FAA inspector charged with taking bribes pleads guilty

November 13, 2011

Camden, New Jersey: On Thursday, October 27, FAA safety inspector Harrington Bishop plead guilty to charges before him of receiving illegal gratuities while performing official duties. Bishop was an inspector assigned to the Teterboro Flight Standards District Office (“FSDO”) in Saddle Brook, and, according to court documents, he spent hundred of days of approved leave taking pilots out on flight checks between May 2004 through February 2011. During these tests Bishop would generally accept money from the pilots in exchange for performing private pilot tests to airline transport pilot certificate tests. Ultimately, these tests led to pilots being officially licensed, certified, certificated or otherwise by the FAA even though the flights were not authorized. Bishop generally accepted $300 from the pilots and admitted that they always passed.

The proceedings took place before U.S. District Judge Robert Kugler, of the District of New Jersey. The charge carries a maximum penalty of two years in prison and a maximum $250,000 fine, or twice the gain or loss caused by the offense. Judge Kugler has scheduled sentencing for February 2, 2012.