What are the FAA enforcement powers?

The Enforcement Division initiates legal enforcement actions to address noncompliance by regulated entities and persons including certificate actions, civil penalty actions, and informal procedures and settlements.



The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) possesses broad legal authority to ensure safety in U.S. airspace, and their enforcement powers range from administrative warnings to multimillion-dollar fines. Their primary tool for pilots and mechanics is the Certificate Action, where the FAA can suspend or permanently revoke a person's license to fly or perform maintenance. For airlines and manufacturers, the FAA utilizes Civil Penalties, issuing fines that can reach tens of thousands of dollars per individual violation—which can add up to millions for systemic issues. The FAA also has "Summary Seizure" power to ground specific aircraft that are deemed unairworthy. While the FAA is a regulatory body and not a criminal prosecutor, they work closely with the Department of Justice (DOJ); if an investigation reveals criminal intent (such as falsifying records or endangering the public), the FAA refers the case to the DOJ for criminal prosecution, which can result in prison time.

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The Subcommittee on Aviation has jurisdiction over all aspects of civil aviation, including safety, infrastructure, labor, commerce, and international issues. All programs of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), except for research activities, are within the purview of the Subcommittee.

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The CAA implements the ICAO SARPs in national legislation and is responsible for regulatory oversight. FAA is the Federal Aviation Administration. As the Civil Aviation Authority of the USA, it is responsible for establishing aviation regulations in the US.

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Military pilots may apply for airman certification based on his or her military pilot qualifications. A military pilot who passes the military competency knowledge test and possesses the appropriate documents will be issued a commercial pilot certificate and/or a flight instructor certificate.

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Oversight is a function performed by the FAA that assures that an aviation organization or designee complies with and uses safety-related standards, regulations, and associated procedures.

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The Aviation Litigation Division (AGC-300) is the legal enforcement office of the FAA, providing legal services related to the Agency's aviation regulatory compliance and legal enforcement programs.

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