FAA Asked Local Paper's Help In Locating Him

Former Toledo mayoral and city council candidate Terry Shankland may be in a lot of trouble. Or maybe not. But he's at least going to face some very interesting questions for the FAA... now that they've found him.

The Toledo Blade newspaper got an email from the Cleveland FSDO recently, asking for information on where to find Shankland. Seems the former mayor is suspected of repeatedly piloting an aircraft without any kind of certificate. Because the FAA has no record of Shankland, however, it had no way of locating him.

"Our agency has received a complaint with regards to [Mr. Shankland's] alleged repeated operation of an aircraft in your area," Cleveland FSDO worker Linda Baker said in the e-mail. "Unfortunately, there does not appear to be any record that he has ever obtained a pilot license, student or otherwise, nor medical certification, so I have no method in which to obtain an address to substantiate these complaints."

Shankland says he's been a student pilot for about 30-years, and has flown about ten hours in the past couple of years. He told the Blade he has no idea why the FAA would investigate him.

Shankland also insists he has proper certification as a student pilot... although he admits his medical has lapsed.

Now that the Blade has provided the FAA with Shankland's address, the former lawmaker says he's talked with the agency. FAA spokeswoman Elizabeth Cory confirmed the agency is investigating Mr. Shankland -- but did not elaborate.

FMI: www.faa.gov