UNITED STATES OF AMERICA 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

OFFICE OF HEARINGS 

IN THE MATTER OF: 

NORTHEASTERN AVIATION 

CORPORATION 

Respondent 

Wednesday, 

February 10, 2016 

FDMS No. 

FAA-2014-0812 

1 

The teleconference convened, pursuant 

to notice, at 10:00 a.m. 

BEFORE: 

THE HONORABLE J. E. SULLIVAN, 

Administrative Law Judge 

ORIGINAL 

(202) 234-4433 

2 5 2.016 

NEAL R. GROSS 

COURT REPORTERS AND TRANSCRIBERS 

1323 RHODE ISLAND AVE., NW. 

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20005-3701 (202) 234-4433 
APPEARANCES: 

On Behalf of the Complainant: 

ZACHARY M. BERMAN, ESQ. 

of: Office of Regional Counsel, 

Eastern Region 

Federal Aviation Administration 

1 Aviation Plaza 

Jamaica, New York 11434 

718-553-3258 

zachary.berman@faa.gov 

On Behalf of the Respondent: 

EDWARD J. LONGOSZ, II, ESQ. 

of: Eckert Seamans Cherin & Mellot, LLC 

1717 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W. 

12th Floor 

Washington D.C. 20006 

202-659-6619 

elongosz@eckertseamans.com 

Also Present: 

2 

Cody L. Smith, FAA Attorney Adviser 

Rachel Brown, Judicial Staff Assistant 

(202) 234-4433 

NEAL R. GROSS 

COURT REPORTERS AND TRANSCRIBERS 

1323 RHODE ISLAND AVE., N.W. 

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20005-3701 (202) 234-4433 
3 

1 P-R-0-C-E-E-D-I-N-G-S 

2 (10:01 a.m.) 

3 JUDGE SULLIVAN: We're on the record, 

4 in the matter of Northeastern Aviation 

5 Corporation. This is Docket Number 

6 FAA-2014-0812. Today is Wednesday, February 10, 

7 2016, and the parties have convened for a 

8 prehearing status conference. Both parties are 

9 appearing, by telephone. 

10 The Complainant is Federal Aviation 

11 Administration, which I'll, hereinafter, refer to 

12 as the FAA, is represented by its Attorney of 

13 Record, Mr. Zachary M. Berman. 

14 The Respondent, Northeastern Aviation 

15 Corporation, is represented by its Attorney of 

16 Record, Mr. Edward Longosz, II. Also present, at 

17 the Office of Hearings, are two observers, Mr. 

18 Cody L. Smith, an Attorney Advisor, and Ms. 

19 Rachael Brown, a Judicial Staff Assistant. Good 

20 morning, to you, all. 

21 

22 

(202) 234-4433 

MR. BERMAN: Good morning. 

MR. LONGOSZ: Good morning, again, 

NEAL R. GROSS 

COURT REPORTERS AND TRANSCRIBERS 

1323 RHODE ISLAND AVE., N.W. 

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20005-3701 (202) 234-4433 
4 

1 Your Honor. 

2 JUDGE SULLIVAN: I will, simply, note 

3 that the last ordered issued in this case was 

4 issued August 4, 2015. This was an order denying 

5 the FAA's motion to compel, on the grounds of 

6 mootness. 

7 Since then, the parties have managed 

8 the case on their own, without Court intervention 

9 and, as a result, the case stands to be tried in 

10 the New York area, on May 4, 2016 and May 5, 

11 2016. 

12 Originally, according to the 

13 previously issued litigation order, dated April 

14 17, 2015, the parties had set up today's 

15 telephone conference, either for argument on 

16 dispositive motions, or as a prehearing status 

17 conference. As noted earlier, it appears this a 

18 prehearing status conference, since no 

19 dispositive motions were filed. 

20 So, Mr. Berman, since you are the 

21 Complainant's Counsel, why don't I turn to you, 

22 first, and you tell me what the status of the 

(202) 234-4433 

NEAL R. GROSS 

COURT REPORTERS AND TRANSCRIBERS 

1323 RHODE ISLAND AVE, NW. 

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20005-3701 (202) 234-4433 
5 

1 case is. 

2 MR. BERMAN: Yes, I believe we're very 

3 close to reaching a settlement. We're just, I'm 

4 not sure how much detail you want, but we're in 

5 the -- the Agency is in the process of putting 

6 together a settlement proposal, and we discussed 

7 it, in principle, with Northeastern and I, and 

8 they seem to be okay with agreeing with the 

9 principle, we just have to iron out the details, 

10 so it's an excellent chance that we're going to 

11 settle very soon. 

12 JUDGE SULLIVAN: Okay. Mr. Longosz, 

13 do you have anything you would like to add, or 

14 correct, to that pre-status summary? 

15 MR. LONGOSZ: No, Your Honor. And, as 

16 one knows, the devil's in the details, but 

17 definitely, in terms of in principle, we're in 

18 accord, and I think within the next week or two 

19 we can hammer out the details, we may have some 

20 good news for the Court. 

21 JUDGE SULLIVAN: Okay. And why don't 

22 I turn back to you, Mr. Berman. 

(202) 234·4433 

NEAL R. GROSS 

COURT REPORTERS AND TRANSCRIBERS 

1323 RHODE ISLAND AVE., N.W. 

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20005·3701 

In looking at 

(202) 234·4433 
6 

1 the litigation procedural order, which was dated 

2 April 17, 2015, we had another date of March 

3 22nd, 2016, for the exchange of witness list and 

4 exhibits. This is on Page 3 of the five-page 

5 order. 

6 Do you want to set a second telephone 

7 conference, prior to that date, just as a 

8 bookend, for your settlement negotiations, so 

9 that if something doesn't work out, we can 

10 reconvene and you can tell me what, if anything, 

11 the parties are going to be doing for trial? 

12 MR. BERMAN: Okay. 

13 JUDGE SULLIVAN: Because, obviously, 

14 if you reach a settlement and file the paperwork, 

15 I'll cancel whatever's on the calendar, including 

16 another conference time. 

17 MR. BERMAN: Okay. 

18 JUDGE SULLIVAN: Would that work for 

19 you? 

20 MR. BERMAN: Yes it would. 

21 JUDGE SULLIVAN: In terms of when you 

22 think this potential settlement --

(202) 234-4433 

NEAL R. GROSS 

COURT REPORTERS AND TRANSCRIBERS 

1323 RHODE ISLAND AVE., N.W. 

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20005-3701 (202) 234-4433 
7 

1 MR. BERMAN: Yes. 

2 JUDGE SULLIVAN: could be 

3 completed, what are you looking for, in terms of 

4 time, one week, two weeks, three weeks, what's 

5 your preference? 

6 MR. BERMAN: I'd say, realistically, 

7 just to stay on the safe side, for the end of 

8 February. 

9 JUDGE SULLIVAN: Okay. And --

10 MR. BERMAN: Just another 19, 19 days. 

11 JUDGE SULLIVAN: Okay. 

12 MR. BERMAN: All right. 

13 JUDGE SULLIVAN: Mr. Longosz, would 

14 setting another conference in early March 2016 

15 work for your client, as well? 

16 MR. LONGOSZ: Yes it would, Your 

17 Honor. I think it's a good idea. 

18 JUDGE SULLIVAN: Okay. Then let's 

19 take a look at our calendars for the week of, 

20 either, the week of March 1st, 2016, or even the 

21 following week. Mr. Berman, starting with you, 

22 do you have a preferred date or time within that 

(202) 234-4433 

NEAL R. GROSS 

COURT REPORTERS AND TRANSCRIBERS 

1323 RHODE ISLAND AVE .• N.W. 

WASHINGTON. D.C. 20005-3701 (202) 234-4433 
8 

1 two-week time period? 

2 MR. BERMAN: I'm free that entire time 

3 period. 

4 JUDGE SULLIVAN: Okay. Mr. Longosz, 

5 same question to you, sir. 

6 MR. LONGOSZ: On the week of March 

7 1st, I'm not available that Monday the 29th, nor 

8 Friday, the 4th, but March 1, 2, or 3, is 

9 available. And then, would you like me to go 

10 into the next week, or does 

11 JUDGE SULLIVAN: No, I think that's 

12 good enough. I think, since we have a March, 

13 we're meeting together on February 10, 2016, 

14 let's just keep with the February, I'm sorry, a 

15 Wednesday time period and meet on Wednesday, 

16 March 2nd, 2016, again, at 10:00 a.m., Eastern 

17 Time. 

18 And, obviously, this particular 

19 conference would be a second prehearing status 

20 conference and it would be cancelled, if the 

21 parties reach a settlement and file settlement 

22 papers, prior to March 2nd, 2016. 

(202) 234·4433 

NEAL R. GROSS 

COURT REPORTERS AND TRANSCRIBERS 

1323 RHODE ISLAND AVE., N.W. 

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20005·3701 

Mr. Berman, 

(202) 234·4433 
9 

1 would that work for your client? 

2 MR. BERMAN: Yes, it would. 

3 JUDGE SULLIVAN: Okay. And, Mr. 

4 Longosz, same question. 

5 MR. LONGOSZ: Yes, Your Honor. 

6 JUDGE SULLIVAN: Okay. Mr. Berman, 

7 starting with you, is there anything else that we 

8 need to address for your client today? 

9 MR. BERMAN: No, Your Honor. 

10 JUDGE SULLIVAN: Mr. Longosz, same 

11 question. 

12 MR. LONGOSZ: Nothing, Your Honor. 

13 Shall we use the same call-in number that we used 

14 today? 

15 JUDGE SULLIVAN: Yes, and I will be 

16 sending out an order, in writing, codifying that 

17 a new conference has been set and also giving you 

18 the same conference number, so that you have it, 

19 as an easy reference. 

20 MR. LONGOSZ: Thank you. 

21 JUDGE SULLIVAN: You're welcome. Well 

22 then, with that, I will wish you, both, success 

(202) 234-4433 

NEAL R. GROSS 

COURT REPORTERS AND TRANSCRIBERS 

1323 RHODE ISLAND AVE., NW. 

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20005-3701 (202) 234-4433 
1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

' 20 II 

21 

22 

10 

in your private settlement negotiations. It 

appears, our business today is complete. We can 

go off the record and I wish you all a good day. 

Thank you. 

MR. BERMAN: Thank you, too. Thank 

you, Your Honor. 

MR. LONGOSZ: Thank you. 

(Whereupon, the hearing in the aboveentitled matter was concluded at 10:08 a.m.) 

(202) 234-4433 

NEAL R. GROSS 

COURT REPORTERS AND TRANSCRIBERS 

1323 RHODE ISLAND AVE., N.W. 

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20005-3701 (202) 234-4433 
A 

a.m 1:13 3:2 8:1610:9 

accord 5:18 

add5:13 

address 9:8 

Administration 2:5 

3:11 

Administrative 1:19 

Adviser 2:21 

Advisor 3:18 

Agency 5:5 

agreeing 5:8 

AMERICA 1:1 

APPEARANCES 2:1 

appearing 3:9 

appears 4:17 10:2 

April4:13 6:2 

area4:10 

argument 4:15 

Assistant2:22 3:19 

Attorney2:21 3:12,15 

3:18 

August 4:4 

available 8:7,9 

Avenue 2:13 

Aviation 1 5 2:5,5 3:4 

3:10,14 

B 

back 5:22 

Behalf2:2,9 

believe 5:2 

Berman 2:3 3:13,21 

4:20 5:2,22 6:12,17 

6:20 7:1 ,6, 10,12,21 

8:2,22 9:2,6,9 10:5 

bookend 6:8 

Brown 2:22 3:19 

business 10:2 

c 

calendar 6:15 

calendars 7:19 

call-in 9:13 

cancel6:15 

cancelled 8:20 

case 4:3,8,9 5:1 

chance 5:10 

Cherin 2:12 

client7:15 9:1,8 

close 5:3 

codifying 9:16 

Cody2:21 3:18 

compel4:5 

Complainant 2:2 3:10 

Complainant's 4:21 

complete 10:2 

completed 7:3 

(202) 234-4433 

concluded 10:9 

conference 3:8 

4:18 6:7,16 7: 

8:20 9:17,18 

convened 1:12 

4:15,17 

14 8:19 

3:7 

Corporation 1:5 

correct 5:14 

Counsel2:4 4:2 

Court 4:8 5:20 

--····· !L 

D.C2:15 

3:5,15 

1 

1: 1 

date 6:2,7 7:22 

dated4:136:1 

day 10:3 

days7:10 

definitely 5:17 

denying4:4 

DEPARTMENT 

detail5:4 

details 5:9,16,1 

devil's 5:16 

discussed 5:6 

dispositive 4:16 

Docket 3:5 

doing 6 11 

9 

,19 

E 1:18 

16 

-

earlier4:17 

early7:14 

Eastern 2:4 8:16 

easy9:19 

Eckert2:12 

Edward 2:11 3: 

either 4:15 7:20 

elongosz@eck ertsea ... 

2:17 

entire 8:2 

entitled 10:9 

ESQ 2:3,11 

excellent 5:10 

exchange 6:3 

exhibits 6:4 

·--

1:5 3:6 

F 

FAA 2:21 3:12 

FAA's4:5 

FAA-2014-0812 

FDMS1:4 

February 1:9 3: 6 7:8 

8:13,14 

Federal2:5 3:10 

file 6:14 8:21 

filed 4:19 

first4:22 

five-page 6:4 

Floor 2:14 

following 7:21 

free 8:2 

Friday 8:8 

G -· 

giving 9:17 

go 8:9 10:3 

going5:106:11 

good 3:19,21,22 5:20 

7:17 8:1210:3 

grounds4:5 

H 

hammer 5:19 

hearing 10:8 

Hearings 1:2 3:17 

hereinafter 3:11 

Honor4:1 5:15 7:17 9:5 

9:9,1210:6 

HONORABLE 1:18 

I . 

idea7:17 

112:113:16 

including 6:15 

intervention 4:8 

iron 5:9 

issued4:3,4,13 

J 

J 1:182:11 

Jamaica2:6 

Judge 1:19 3:3 4:2 5:12 

5:21 6:13,18,21 7:2,9 

7:11,13,188:4,119:3 

9:6,10,15,21 

Judicial2:22 3:19 

-- K 

keep8:14 

knows 5:16 

·- --· 

L 

L2:21 3:18 

Law1:19 

let's 7:18 8:14 

list6:3 

litigation 4: 13 6:1 

LLC 2:12 

Longosz 2:11 3:16,22 

5:12,15 7:13,16 8:4,6 

9:4,5,1 0,12,20 10:7 

look 7:19 

looking 5:22 7:3 

·-

M 

M2:33:13 

managed 4:7 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc. 

Washington DC 

11 

March 6: 2 7:14,20 8:6,8 

8:12,16 ,22 

matter 1: 4 3:4 10:9 

meet8:1 5 

meeting 8:13 

Mellot2: 12 

Monday 8:7 

mootnes s4:6 

3:20,21,22 

•5 

morning 

motion4. 

motions 4:16,19 

N -

N.W2:13 

need 9:8 

negotiati ons 6:8 10:1 

new2:6 4:10 9:17 

news 5:2 0 

Northeas tern 1:5 3:4 

3:14 5: 7 

note4:2 

noted 4:1 7 

notice 1: 13 

number 3:5 9:13,18 

0 -------

observer s 3:17 

obvious I y6:13 8:18 

22:43:17 

12,21 6:12,17 

18 8:4 9:3,6 

,13 6:1,5 9:16 

4:3 

Office 1: 

okay 5:8, 

7:9,11' 

order 4:4 

ordered 

Originall y 4:12 

p 

P-R-0-C-E-E-D-1-N-G-S 

3:1 

Page 6:4 

papers 8: 22 

paperwo 

particula 

rk 6:14 

r8:18 

parties 3: 7,8 4:7,14 

6:11 8: 21 

Pennsyl vania2:13 

period 8: 1 ,3, 15 

Plaza 2:5 

potential 6:22 

pre-statu s 5:14 

preferen ce 7:5 

preferre d7:22 

preheari ng3:84:16,18 

8:19 

present2 :19 3:16 

previous 

principle 

prior 6:7 

ly 4:13 

5:7,9,17 

8:22 

private 1 0:1 

www.nealrgross.com 
procedural6: 1 

process 5:5 

proposal 5:6 

pursuant 1:12 

putting 5:5 

question 8:5 9:4,11 

R 

Rachael 3:19 

Rachel2:22 

reach 6:14 8:21 

reaching 5:3 

realistically 7:6 

reconvene 6:10 

record 3:3,13,16 10:3 

refer3:11 

reference 9:19 

Region 2:4 

Regional2:4 

represented 3:12,15 

Respondent 1:6 2:9 

3:14 

result 4:9 

right7:12 

------- --- ---

s 

safe 7 7 

Seamans 2:12 

second 6:6 8:19 

sending 9:16 

set4:14 6:6 9:17 

setting 7:14 

settle 5:11 

settlement 5:3,6 6:8,14 

6:22 8:21,2110:1 

side 7:7 

simply4:2 

sir 8:5 

Smith 2:21 3:18 

soon 5:11 

sorry 8:14 

Staff 2:22 3:19 

stands 4:9 

starting 7:21 9:7 

STATES 1:1 

status 3:8 4:16,18,22 

8:19 

stay 7:7 

success 9:22 

SULLIVAN 1:18 3:3 4:2 

5:12,21 6:13,18,21 

7:2,9,11,13,18 8:4,11 

9:3,6,1 0,15,21 

summary 5:14 

sure 5:4 

(202) 234-4433 

-------~---

__ T 

take7:19 

teleconference 1:12 

telephone 3:9 4:15 6:6 

tell4:22 6:10 

terms 5:17 6:21 7:3 

Thank9:20 10:4,5,5,7 

think 5:18 6:22 7:17 

8:11,12 

three 7:4 

time 6:16 7:4,22 8:1,2 

8:15,17 

today3:6 9:8,1410:2 

today's 4:14 

TRANSPORTATION 

1:1 

trial6:11 

tried 4:9 

turn 4:21 5:22 

two 3:17 5:18 7:4 

two-week 8:1 

u 

UNITED 1:1 

use9:13 

1 ------ 1 2:5 8:8 

101:9 3:6 8:13 

10:001:13 8:16 

10:01 3:2 

10:0810:9 

11434 2:6 

12th 2:14 

17 4:14 6:2 

1717 2:13 

197:10,10 

1st 7:20 8:7 

2 

2 8:8 

20006 2:15 

2015 4:4,14 6:2 

20161:9 3:7 4:10,11 6:3 

7:14,20 8:13,16,22 

202-659-6619 2:16 

22nd6:3 

29th 8:7 

2nd 8:16,22 

3 

3 6:4 8:8 

II_ ---- - ----- ------

w 

want 5:4 6:6 

Washington 2:15 

we're 3:3 5:2,3,4, 10,17 

8:13 

Wednesday 1:8 3:6 

8:15,15 

week 5:18 7:4,19,20,21 

8:6,10 

weeks 7:4,4 

welcome 9:21 

whatever's 6:15 

wish 9:22 10:3 

witness 6:3 

work6:9,18 7:15 9:1 

writing 9:16 

X 

y 

York 2:6 4:10 

z 

Zachary 2:3 3:13 

zachary.berman@faa ... 

2:7 

0 

44:4,10 

4th 8:8 

5 4:10 

5 

- -- ---- - -- ------ -- ... 

6 

7 

718-553-3258 2:6 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc. 

Washington DC 

12 

www.nealrgross.com 
13 

C E R T I F I C A T E 

This is to certify that the foregoing transcript 

In the matter of: Northeastern Aviation Corp, Inc. 

Before: DOT/OH 

Date: 02-10-16 

Place: teleconference 

was duly recorded and accurately transcribed under 

my direction; further, that said transcript is a 

true and accurate record of the proceedings. 

Court Reporter 

NEAL R. GROSS 

(202) 234-4433 

COURT REPORTERS ANO TRANSCRIBERS 

1323 RHODE ISLAND AVE., NW 

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20005-3701 WWN.nealrgross.com