FAA inspector observed in secure ramp area without badge.

Attributes
ACN	202894
Time
Date	199202
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : mco
State Reference	FL
Altitude	agl bound lower : 0 agl bound upper : 0
Environment
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Medium Large Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turbojet Eng
Flight Phase	ground : preflight
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 175 flight time total : 6000 flight time type : 1000
ASRS Report	202894
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	other anomaly other other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

We had just completed a flight to mco. The aircraft was parked at the gate and the captain was in flight operations signing the release. After completing my exterior preflight, I started to walk towards the operations office. At the time there was 1 other person on the ramp. He was approximately 25-30 yards from me and off to 1 side at an angle of about 45 degrees. At the time, I did not notice whether or not he was wearing a badge. He was dressed in a suit, not a uniform. I proceeded to the operations office and exited about 3 or 4 mins later. As I walked back toward the airplane, the same man approached me. Facing him straight on, it was easy to see he had an FAA badge clipped to the upper left part of his lapel. He asked why I did not question him about his not wearing a badge. I said that I did not notice that he wasn't wearing a badge, and asked him if it was true that he wasn't wearing a badge. He said 'yes.' he said something to the effect that I really should be more careful. At that point another company employee came up and started talking to the FAA inspector, and I headed for the airplane. The FAA inspector gave no indication that he intended to issue a violation. What concerns me about this incident is that I don't believe an FAA inspector should be allowed to consider himself above the law by knowingly not wearing his badge in a secured area.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: FAA INSPECTOR OBSERVED IN SECURE RAMP AREA WITHOUT BADGE.

Narrative: WE HAD JUST COMPLETED A FLT TO MCO. THE ACFT WAS PARKED AT THE GATE AND THE CAPT WAS IN FLT OPS SIGNING THE RELEASE. AFTER COMPLETING MY EXTERIOR PREFLT, I STARTED TO WALK TOWARDS THE OPS OFFICE. AT THE TIME THERE WAS 1 OTHER PERSON ON THE RAMP. HE WAS APPROX 25-30 YARDS FROM ME AND OFF TO 1 SIDE AT AN ANGLE OF ABOUT 45 DEGS. AT THE TIME, I DID NOT NOTICE WHETHER OR NOT HE WAS WEARING A BADGE. HE WAS DRESSED IN A SUIT, NOT A UNIFORM. I PROCEEDED TO THE OPS OFFICE AND EXITED ABOUT 3 OR 4 MINS LATER. AS I WALKED BACK TOWARD THE AIRPLANE, THE SAME MAN APCHED ME. FACING HIM STRAIGHT ON, IT WAS EASY TO SEE HE HAD AN FAA BADGE CLIPPED TO THE UPPER L PART OF HIS LAPEL. HE ASKED WHY I DID NOT QUESTION HIM ABOUT HIS NOT WEARING A BADGE. I SAID THAT I DID NOT NOTICE THAT HE WASN'T WEARING A BADGE, AND ASKED HIM IF IT WAS TRUE THAT HE WASN'T WEARING A BADGE. HE SAID 'YES.' HE SAID SOMETHING TO THE EFFECT THAT I REALLY SHOULD BE MORE CAREFUL. AT THAT POINT ANOTHER COMPANY EMPLOYEE CAME UP AND STARTED TALKING TO THE FAA INSPECTOR, AND I HEADED FOR THE AIRPLANE. THE FAA INSPECTOR GAVE NO INDICATION THAT HE INTENDED TO ISSUE A VIOLATION. WHAT CONCERNS ME ABOUT THIS INCIDENT IS THAT I DON'T BELIEVE AN FAA INSPECTOR SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO CONSIDER HIMSELF ABOVE THE LAW BY KNOWINGLY NOT WEARING HIS BADGE IN A SECURED AREA.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2007 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.