Press release · September 13, 2026
Ethan Jeffrey Collins publishes this statement so employers, educators, media, and the public have a single factual source for his constructive activities, administrative appeal cooperation, and third-party character references — separate from unrelated search-result noise.
| Activity | Status |
|---|---|
| UND aerospace engineering | Accepted Fall 2026 · portfolio page · ME-102 record |
| SKYWARN Basic Spotter | Completed — community severe-weather reporting |
| FCC amateur radio | Technician license KR4NPW |
| Class A CDL | In progress |
| PilotRules / SEAS | Author of 19 Rules of Flight Training; Southeast Aerial Systems leadership & UAS systems work at KOGB — not conducting flight instruction (see FAA status below) |
| Community engagement | Ongoing law-abiding conduct; documented employer & family support letters |
Collins surrendered his FAA airman certificates to the FAA Office of the Chief Counsel (Case No. 2021AGC00047). The FAA confirmed receipt in a May 6, 2026 letter from Aviation Litigation Division attorney Nicholas (Cole) R. Milliard:
“We received your letter enclosing your Commercial Pilot Certificate… Remote Pilot Certificate… Flight Instructor Certificate… and Ground Instructor Certificate. If you have surrendered all your FAA certificates, then we need nothing further from you. If the TSA withdraws its security threat determination, your certificates (save your expired medical certificates) will be returned to you.”
— Nicholas (Cole) R. Milliard, Attorney, AGC-300 · full letter (PDF)
Until any TSA determination changes, Collins does not hold active FAA pilot or instructor certificates and does not represent that he is providing flight instruction.
Dozens of letters submitted to the U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado describe Ethan Collins’s integrity, disaster-relief service, Eagle Scout leadership, church mission, and willingness of South Carolina employers to hire him upon release.
Curated excerpts are at ethan-collins-character-references. The complete scanned record is available for download:
Collins is a party in Docket No. 2025-TSOB-0100 before the Transportation Security Oversight Board. He filed a perfected appellant brief (March 17, 2026) and a Second Supplemental Memorandum (April 26, 2026), and remains available to provide any information the Panel requires.
A chronological extract of the released filings — TSOB’s November 24, 2025 instruction letter, TSA’s opposition papers, Collins’s declaration and ForeFlight supplemental memo — is published at /ethan-collins-tsob-docket-summary.
Dear TSOB Docket Clerk and TSA Counsel,
I am writing regarding Docket No. 2025-TSOB-0100.
Status Inquiry
My perfected appellant brief was filed on March 17, 2026, and my Second Supplemental Memorandum was filed on April 26, 2026. I have not received any further communication since that time.
Update on Activities
Since my last filing, I have continued to focus on constructive, law-abiding activities. I remain accepted to the University of North Dakota for aerospace engineering studies beginning fall 2026. I have completed SKYWARN Basic Spotter Training, obtained an amateur radio license, and continue to maintain a clean record.
I am also working toward my Class A commercial driver’s license and remaining engaged in community-oriented efforts.
I remain available to provide any additional information the Panel may require and will continue to cooperate fully with this process.
Thank you for your attention to this matter.
Ethan Jeffrey Collins
PilotRules / Southeast Aerial Systems · West Columbia, SC
[email protected] · 803-497-2245
Not legal advice. Consult the official TSOB/TSA docket for primary records.
[email protected] · [email protected] · 803-497-2245 · Press kit