Opinion ID: 618220
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: SAAB 340 Aircraft Proving Tests

Text: In late 2005, Air Sunshine entered into a lease to operate three SAAB 340 aircraft, to expand its business. The FAA requires aircraft proving runs to take place before certain types of aircraft may be used in operations. [3] As to the SAAB 340 aircraft, this had not happened by July 2008. All of this happened before there was any alleged involvement by Carl with respect to Air Sunshine. In August 2008, Carl, the Principal Maintenance Inspector in the FAA's South Florida Flight Standards District Office, was assigned to Air Sunshine's matters. Carl met with Air Sunshine on October 8, 2008, and explained that the proving runs would not take place until errors in Air Sunshine's operating manual were corrected. Air Sunshine alleges that the errors in the operating manual were outside Carl's responsibilities. During this meeting, Carl mentioned that Yvette Hau-Lepera, another FAA employee, was a good friend of his. Adili responded by stating that Hau-Lepera had done Air Sunshine no justice, and the certification for which Hau-Lepera was responsible was mired in unexplained delays. The First Amendment retaliation claim stems from this conversation. Air Sunshine says the further actions and delays were a result of their criticism to Carl of the work of FAA inspector Hau-Lepera. A week after this meeting, Carl emailed Air Sunshine, informing them that Carl needed an extra week. At the same time, Carl sent a letter to Air Sunshine which, Air Sunshine alleges, contained numerous questions Air Sunshine had already been asked and had answered. Air Sunshine asserts that this letter was intended to intimate [sic] them, and to interpose yet further delays in the proving runs. Air Sunshine responded to the letter on October 20, 2008, answering the questions and raising concerns about the delay in holding the proving runs. Air Sunshine contacted Carl on November 3, stating that it would be very difficult for Air Sunshine to wait until November 13 to have a meeting to address the concerns raised in the October 20th letter. Carl responded by stating that previous FAA inspectors were incorrect, and Air Sunshine was not in compliance with FAA regulations. Air Sunshine attended a meeting with FAA employees, including Carl, on November 14 and left with the impression that proving runs would take place before the end of 2008. However, on November 24, Carl's assistant sent an email, signed by Carl, stating that Air Sunshine's most recent submission to the FAA lacked procedural format. On December 22, Carl emailed Air Sunshine, explaining that Carl could not simultaneously accomplish the SAAB proving tests and the C402 inspections, and that Air Sunshine had to choose between them. On March 5, 2009, a consultant hired by Air Sunshine sent a letter to Carl emphasizing Air Sunshine's economic hardship. The certification of the SAAB 340 aircraft never took place and Air Sunshine's business was substantially destroyed.