"FAA Survey"?

[Orval Fairbairn]

Last week, I received a telephone call purporting to be from FAA,
querying Commercial-rated pilots, seeking "your satisfaction with FAA
services." When I answered that I am not currently exercising the
Commercial privileges, she ended the "survey."

Foolishly, I failed to take notes regarding the name of the caller and
callback information.

I know that FAA lost a laptop in Miami, in July, which contained
identity information on all Florida pilots. I called orlando FDSO; the
inspector I talked to was unaware of any survey being conducted.

My question: Is this part of a scheme to create counterfeit pilot
certificates for nefarious purposes, or what?

I did call the FBI, who advised me to collect the name and contact
information of any future caller.

Am I being paranoid, or what?

[Emily[_1_]]

Orval Fairbairn wrote:
> Last week, I received a telephone call purporting to be from FAA,
> querying Commercial-rated pilots, seeking "your satisfaction with FAA
> services." When I answered that I am not currently exercising the
> Commercial privileges, she ended the "survey."
>
> Foolishly, I failed to take notes regarding the name of the caller and
> callback information.
>
> I know that FAA lost a laptop in Miami, in July, which contained
> identity information on all Florida pilots. I called orlando FDSO; the
> inspector I talked to was unaware of any survey being conducted.
>
> My question: Is this part of a scheme to create counterfeit pilot
> certificates for nefarious purposes, or what?
>
> I did call the FBI, who advised me to collect the name and contact
> information of any future caller.
>
> Am I being paranoid, or what?

Very odd that FSDO wouldn't know anything about it. Could you possibly
try Oklahoma City and ask?

FWIW, I'm a commercial pilot and haven't received such a call, although
I don't live in FL.

[Denny]

Government agencies do their business via official mail, not blind
telephone calls..

denny

[Jim Burns[_1_]]

A more likely albeit totally unsubstantiated scenario....

"After the recent tragedy that occurred at Lexington, Kentucky, blah blah
blah... single air traffic controller... blah blah blah.... FAA official....
bla bla bla... This (station, newspaper, ect) conducted an extensive
telephone survey of the nations commercial pilots. As a result of our
survey, this reporter has learned that most commercial pilots are: (very
unsatisfied, satisfied, slightly satisfied, slightly dissatisfied,
dissatisfied, very dissatisfied) with the services of the FAA."

It wouldn't take much mental effort to search the FAA's pilot database
online then start calling pilots. When I was looking for an Aztec I
downloaded the aircraft ownership database, sorted it several times then
cross referenced the names with the pilots certificate database, looking for
pilots without a current medical. It took me all of an hour. A little
googleing for names and addresses and I soon had phone numbers of several
Aztec owners without medicals who indeed had their Aztecs for sale.

Jim

"Orval Fairbairn" > wrote in message
...
> Last week, I received a telephone call purporting to be from FAA,
> querying Commercial-rated pilots, seeking "your satisfaction with FAA
> services." When I answered that I am not currently exercising the
> Commercial privileges, she ended the "survey."
>
> Foolishly, I failed to take notes regarding the name of the caller and
> callback information.
>
> I know that FAA lost a laptop in Miami, in July, which contained
> identity information on all Florida pilots. I called orlando FDSO; the
> inspector I talked to was unaware of any survey being conducted.
>
> My question: Is this part of a scheme to create counterfeit pilot
> certificates for nefarious purposes, or what?
>
> I did call the FBI, who advised me to collect the name and contact
> information of any future caller.
>
> Am I being paranoid, or what?

[Andrew Gideon]

On Mon, 11 Sep 2006 13:03:26 -0500, Jim Burns wrote:

> It wouldn't take much mental effort to search the FAA's pilot database
> online then start calling pilots.

In fact, one new airpark in this area did precisely that for marketing
purposes not too long ago.

- Andrew

[Orval Fairbairn]

In article >,
"Jim Burns" > wrote:

> A more likely albeit totally unsubstantiated scenario....
>
> "After the recent tragedy that occurred at Lexington, Kentucky, blah blah
> blah... single air traffic controller... blah blah blah.... FAA official....
> bla bla bla... This (station, newspaper, ect) conducted an extensive
> telephone survey of the nations commercial pilots. As a result of our
> survey, this reporter has learned that most commercial pilots are: (very
> unsatisfied, satisfied, slightly satisfied, slightly dissatisfied,
> dissatisfied, very dissatisfied) with the services of the FAA."
>
> It wouldn't take much mental effort to search the FAA's pilot database
> online then start calling pilots. When I was looking for an Aztec I
> downloaded the aircraft ownership database, sorted it several times then
> cross referenced the names with the pilots certificate database, looking for
> pilots without a current medical. It took me all of an hour. A little
> googleing for names and addresses and I soon had phone numbers of several
> Aztec owners without medicals who indeed had their Aztecs for sale.


In my case, the caller identified herself as being with the FAA -- not a
TV station.


> "Orval Fairbairn" > wrote in message
> ...
> > Last week, I received a telephone call purporting to be from FAA,
> > querying Commercial-rated pilots, seeking "your satisfaction with FAA
> > services." When I answered that I am not currently exercising the
> > Commercial privileges, she ended the "survey."
> >
> > Foolishly, I failed to take notes regarding the name of the caller and
> > callback information.
> >
> > I know that FAA lost a laptop in Miami, in July, which contained
> > identity information on all Florida pilots. I called orlando FDSO; the
> > inspector I talked to was unaware of any survey being conducted.
> >
> > My question: Is this part of a scheme to create counterfeit pilot
> > certificates for nefarious purposes, or what?
> >
> > I did call the FBI, who advised me to collect the name and contact
> > information of any future caller.
> >
> > Am I being paranoid, or what?

[Sylvain]

Andrew Gideon wrote:

> On Mon, 11 Sep 2006 13:03:26 -0500, Jim Burns wrote:
>
>> It wouldn't take much mental effort to search the FAA's pilot database
>> online then start calling pilots.
>
> In fact, one new airpark in this area did precisely that for marketing
> purposes not too long ago.


I noticed that relatively recently the FAA did take into account pilots'
privacy -- and made good on opt-out requests (I don't remember how I did
it, but it is an option you can request); for instance my records no
longer show up when I do an online search. Now, of course, I suppose
there are a number of copies of older versions of this database floating
around.

--Sylvain

[Jim Burns[_1_]]

Fictional Authors Association

[Bush[_1_]]

Always reply that your number of
takeoffs is the same as your number of landings.

Bush

On Mon, 11 Sep 2006 15:23:34 GMT, Orval Fairbairn
> wrote:

>Last week, I received a telephone call purporting to be from FAA,
>querying Commercial-rated pilots, seeking "your satisfaction with FAA
>services." When I answered that I am not currently exercising the
>Commercial privileges, she ended the "survey."
>
>Foolishly, I failed to take notes regarding the name of the caller and
>callback information.
>
>I know that FAA lost a laptop in Miami, in July, which contained
>identity information on all Florida pilots. I called orlando FDSO; the
>inspector I talked to was unaware of any survey being conducted.
>
>My question: Is this part of a scheme to create counterfeit pilot
>certificates for nefarious purposes, or what?
>
>I did call the FBI, who advised me to collect the name and contact
>information of any future caller.
>
>Am I being paranoid, or what?

[BTIZ]

>
> Am I being paranoid, or what?

Nope..

BT