# Wendell H. Ford Aviation Investment and Reform Act for the 21st Century (AIR21) — Federal Whistleblower Protection Filing Deadlines by Statute

For Wendell H. Ford Aviation Investment and Reform Act for the 21st Century (AIR21), usc citation is 49 U.S.C. § 42121; filing deadline days is 90; covered industry is Aviation; enforcement mechanism is Complaint filed with Secretary of Labor; Secretary investigates with preliminary order, then final order after hearing; private right of action is No explicit kickout provision; employee may enforce Secretary's order in district court, recorded from its source on 2026-08-15.

- **statute short name:** Wendell H. Ford Aviation Investment and Reform Act for the 21st Century (AIR21)
- **usc citation:** 49 U.S.C. § 42121
- **filing deadline days:** 90 _(verified: appears in the quote below)_
- **covered industry:** Aviation _(our reading, not quoted from the source)_
- **enforcement mechanism:** Complaint filed with Secretary of Labor; Secretary investigates with preliminary order, then final order after hearing
- **private right of action:** No explicit kickout provision; employee may enforce Secretary's order in district court

## What the source says

> A person who believes that he or she has been discharged or otherwise discriminated against by any person in violation of subsection (a) may, not later than 90 days after the date on which such violation occurs, file (or have any person file on his or her behalf) a complaint with the Secretary of Labor alleging such discharge or discrimination.

## Source

- https://www.whistleblowers.gov/statutes/air21

Last verified: 2026-08-15. Review by: 2027-08-15.
Part of [Federal Whistleblower Protection Filing Deadlines by Statute](https://referencesource.org/whistleblower-filing-deadlines/).