On August 3, 2012, President Obama signed the Pilot’s Bill of Rights (S. 1335) into law. The law, sponsored by U.S. Sen. Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.), “guarantees pilots under investigation by the FAA expanded protection against enforcement actions via access to investigative reports, air traffic control and flight service recordings, and it also requires the FAA to provide the evidence being used as the basis of enforcement at least 30 days in advance of action” according to the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association website.
On August 8, 2012, the FAA issued guidance to inspectors on the written notification required to be provided to individuals who are the subject of an investigation relating to the approval, denial, suspension, modification, or revocation of an airman certificate under Chapter 447 of Title 49 of the United States Code (49 U.S.C.).