS and speaking in cryptic and scary tones about an "investigation."


First thing you always do is check the phone number online to see who it belongs to and if it has been implicated in scams. If you actually answer the call, don't speak to the caller, other than to request that that give you a number to call them back, then check out *that* number.
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  #25  
Old 11-06-2015, 12:56 PM
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Pmerems Pmerems is offline
 
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Tucson, AZ
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Default I have gotten two calls in the past year

Yes I have gotten two calls in the past year.

One was a returned call from the FAA about a formal letter I received about possibly busting the Class D airspace in SO CAL. I was glad I called and the FSDO inspector was great to work with. In fact I spoke with him 3 times total and it was a good experience.

The second phone call came from the Scottsdale FSDO because they received a report from the Tucson airport because they rolled the fire trucks when I returned to land just after takeoff with an unknown noise coming from my airplane after takeoff (posted the story a few months back). No big deal just had to correct some of their facts about the incident.

I know first hand the fear of speaking with the FAA. Some suggested getting a lawyer before calling after receiving a letter. However in my case working directly with the FSDO was the right answer.

Unless you really did something intentionally wrong I would work directly with the FAA.
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  #26  
Old 11-06-2015, 12:56 PM
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Toobuilder Toobuilder is offline
 
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Since we are telling war stories, I have another. I botched a landing early in my tailwheel career and went off the runway in a ground loop at my personal, private strip. The airplane was damaged, but no where near the threshold for a "required" report. I dragged the airplane back to the hangar and licked my wounds. Got a call the next day from the FSDO about an "airplane crash". Apparently, one of my neighbors called it in and had to "spice up" the story a bit to gain the interest of the Office. I was reported as "buzzing" homes, landed long and "flipped over" out in the desert.

Since I was only doing touch and goes at my residential airpark (not buzzing homes), and the airplane was not damaged enough to create a reporting event, I made the mistake of calling back. Even after my explanation of the event, adding the fact that me and my neighbor dont really get along, the Fed wanted to come out and "inspect" my airplane "just to be sure". In other words, my word was not good enough. And since I had already called back (removing plausible deniability), and was now on record as admitting "something"... I agreed to the inspection. As much as I didn't want a Fed on my property, it seemed the only way to clear my record. So we set the time, he did the inspection, and agreed, "yep, not a reportable incident".

So the funny thing is, even after I "proved" my innocence, this report lived on in some file cabinet. And yes, it came back to haunt me later.

So that is what life has taught me about talking to the Feds. Never again, if I have a choice.
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Last edited by Toobuilder : 11-06-2015 at 01:03 PM.
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  #27  
Old 11-06-2015, 01:03 PM
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N941WR N941WR is offline
 
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Quote:
Originally Posted by pierre smith View Post
How do you know that it was, in fact, the FAA? Just because some guy over the phone says he is?

Best,
The Attorney's call to the FSDO pretty much answered that question.

The inquiry was about some low flying. He has a Cub with big numbers under the wings.
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  #28  
Old 11-06-2015, 01:08 PM
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N64GH N64GH is offline
 
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A few years ago I got a call from the FAA and I called back. Basically he wanted to know if I was missing a panel with an antenna attached to it. I was using flight following on the day in question. I was not the only plane in the area but I was the only one on flight following. He told me where I took off from, went to, what speed and what time I was over the area in question. He nailed all that information. His story was part of a plane with antenna attached landed in someone's yard. I was in the area, they had my contact information so they called. He had already searched my N number and found a picture of my plane. He did not think the part was from my plane because my plane was to nice (helped the ego there). I told him I was sure I was not missing any parts but would go check. I checked the next day called him back told him nothing missing he said thanks and that was that. Yea it was an odd feeling getting that call and I probably took a chance calling back my self but I saved lawyer fees and I really believe that not everyone at the FAA is out to get ya. It worked out.
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  #29  
Old 11-06-2015, 02:53 PM
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RV7A Flyer RV7A Flyer is offline
 
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Quote:
Originally Posted by AndyRV7 View Post
So what did the attorney tell him after the call?

If he did nothing remotely wrong, why would he feel he needed an attorney?
http://www.aopa.org/Pilot-Resources/...ent#responding
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  #30  
Old 11-06-2015, 03:51 PM
jrs14855 jrs14855 is offline
 
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Lake Havasu City AZ
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Default FAA

Quote:
Originally Posted by pierre smith View Post
How do you know that it was, in fact, the FAA? Just because some guy over the phone says he is?

Best,
If you google XYZ FSDO office you will find a list of all Aviaition
Safety Inspectors in that office, as well as the name of the office manager. The inspectors will be identified regarding their specialty, operations, maintenance, avionics, etc.
So if you are concerned about an imposter, ask to call back, look up the info and check it out. You will very likely find the name and direct phone number of the person who called.
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