Beyond “Performance As A Pilot”: What Is The Scope of A PRIA Request?

by Greg Reigel, AAL
Copyright 2018. All Rights Reserved
Published in Midwest Flyer – October/November 2018

I am frequently asked by pilots whether an employer’s disclosure of certain documents is properly within the scope of a request for documents under the Pilot Records Improvement Act (“PRIA”). Answering the question usually requires analyzing whether the document being disclosed relates to the individual’s “performance as a pilot.” However, based upon a recent Legal Interpretation issued by the FAA’s Office of the Chief Counsel, it appears that the scope of a PRIA request casts a bigger net.

The Interpretation initially noted that “the separate provisions of the PRIA work in tandem to provide a complete record of potential pilot employment issues and to capture instances relating to an individual’s performance as a pilot that do not fall into one of the provided statutory categories.” It then went on to discuss how these provisions overlap.

With respect to whether a document relates to an individual’s performance as a pilot, the Interpretation stated “to the extent that a pilot’s behavior directly disrupts safe aircraft operations, those records should be included in accordance with the ‘catch-all’ provision” of § 44703(h)(l)(B)(ii). Next it noted that § 44703(h)(l)(B)(i) requires disclosure of documents an air carrier must maintain under 14 C.F.R. § 121.683 (records of each action taken concerning the release from employment or physical or professional disqualification of any flight crewmember).

The Interpretation then confirmed that the records maintained under § 121.683 are not limited to those records relating to an individual’s performance as a pilot. Rather, it stated “[p]ilot infractions not related to pilot performance that would rise to a level grave enough to cause an air carrier to release a pilot from employment would be captured by this recordkeeping requirement, and a hiring air carrier would be required to request and receive those records.”

Based upon this Interpretation, it appears the scope of documents an air carrier must produce in response to a PRIA request potentially includes more than just documents directly relating to the individual’s performance as a pilot. As a result, if you are a pilot applying for a position with an air carrier and you are concerned about what your previous or current employer may or may not disclose, I recommend that you request a copy of your employment file BEFORE you apply to the air carrier. That way you will know what is in your file and potentially subject to disclosure.

But keep in mind that if you disagree with what is in your file or what the employer may be disclosing, any recourse you may have against your employer is likely governed by applicable employment laws. As the Interpretation states, “PRIA is not a means for the FAA to arbitrate employment disputes.”

If you have additional questions regarding PRIA, you should review FAA Advisory Circular 120-68G. And, as always, if you have additional questions, I’m happy to help.

EDITOR’S NOTE: Greg Reigel is an attorney with Shackelford, Melton, McKinley & Norton, LLP, and represents clients throughout the country in aviation and business law matters. For assistance, call 214-780-1482, email greigel@shackelfordlaw.net, or Twitter @ReigelLaw.