If a company is pressuring pilots to violate FARs and compromise air carrier safety, it may be advisable for a pilot to contact a lawyer (through a union if applicable) and immediately report such conduct to the FAA. The pilot will be protected under AIR21 against any retaliation (including termination).
Sound advise... except for 2 big things...
1. At the time of the emergency... the Captain should not be having to worry about if he is covered by whistle blower laws (Which recently have not always worked at intended) nor should he be worried about his employment situation period... Your statement about the proper way for the captain to address safety concerns highlights the exact worries that half the comments in this thread are all about.
2. Even if it's not urgent situation, and there are laws against retaliation for voicing safety concerns... one still must take into account the
risk one incurs from doing so.... significant career risk there always is...
...Mr. Kinzer's lack of success in finding new employment is a great example of that.