Misc - HL 125 (5)

From: old72driver Paris

Date: 4/19/2012 11:56:41 AM

To: Guy Paris

Subject: Pilot Loses Supreme Court Case.

Pilot Loses Supreme Court Case

It was wrong for the Social Security Administration to give confidential medical information about a pilot to the FAA, but that pilot can't sue the government for emotional distress, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled recently. In a 5-to-3 decision (PDF) issued on March 28, the justices overturned a ruling by a California court and said the government could be held liable only for financial damages such as losses and expenses. The dissenting justices wrote that the majority view makes it too easy for the government to go ahead and invade individual privacy without consequences. "That is not the result Congress intended when it enacted an Act with the express purpose of safeguarding individual privacy against Government invasion," wrote Justice Sonia Sotomayor.

On another issue where pilots' rights conflict with FAA authority, AOPA said this week the FAA should be required to disclose its evidence when seeking to suspend or revoke a pilot certificate, and if it fails to do so, the NTSB should be able to dismiss or delay the FAA's action. "It is a matter of fairness that an airman knows what evidence the FAA is using to take action," AOPA said. A proposed rule that would require the FAA to disclose portions of its enforcement investigative reports to pilots targeted for emergency certificate revocation also should be applied to nonemergency cases, said AOPA counsel Kathleen Yodice.

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A few of the pilots listed in the last HL as being successful with their 2007 tax appeal have emailed in to set the record straight:

From: Denis Waldron

Date: 4/16/2012 1:42:41 PM

To: Mark Sztanyo;

Subject: Re: Error in PCN newsletter

My name is incorrectly listed in the PCN 124 via an email from Phillip and Jeri Jones as having had been successful in my re-characterization of the 2007 lump sum wages to capital gains. It was denied by the Atlanta region and further denied on appeal by an agent in Plantation, FL. My Form 843 to recapture the Medicare tax was also denied in the same appeal. I have 2 more years to file a further appeal in tax court. I'm waiting to see if we are going to have help from Merrily Whalen as promised, do this together, or I might proceed individually. I have given up on Bill Whalen.

Denis Waldron

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From: jonrineman

Date: 4/16/2012 10:21:22 AM

To: marksztanyo@gmail.com

Subject: $

Mark,

I apologize for any inconvenience, but wanted to let you and others know that I have not received any financial reimbursement from the IRS.

The 843 was denied by an agent in Fresno in November. She passed on the 1040x to "another department," and I've not heard anything since.

I wish!

Jon Rineman

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From: Craig.Coleman@faa.gov

Date: 4/16/2012 8:03:17 AM

To: marksztanyo@gmail.com

Subject: Re: Dick Blizzard's article "Fire! Fire! Fire on the Flightdeck!"

I enjoyed Dick Blizzard's article on the flightdeck fire on the USS Wasp in 1958. My dad was on the Wasp during that incident, he was the Maintenance Chief for VS-32 (embarked S2F Squadron). I remember well his description of how bad the fire was and how they were all afraid they might have to swim for it in the cold North Atlantic. I became a Naval Aviator myself and flew for Delta 26 years retiring in 2005 with the great exodus. Thanks Dick, for the remembrance.
C. Scott Coleman
FAA/SO-65
Aviation Safety Inspector (OPS)
Atlanta CMO
(404)474-5371

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From: Nancy Burton  nancyburton08@yahoo.com

Date: 4/17/2012 2:00:14 PM

To: misc@pilotcommunication.net

Subject: Do You have a website to list aircraft for sale?

My friend's husband passed suddenly in Nov....at age 56...they have a 1966 Beechcraft...

Musketeer...total time 46055...engine top overhaul 6-25-2011...last annual 2010....last

flight Aug 5, 2011......approx $30,000....or best offer....thanks...Nancy ( I used to be

CPO secretary in DFW for 12 yrs...) retired now...!

Editor: Nancy, as I emailed you I do have a site that was planned for exactly this sort of thing, but currently it is down due to technical problems.  I hope to have it repaired oneday. 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The above post is not necessarily the opinion or shared view of the editor. Some posts may be excluded from the current issue because of too much content or deemed inappropriate. All PCN subscribers are welcome to post. PCN Home Page is located at: http://pcn.homestead.com/home01.html