The FAA revocation of the pilot's certificate for both captain and first officer on the infamous Northwest/Delta Flight 188 (NW188) last week contains some blistering language.
Here are some excerpts from the letters that each pilot received from the FAA on the flight, which overshot the Minneapolis airport by 150 miles on Oct. 21, while the pilots failed to make any radio contact with air traffic control for about 90 minutes
--"You operated NW188 in a reckless manner that endangered the lives and property of others."
--[As a result of the incident] "you lack the qualifications necessary to hold an Airline Transport Pilot certificate."
--"Your lack of awareness that NW188 had overflown the airport to which it had been dispatched and cleared until that aircraft had reached Eau Claire, Wisconsin, (approximately 150 miles beyond MSP [Minneapolis St. Paul International Airport] is completely unacceptable."
--"You engaged in conduct that put your passengers and your crew in serious jeopardy ... while you were on a frolic of your own."
Here is the full FAA letter, identical to both pilots except for their names and titles.
Thanks to correspondent Jeremy for sending it.
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By JOE SHARKEY
Looks like the first half of that letter is mostly just standard form letter type. It would be written just the same way the next time someone goofs up.
ReplyDeleteLine 20 about operating in a reckless manner is quoting and simply presenting a clear violation of the regulation 91.13(a) which specifically says "no person may operate .. in a careless or reckless manner so as to endanger the life or property of another".
The second page looks a bit more personalized.. but the entire document is pretty much 100% airtight attorney-written. They want to make darn sure these guys have zero chance of winning an appeal if they even try!