Pilot settles suit against feds who had blocked license upgrade

BOSTON --A Cape Air pilot on Monday dropped his lawsuit against federal authorities after they stated he "does not pose a threat to aviation or national security," according to court documents.

Robert Gray, 36, of Yarmouth, sued the Transportation Security Administration last year after he was denied permission to upgrade his commercial pilot's license so he could fly larger planes.

The TSA alleged in January 2005 that Gray was a "threat to aviation or national security" based on "derogatory information" in Gray's background. Federal authorities have never told Gray or his lawyers what the specific allegation was, Grays's lawyers maintain.

Both sides filed a settlement agreement on Monday in U.S. District Court.

The filing states in part, "... the federal government having concluded, based on new information voluntarily provided by the plaintiff, Robert William George Mulryne Gray, that at this time he does not pose a threat to aviation or national security."

Gray, who was born in Belfast, Northern Ireland, said in a prepared statement that he's relieved.

"This has been the most traumatic experience of my life," he said. "To see this country's government behave as it did was quite a shock."

Assistant US Attorney Mark T. Quinlivan and a press spokeswoman declined to comment on what new information led them to the settlement.

One of Gray's lawyers, Paul Holtzman, said his client has no criminal history of any kind.

"We alerted them to the fact that he's never been so much as questioned by a law enforcement agency," he said. "He has no connection to any unlawful activity."

In a side letter, Quinlivan gave Gray's lawyers a list of TSA names and phone numbers so that should a future problem arise with Gray, he can call them "in the attempt to quickly and informally resolve the matter."

Gray, who still is employed by Cape Air, also was represented by the American Civil Liberties Union.

Gray holds a British passport and is a legal permanent resident of the United States. He has lived in the United States since 1993 and began working as a commercial pilot in 1997.

An identical settlement agreement was filed in the 1st U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. Gray had sued there, as well, for technical reasons.