Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy has doubled down on a threat to “pull” the certificates of pilots found to blame for causing aircraft incidents. In the aftermath of a tight runway incursion at Chicago Midway last week, Duffy posted on X that it is “imperative that pilots follow the instructions of air traffic controllers. If they do not, their licenses will be pulled.” It’s not clear if that means revoking certificates or suspending them. The crew of a Flexjet Challenger 350 had been told to hold short for a Southwest flight landing and read back the instruction but crossed anyway, forcing the 737-800 to go around.
On Friday, Duffy emphatically repeated the threat. When asked by NBC Nightly News if that was still his position he replied “Hell, yes,” , accompanied by a gesture mimicking an umpire ejecting a player from a ball game. Revocations are currently reserved for egregious violations that have contempt for the rules and a disregard for safety at their heart. Although the circumstances of all incidents are different, a typical sanction for this kind of transgression would be remedial training and possibly a fine. A certificate suspension could also be imposed. The pilots could fight the sanctions before an NTSB judge.
Meanwhile, AOPA would also like to clarify Duffy’s intent. “Transportation Secretary Duffy ‘s comments about “pulling” a pilot’s license if they don’t follow ATC instructions ignores the importance of due process and the wide spectrum of scenarios where an alternative remedy would be more appropriate in our collective pursuit of safety. We look forward to working with Secretary Duffy and the FAA to define the specifics of his comments,” AOPA President Darren Pleasance said in a statement to AVweb.
