Final answer:
In FAA certificate action appeal hearings, the FAA must prove the airman committed the violation with a preponderance of the evidence, not the higher standard of beyond a reasonable doubt which is used in criminal cases.
Step-by-step explanation:
In the context of a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) certificate action appeal hearing, it is not the responsibility of the airman to prove innocence.
Rather, the FAA must prove that the airman committed the violation. This aligns with civil case procedure where the burden of proof is on the plaintiff to show that the evidence weighs more heavily in their favor (beyond a preponderance of the evidence).
Unlike in a criminal case, where the state must prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt, the standards in administrative or civil cases are lower. Therefore, for the FAA to win its case, it must satisfy this preponderance of the evidence standard to demonstrate that the airman is in violation of the relevant regulations.