Tips for a Productive Relationship with the FAA

FAA... The very acronym conjures feelings of concern and increases the heart rate of many aviation professionals.

About 15 years ago my father and I ran a flight school and Part 135 charter business in northern Maine made up of a modest fleet of piston aircraft. During a conversation with the owner of the business that maintained our aircraft, he related an experience to justify his outlook on the FAA. An Inspector had come to the airport where our mechanic’s shop was located to perform an FAA check of ;airplanes and records. After discovering a non-compliance situation, the shop owner commented, “with FAA inspectors’ going out of their way to make things difficult for small businesses, sooner or later there will be none”. The maintenance inspector replied “that’s the idea”.

Unfortunately this shop owner’s sentiment is shared by many seasoned aviation professionals who can relate similar experiences. These incidents contribute to an adversarial relationship between industry stakeholders and regulators. As a result, instead of applying the adage “We’re not happy until you’re not happy” to the FAA with a hint of humor, it is increasingly becoming a deep seated belief.

That every regulatory organization has a few individuals who seem to be determined to make things as difficult as possible for the industry they regulate is often true, but I have found most FAA employees to be conscientious people just trying to do their job. However, the system they have been trained to work in is often inefficient and cumbersome, even for them. This can lead to challenges that they find just as exasperating as the aviation community does.

Given these realities, the question is: Can a relationship be established with FAA staff which promotes collaboration and engagement during the oversight of a project? In almost all cases the answer is... yes.

Interacting with the FAA for over twenty years has justified my practicing the following principles:
1. Leave no room for doubt regarding the operator’s commitment to the industry’s best practices for safe operations.
• As the operator’s mouthpiece, the individual representing the operator to the FAA must be able to clearly illustrate the project’s commitment to safety and compliance.
2. Demonstrate professional respect toward the FAA.
• Even if FAA personnel do not appear to be fully competent in their assigned role, an attitude of respect is essential to solidify the relationship.
3. Put in the time and effort to research the project, or intended task, before initiating a process with the FAA.
• Inspectors are often overloaded and may or may not have prior experience with the particulars of the task you are bringing to them. Don’t hesitate to ask questions, but as often as possible, know the answer to the question before you ask it. When the question is answered you’ll have a more complete understanding of the issue at hand and the assurance that the answer given is accurate.
4. Work diligently to ensure that the submission package for each project is complete and thorough.
• This goes a long way to relieve concerns the inspector may have about your competency to effectively perform the role you are appointed to.
5. Establish a relationship with the FAA inspectors.
• Recognize that they are people with a job to do. When they leave you they want to feel that they’ve accomplished something and that they do not need to worry about you or your operation. I cannot stress this point enough! If you demonstrate to inspectors that complying with established standards is just part of your seeking excellence in your operation, rather than a grudging surrender, the effect is that FAA inspectors feel less need to spend time scrutinizing things.
Above all, establish yourself and your operation upon a foundation of integrity. This means doing what you say, and saying what you do.
Following these principles will go a long way toward setting up a successful working relationship with the FAA.

If you need assistance in working with the FAA don’t hesitate to reach out. We are happy to help and will work with you to put together a plan for your unique situation.