Mars, it seems you have no idea how things work in the U.S. The FAA has no authority whatsoever over customers. The customer is free to request anything, using any coercion available, and it's not illegal, nor would the FAA be involved if it were illegal. The only way the FAA could be involved is if a pilot were to violate minimums, in which case the FAA would violate the pilot and likely suspend his certificate for a period of time. Even if it wanted to, the FAA could not touch the customer. In any case, in the current climate oil companies can pretty much do whatever they like about anything and expect to get away with it. Here in the Homeland we have the best government money can buy.