Looking For Advice

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Chris123

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Hello Everyone! I have a rather odd situation and figured this would be a good place to ask. I see some really good advice here and was hoping maybe someone could help with this.
Basically my situation is this: I am a current commercial pilot, and work for a part 91 company. I am working now part time on becoming a CFI, and will hopefully do both instructing and work at my current job. I am in early 30s, (it took me years and years to save up to actually get my ratings), and I had a major hiccup in my early twenties that I was able to resolve.
When I was 21 (and not a pilot) I was ticketed for having a small amount of marijuana on me. When I started flight training and read the medical form, (18v or 18w) I reported it to the FAA. My medical was denied, and I spent like a year trying to navigate the HIMS program and find a HIMS AME. I finally found one who was amazing and went through the HIMS program, did the periodic drug testing, psych eval etc, and got my medical. All of it was actually very straightforward, and then I went and finished up my ratings and somehow got a great first job. Im glad it was reported, and I dont have any skeletons in the closet so to speak etc. In other words, life is great! However, I do have something I'm a little concerned about that I was hoping to *maybe* get some advice on.

During the time before and slightly during the HIMS program, I had a long term girlfriend, and was working a normal job as a carpenter trying to save up to pay for school.
This girlfriend was mostly amazing and very supportive, but somewhat of a party animal and unhinged. She knew how careful I had to be as a pilot and especially going through the HIMS program, but sometimes my pleas fell on deaf ears. We have since separated.


Now, fast forward a couple years, and she has found out that I am a pilot, and is threatening to report me to the FAA for being "mentally unstable."
At first thought the whole thing is ridiculous; I know I'm fine and shouldn't have anything to worry about even If she actually did do something. I mean I reported *myself* to the FAA and truly dont have anything to hide. However, we did have some heated arguments and she is saying she has video of us arguing that makes me look bad.

My question is, If she really did have an axe to grind and reported me, could I actually lose my medical based off someone else's accusations or a video?

In other words, It makes perfect sense to me that hey you violate airspace, you get a DUI, you do something you shouldn't do, and you will have issues. But this is a grey area that I just dont know anything about. Said another way- does/can the FAA actually pull my medical cert. or investigate me over a complaint like this? I dont want to be too paranoid about this, but Ive invested so much time and effort into flying and have read some horror stories of vindictive spouses (especially over on airlinepilotforums, lol) and just want to be proactive. I know this is almost really a legal/technical question, but I know someone here probably has some good advice (Im hoping maybe the guru himself, Dr. Chein, might be able to weigh in). Thank you all in advance!!
 
Chris123 said:
Hello Everyone! I have a rather odd situation and figured this would be a good place to ask. I see some really good advice here and was hoping maybe someone could help with this.
Basically my situation is this: I am a current commercial pilot, and work for a part 91 company. I am working now part time on becoming a CFI, and will hopefully do both instructing and work at my current job. I am in early 30s, (it took me years and years to save up to actually get my ratings), and I had a major hiccup in my early twenties that I was able to resolve.
When I was 21 (and not a pilot) I was ticketed for having a small amount of marijuana on me. When I started flight training and read the medical form, (18v or 18w) I reported it to the FAA. My medical was denied, and I spent like a year trying to navigate the HIMS program and find a HIMS AME. I finally found one who was amazing and went through the HIMS program, did the periodic drug testing, psych eval etc, and got my medical. All of it was actually very straightforward, and then I went and finished up my ratings and somehow got a great first job. Im glad it was reported, and I dont have any skeletons in the closet so to speak etc. In other words, life is great! However, I do have something I'm a little concerned about that I was hoping to *maybe* get some advice on.

During the time before and slightly during the HIMS program, I had a long term girlfriend, and was working a normal job as a carpenter trying to save up to pay for school.
This girlfriend was mostly amazing and very supportive, but somewhat of a party animal and unhinged. She knew how careful I had to be as a pilot and especially going through the HIMS program, but sometimes my pleas fell on deaf ears. We have since separated.


Now, fast forward a couple years, and she has found out that I am a pilot, and is threatening to report me to the FAA for being "mentally unstable."
At first thought the whole thing is ridiculous; I know I'm fine and shouldn't have anything to worry about even If she actually did do something. I mean I reported *myself* to the FAA and truly dont have anything to hide. However, we did have some heated arguments and she is saying she has video of us arguing that makes me look bad.

My question is, If she really did have an axe to grind and reported me, could I actually lose my medical based off someone else's accusations or a video?

In other words, It makes perfect sense to me that hey you violate airspace, you get a DUI, you do something you shouldn't do, and you will have issues. But this is a grey area that I just dont know anything about. Said another way- does/can the FAA actually pull my medical cert. or investigate me over a complaint like this? I dont want to be too paranoid about this, but Ive invested so much time and effort into flying and have read some horror stories of vindictive spouses (especially over on airlinepilotforums, lol) and just want to be proactive. I know this is almost really a legal/technical question, but I know someone here probably has some good advice (Im hoping maybe the guru himself, Dr. Chein, might be able to weigh in). Thank you all in advance!!
Click to expand...
You'd think you could proactively let the FAA know you have a potential vindictive party that's threatening to make an "anonymous complaint." Not sure if it's better to bring the attention to it yourself, or wait to be "accused" by the FAA as many state it here.

Good luck!
 
wellknow said:
theres a whole thread here about a guy reported by his angry mother in law
Click to expand...
Pretty sure that’s what the OP referred to above. This OP is asking for advice to preempt this situation.

The other post was after it was already filed and OP saw the consequences of that.
 
well if u read that thread he’s basically screwed unless he kisses the ex’s ass.
 
She sounds psychotic to me. Is there someone you can report her to, maybe get her into a treatment program, before she does something this irrational?
 
If it were me, I'd try to establish some kind of paper trail. If she's sending these threats via email or text to you (or someone else who is willing to pass them along), get that documented via screenshots or photos. I'd contact AOPA Pilot Protection Services in writing describing the situation and asking for advice (again, in writing) regarding any possible legal or administrative methods to protect yourself from a malicious complaint. I would also consider (but be more hesitant about) doing the same with the local FSDO, although here you risk poking the bear. Some letters of reference from respectable acquaintances (pastor, physician, work supervisor) would also be ammunition I would consider if they are willing to testify to your character and temperament.

In my mind, the goal would be to establish some verifiable history *prior* to any complaint received by the FAA. In the event she did make the complaint, you'd already have a body of records to strengthen your defense and make it easier to establish that this was a false accusation that you saw coming. Maybe you'd never need to use it, and that would be fine. But I'd sure sleep better knowing that I had it.

Finally (but also first and most importantly), I'd cut off all outgoing contact with her. Save anything you receive (voice mails, texts, social media, etc.) but give nothing back. Best case, she gets bored and moves on. Worst case, she makes the accusation, but at least you haven't given her any further ammunition.
 
That you have some kind of ongoing contact with this person speaks volumes. You can either protect your career or not or you can continue to have contact with person or not, but you can’t have both.

Nothing can/will protect you from a hotline complaint, so keep that in mind as you focus on the future and not on the past.
 
wellknow said:
but she has the video
Click to expand...
A video of what? Arguing? I mean if it's a video of him holding a bottle of vodka in one hand and a blunt in the other, while screaming that he's going to take off his tinfoil hat so the space aliens will come down and kill them both, then yeah, that's an issue. If it's just yelling, I don't think I'd lose any sleep over that.
 
Thank you all so much for your advice....Yeah, I was thinking about contacting AOPA and seeing if there might be something I could do proactively, but I honestly think I should just leave it alone. To be honest, I think its an open-ended threat on her part. I was debating even posting about this, but saw some similar threads on another forum so I figured it might be worth it just to get some information.

I have cut all ties with her, and it was her who contacted me; I dont even have social media so I dont think anything could be used against me. As far as a video, (if there even is one) there was never any yelling or anything (at least from my side) so I don't think that could be an issue. It is more the possibility of an unfounded accusation - but I guess that possibility is always there. I do have all txts/voicemails/emails from her that I can show if need be. I think if it really comes down to it I have a leg to stand on and have no problems explaining what happened. I hope it does not come to that, but if it does, I honestly think it will look like a case of someone with an axe to grind for whatever reason. Although, when I look at the other thread here, (I have to actually re read it) didnt it take like a year for the investigation to be over? Either way I think Ill just let it go and if anything changes report back.

Thank you all again for the advice, I really appreciate it.


....at least she dosen't have a video of my landings.
 
Broke up two years ago?
Age of video, since it might have happened early in the long term relationship?
Other evidence?

I’m not looking for answers but this might help frame things or allow you to see that you need anger management classes or something

I’m pretty sure we’ve all been angry and had bad moments but it sounds like maybe she’s got a point
 
Red headed hair dresser named Tiffany that is an exotic dancer on the side you say? Ooooh….

Beats a 2 crazy 10 looks.
 
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