By DAVID A. ROZANSKY

BILLINGS, Montana—Leigh Aslakson fell victim to an FAA emergency revocation of his airman certificates, and a National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) hearing upheld the government action against one of its own on Jan. 25. The FAA alleges that Aslakson falsified information on pilot evaluation forms.

It started with two unhappy employees of Cardinal Drilling, a company offering air ambulance services in Billings, Montana. The original complaint was brought against Gerald Mobley, chief pilot, as the employees left the company. The employees filed a complaint with the Flight Standards District Office (FSDO), the same office as Aslakson, stating that Mobley had entered "S for satisfactory" on pilot check-ride forms -allegedly entered for flight maneuvers never performed by the departing employees.

The Helena, Montana, FSDO flew into action. The FAA shut down Cardinal Drilling's flight department, later made official by an emergency revocation of the company's charter. The FAA seized the company's four King Airs for airworthiness investigation. The only problems discovered were two stretchers not properly approved. According to a Montana Aeronautics Division official, the FAA rescinded the field approval for the stretchers at the time of the investigation. Cardinal Drilling has since quit the aviation business.

- Along with Cardinal Drilling's charter, Mobley's airman certificate suffered emergency revocation. In the appeal process, Mobley demanded and received an NTSB hearing before a judge. In the hearing, Mobley presented the fact that he put the S's on the form without completing all maneuvers because that was the way the FAA inspector evaluated him on check rides. As evidence, he offered a copy of his own check-ride evaluations and testimony of the FAA inspector, under subpoena. That inspector was Leigh Aslakson.

The NTSB upheld the FAA's decision to revoke Mobley's certificates. The FAA then decided to bring action against one of its own. Aslakson's airman certificates were revoked by emergency order on Dec. 20, 1993. He has been a pilot inspector for 23 years, and he has earned praise from charter aviation companies Billings. Like Mobley, Aslakson failed to overturn the revocation in an. NTSB hearing. His testimony at Mobley's hearing was used as evidence against him.

Aslakson is taking the next step in the appeal process with the NTSB. He is currently asking the full board to review and overturn the FAA emergency revocation.

The action adds to a growing discontent in Montana with the Helena FSDO. The Montana Aeronautics Board has received numerous complaints about the federal office. As a result of those complaints, the board has asked FAA Administrator David Hinson to start an independent, unbiased investigation of the Helena FSDO and the FAA Northwest Mountain Region. The issue is that the Helena office is heavy-handed in the execution of its duties. The complaints rise higher than that. The Montana Pilots Association and many pilots and charter operators have written their senators and congressmen, requesting an investigation. U.S. Senator Conrad Burns of Montana is considering a request for the Inspector General to investigate the FAA, pending a closed meeting with Hinson.

Aslakson still works at the Billings Flight Standards satellite office, but there is speculation his job could be on the line. He is eligible for retirement in two years. Aslakson did not comment on the FAA actions, stating morosely that it is a personal matter. It seems aviation interests across Montana consider it a personal matter as well.

Tacoma, Washington General Aviation News & Flyer First February 1993 A-3