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75 

Federal Aviation Administration, DOT 

§ 13.233 

§ 13.233

Appeal from initial decision. 

(a) 

Notice of appeal. A party may ap-

peal the administrative law judge’s ini-
tial decision, and any decision not pre-
viously appealed to the FAA decision-
maker on interlocutory appeal pursu-
ant to § 13.219, by filing a notice of ap-
peal in accordance with § 13.210 no later 
than 10 days after entry of the oral ini-
tial decision on the record or service of 
the written initial decision on the par-
ties. The party must serve a copy of 
the notice of appeal on each party in 
accordance with § 13.211. A party is not 
required to serve any documents under 
§ 13.233 on the administrative law 
judge. 

(b) 

Issues on appeal. In any appeal 

from a decision of an administrative 
law judge, the FAA decisionmaker con-
siders only the following issues: 

(1) Whether each finding of fact is 

supported by a preponderance of reli-
able, probative, and substantial evi-
dence; 

(2) Whether each conclusion of law is 

made in accordance with applicable 
law, precedent, and public policy; and 

(3) Whether the administrative law 

judge committed any prejudicial er-
rors. 

(c) 

Perfecting an appeal. Except as fol-

lows in paragraphs (c)(1) and (2) of this 
section, a party must perfect an appeal 
to the FAA decisionmaker no later 
than 50 days after entry of the oral ini-
tial decision on the record or service of 
the written initial decision on the par-
ties by filing an appeal brief in accord-
ance with § 13.210 and serving a copy on 
every other party in accordance with 
§ 13.211. 

(1) 

Extension of time by agreement of 

the parties. The parties may agree to 
extend the time for perfecting the ap-
peal with the consent of the FAA deci-
sionmaker. If the FAA decisionmaker 
grants an extension of time to perfect 
the appeal, the FAA decisionmaker 
must serve a letter confirming the ex-
tension of time on each party. 

(2) 

Written motion for extension. If the 

parties do not agree to an extension of 
time for perfecting an appeal, a party 
desiring an extension of time may file 
a written motion for an extension in 
accordance with § 13.210 and must serve 
a copy of the motion on each party 
under § 13.211. Any party may file a 

written response to the motion for ex-
tension no later than 10 days after 
service of the motion. The FAA deci-
sionmaker may grant an extension if 
good cause for the extension is shown 
in the motion. 

(d) 

Appeal briefs. A party must file 

the appeal brief in accordance with 
§ 13.210 and must serve a copy of the ap-
peal brief on each party in accordance 
with § 13.211. 

(1) A party must set forth, in detail, 

the party’s specific objections to the 
initial decision or rulings in the appeal 
brief. A party also must set forth, in 
detail, the basis for the appeal, the rea-
sons supporting the appeal, and the re-
lief requested in the appeal. If the 
party relies on evidence contained in 
the record for the appeal, the party 
must specifically refer to the pertinent 
evidence contained in the transcript in 
the appeal brief. 

(2) The FAA decisionmaker may dis-

miss an appeal, on the FAA decision-
maker’s own initiative or upon motion 
of any other party, where a party has 
filed a notice of appeal but fails to per-
fect the appeal by timely filing an ap-
peal brief with the FAA decisionmaker. 

(e) 

Reply brief. Except as follows in 

paragraphs (e)(1) and (2) of this section, 
any party may file a reply brief in ac-
cordance with § 13.210 not later than 35 
days after the appeal brief has been 
served on that party. The party filing 
the reply brief must serve a copy of the 
reply brief on each party in accordance 
with § 13.211. If the party relies on evi-
dence contained in the record for the 
reply, the party must specifically refer 
to the pertinent evidence contained in 
the transcript in the reply brief. 

(1) 

Extension of time by agreement of 

the parties. The parties may agree to 
extend the time for filing a reply brief 
with the consent of the FAA decision-
maker. If the FAA decisionmaker 
grants an extension of time to file the 
reply brief, the FAA decisionmaker 
must serve a letter confirming the ex-
tension of time on each party. 

(2) 

Written motion for extension. If the 

parties do not agree to an extension of 
time for filing a reply brief, a party de-
siring an extension of time may file a 
written motion for an extension in ac-
cordance with § 13.210 and must serve a 

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76 

14 CFR Ch. I (1–1–24 Edition) 

§ 13.233 

copy of the motion on each party in ac-
cordance with § 13.211. Any party choos-
ing to respond to the motion must file 
and serve a written response to the mo-
tion no later than 10 days after service 
of the motion The FAA decisionmaker 
may grant an extension if good cause 
for the extension is shown in the mo-
tion. 

(f) 

Other briefs. The FAA decision-

maker may allow any person to submit 
an 

amicus curiae brief in an appeal of an 

initial decision. A party may not file 
more than one brief unless permitted 
by the FAA decisionmaker. A party 
may petition the FAA decisionmaker, 
in writing, for leave to file an addi-
tional brief and must serve a copy of 
the petition on each party. The party 
may not file the additional brief with 
the petition. The FAA decisionmaker 
may grant leave to file an additional 
brief if the party demonstrates good 
cause for allowing additional argument 
on the appeal. The FAA decisionmaker 
will allow a reasonable time for the 
party to file the additional brief. 

(g) 

Number of copies. A party must file 

the original plus one copy of the appeal 
brief or reply brief, but only one copy 
if filing by email or fax, as provided in 
§ 13.210. 

(h) 

Oral argument. The FAA decision-

maker may permit oral argument on 
the appeal. On the FAA decision-
maker’s own initiative, or upon writ-
ten motion by any party, the FAA de-
cisionmaker may find that oral argu-
ment will contribute substantially to 
the development of the issues on appeal 
and may grant the parties an oppor-
tunity for oral argument. 

(i) 

Waiver of objections on appeal. If a 

party fails to object to any alleged 
error regarding the proceedings in an 
appeal or a reply brief, the party 
waives any objection to the alleged 
error. The FAA decisionmaker is not 
required to consider any objection in 
an appeal brief, or any argument in the 
reply brief, if a party’s objection or ar-
gument is based on evidence contained 
on the record and the party does not 
specifically refer to the pertinent evi-
dence from the record in the brief. 

(j) 

FAA decisionmaker’s decision on ap-

peal.  The FAA decisionmaker will re-
view the record, the briefs on appeal, 
and the oral argument, if any, when 

considering the issues on appeal. The 
FAA decisionmaker may affirm, mod-
ify, or reverse the initial decision, 
make any necessary findings, or re-
mand the case for any proceedings that 
the FAA decisionmaker determines 
may be necessary. The FAA decision-
maker may assess a civil penalty but 
must not assess a civil penalty in an 
amount greater than that sought in the 
complaint. 

(1) The FAA decisionmaker may raise 

any issue, on the FAA decisionmaker’s 
own initiative, that is required for 
proper disposition of the proceedings. 
The FAA decisionmaker will give the 
parties a reasonable opportunity to 
submit arguments on the new issues 
before making a decision on appeal. If 
an issue raised by the FAA decision-
maker requires the consideration of ad-
ditional testimony or evidence, the 
FAA decisionmaker will remand the 
case to the administrative law judge 
for further proceedings and an initial 
decision related to that issue. If an 
issue raised by the FAA decisionmaker 
is solely an issue of law, or the issue 
was addressed at the hearing but was 
not raised by a party in the briefs on 
appeal, a remand of the case to the ad-
ministrative law judge for further pro-
ceedings is not required but may be 
provided in the discretion of the FAA 
decisionmaker. 

(2) The FAA decisionmaker will issue 

the final decision and order of the Ad-
ministrator on appeal in writing and 
will serve a copy of the decision and 
order on each party. Unless a petition 
for review is filed pursuant to § 13.235, a 
final decision and order of the Admin-
istrator will be considered an order as-
sessing civil penalty if the FAA deci-
sionmaker finds that an alleged viola-
tion occurred and a civil penalty is 
warranted. 

(3) A final decision and order of the 

Administrator after appeal is precedent 
in any other civil penalty action. Any 
issue, finding or conclusion, order, rul-
ing, or initial decision of an adminis-
trative law judge that has not been ap-
pealed to the FAA decisionmaker is 
not precedent in any other civil pen-
alty action. 

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