Harrison Ford lands on taxiway KSNA

[givdrvr]

To my understanding, the FAA has in recent years become a strong advocate for Voluntary Safety Reporting Programs (VSRP). If any airman, including the subject airman, files a ASRS, ASAP, ATSAP, etc on an incident and willful negligence is not the root cause then a robust safety event review is the likely outcome. In exchange, the FAA gets the full candid story to add to its database for system safety analysis.

[peekay4]

Originally Posted by madhon

So a celeb gets let off with a slap on the wrist and "dont do it again if you can", If this had been just an ordinary person the book would be thrown at them .

No, he is treated exactly like an ordinary person would be treated.

The FAA has a long history of not using enforcement actions for these types of unintentional "honest mistakes" -- as long is the pilot is cooperative and otherwise competent -- and especially if the pilot self-discloses the error (e.g., via ASRS forms or even by radio as Harrison Ford did).

And in 2015 the FAA officially changed its Compliance Policy to one of non-enforcement, as part of a "just culture" safety philosophy:

https://www.faa.gov/about/initiatives/cp/

"The Compliance Philosophy represents a focus on using – where appropriate – non-enforcement methods, or "Compliance Action." Compliance Action is a new term to describe the FAA's non-enforcement methods for correcting unintentional deviations or noncompliance that arise from factors such as flawed systems and procedures, simple mistakes, lack of understanding, or diminished skills. A Compliance Action is not adjudication, nor does it constitute a finding of violation.

Examples of Compliance Actions include on-the-spot corrections, counseling, and additional training (including remedial training)."

Originally Posted by captbod

He will receive airman councelling, is there such a thing???

Yes, typically it's a one-to-one meeting with an FAA Safety Team (FAASTeam) representative.

[ethicalconundrum]

Originally Posted by madhon

So a celeb gets let off with a slap on the wrist and "dont do it again if you can", If this had been just an ordinary person the book would be thrown at them .

I'm fairly certain that Ford has made self-enforced reporting, and more than likely some self-directed training. This would lead to a finding of non-negligent non-safety related closure of his case, showing that he's learned his lesson, and will go forth and sin no more. I've seen this very same action in the case of Joe Bagodonuts pilot who admits, submits, takes training, and shows responsibility.