Friend of 'Aviation Criminal' Webmaster Targeted AGAIN Via Complaints To FAA

News/Analysis by Jim Campbell, ANN Editor-In-Chief/CEO

Falsehood is cowardice, the truth courage
(Hosea Ballou)

The bizarre mythos being built around the actions of a convicted felon who inhabits the aviation sphere has grown again and the details, dare we repeat ourselves, remain truly bizarre.

In late January of this year, ANN reported that an airman in California was turned into the FAA some weeks ago, via the FAA Hotline, anonymously. The anonymous tipster told the FAA that "Pilot X" (identified that way in order to allow him some protection from further harassment) had kidney stones -- a malady the FAA Medical folks can consider immediately disqualifying for flight privileges.

"Pilot X" is a friend of Kristy Graham, known to ANN readers and many others worldwide, as the webmaster of the "Aviation Criminal" site... a web blog dedicated to warning and informing the aviation world about a Convicted Felon, conman, fraud and swindler, David Riggs. "Pilot X" is also an alleged victim of Riggs' actions and criminal activities and is currently engaged in legal action to defend himself against the con.

Riggs, as you may recall from previous ANN stories, is a convicted felon/pilot who -- in the last few years -- served jail time (among other penalties) for a dangerous public buzz job that terrified hundreds (and made pilots look like asses) as he flew an L39 in VERY close proximity to the Santa Monica Pier, and was also stopped by the FAA from pulling off a poorly conceived and demonstrably dangerous air race promotion/scam this past summer that could have endangered many attendees at the Camarillo Airshow. Riggs's exploits have embarrassed the aviation world time and time again... while Graham's site has been tenacious, well-detailed, and instrumental in making sure that as many people as possible knew about the hazards posed by a man with an extraordinarily dangerous history of hazarding others... physically and financially. Riggs has threatened and harassed Graham (and others) a number of times... but because of the manner in which Graham lives her life, his threats have had minimal effect.

Convicted Felon David G Riggs

The FAA is wise to the situation and a number of actions are taking place to revolve the issues raised in the anonymous complaint... but we now understand that the anonymous nature of this matter is becoming much less so. According to "Pilot X", a recent conversation with a Senior FAA staffer has revealed that not only did they get anonymous complaints alleging the medical malady for which there reportedly had been (and continues to be) NO substantiation and/or evidence, but now the FAA has reported that they have received written complaints that are allegedly attributed to (and signed by) David Riggs, himself. A Freedom of Information Act request is underway to obtain access to these documents and Federal authorities are being consulted because the these actions might be construed as possible evidence of harassment, extortion, intimidation and fraud (among other infractions that may be named at a later date).

In the meantime, Riggs has sued Graham in what appears to be a poorly substantiated legal proceeding (and one that seems to contain a number of errors)... blaming her for (among other things), his failure to conduct the complex and dangerous air race operations he had planned for the 2011 Camarillo Air Show. The FAA put a stop to his plans when his plans could not be approved due to numerous hazards in the poorly organized and conceived air race event that FAA officials labeled as "too dangerous" to be approved under any acceptable waiver. Graham had nothing to do with this (as specifically noted by the FAA), so Riggs's latest suit (out of dozens he is known to have filed) seems nothing more than yet another attempt to intimidate/silence a critic.

'Aviation Criminal' Website

This would be tough enough to bear, without further distraction, but yet another complaint called in to the FAA last week now appears to suggest that "Pilot X" is being accused of operating his aircraft outside of the regulations. A march 1st letter sent by an FAA Aviation Safety Inspector, Sean Kaveney, threatens "Pilot X's" freedoms yet again and does so via a letter that contains a shocking lack of detail and information.

Kaveney writes, "This office is in receipt of an allegation that you operated a Lancair 360 aircraft, ('N' Number redacted), contrary to Federal Aviation Regulations. Pursuant to Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR), Part 61.51 (i)(1 )(i), this is a formal request that you present your pilot certificate, medical certificate, and logbook{s) to personnel of this office for our inspection within 10 days of receipt of this letter. Please call me at the above phone number to schedule a time that we may meet with you to inspect the above mentioned documents. Failure to do so may result in enforcement action."

While there is a deplorable lack of detail, its not hard to guess, based on a series of actions alleged to have been undertaken by a party intent on intimidating "Pilot X", just who is undertaking these complaints and actions. 

The letter contains no specifics, no details, no data to speak of... but demands that "Pilot X" present himself and reveal a great deal of personal information without probable cause, a specific charge, and a complete and worrisome lack of specific information via which he might prepare and defend himself... which would appear, on the outset, to be in direct opposition to what the Founding Fathers intended for citizens of this so-called democracy.

ANN E-I-C Note: ANN is in contact with the Department Of Justice, the FAA, and a number of other Federal authorities while seeking clarification as to how this matter is being handled and why the FAA Hotline and complaint system is so easily manipulated to suit the whims of those with (alleged) evil and fraudulent intent. Further; ANN continues to be unimpressed and concerned with the ease and manner with which any official of the FAA can disrupt and invade the life of a pilot with no specific evidence, details, and and absence of the due process afforded to any common criminal. We once again implore the aviation community and our presentative organizations to demand a proper Pilot's Bill of Rights (something we have advocated for well over two decades) and one far in excess of the basic measures proposed by Senator Jim Inhofe. It is actions and circumstances like these that drive pilots and other aviation personnel out of aviation on a daily basis... and the result is yet another in a series of insults and injuries that are killing off the aviation community bit by bit, day by day. It has to stop now.

ANN will be following this story aggressively and will report further details as they become available.

FMI: www.faa.gov, www.aviationcriminal.com, www.justice.gov