Political Official Was Required To Complete Seven Hours Of
Remedial Training
The FAA has closed its investigation into an incident last
October in which Oklahoma Republican Senator James Inhofe
landed his Cessna 340A on a closed runway at Port Isabel, TX, and
the Senator has escaped with what amounts to a slap on the wrist
for his actions.
Senator Inhofe
A letter sent by the FAA to Senator Inhofe, and posted on
The Smoking Gun website, indicates that Inhofe "was
advised that such an operation is contrary to Sections 91.13(a) and
91.103(a) of the Code of Federal Regulations."
The letter indicates that Inhofe "agreed to a program of
remedial training as a substitute for legal enforcement action.
Since then, you (Inhofe) have submitted evidence showing
satisfactory completion of four hours of ground instruction in
preflight planning and procedures, performance and limitations,
aircraft weight and balance, operations at uncontrolled airports,
airport runway and taxi signs, markings, and lighting ... and
aeronautical decision making. In addition, you have completed three
hours of flight instruction in preflight procedures to include
cockpit management, cross country flight procedures ... and airport
taxiway signs and markings ... and aeronautical decision
making."
The FAA says it has considered all the available facts, and that
following the "satisfactory completion" of the remedial training
that "legal enforcement action will not be pursued." The
matter will be on Inhofe's record for two years, and then
expunged.
But recordings also posted on the website from an interview with
construction supervisor Sidney Boyd indicate that Inhofe's airplane
"damn near hit" one of the construction trucks, and that the plane
touched down and then "sky hopped over us." Boyd, who says he has
often done work at airports, said it was the first time he'd ever
seen anything like this happen. He asserts that Inhofe "knew the
runway was closed ... he just went right over a huge yellow 'X' and
he was coming down right in the middle of us."
In a third recorded conversation, airport manager Marshall Reece
told the FAA that "I have never seen such a reckless disregard for
human life in my life." He indicated it was not the first time
Inhofe had violated FAR's and said "something needs to be
done."
Cessna 340 File Photo
When asked about in-cockpit distractions, Inhofe reportedly told
the FAA that he was showing a passenger in the airplane sitting in
the right front seat how some of the Cessna's cockpit technology
worked. But in a statement, he said that his interactions with the
FAA were in no way an admission or proof of a violation. Inhofe
said he considers the matter closed.
E-I-C Note: While we're
normally big fans of the activities of the Senator, we can't help
but note that this case illustrates how badly the FAA dispenses
what it considers 'justice.' If any regular flyer had done any of
the acts asserted in the factual investigation (alleged to Inhofe),
the flyer would have had to deal with a LOT more than remedial
training. In an age where the FAA clobbers those with whom it has a
gripe with draconian enforcement measures (revocation of
certificates for highly questionable paperwork errors, for
instance). The FAA dispenses justice ineffectively and
inequitably... and makes the aviation world look
pretty ridiculous as a result.
ANN continues to call for an Airman's Bill of
Rights as an initial effort on the road to making
flying safer, more 'just' and truly reflective of the
spirit that this industry was built upon. But... we're not holding
our breath... -- Jim Campbell, ANN E-I-C.