IMPROPER STARTING PROCS -- FAA FOLLOW UP.

Narrative

I PERFORMED A NORMAL AND THOROUGH PREFLT INSPECTION AS WELL AS MY FO DUTIES AS REQUIRED. SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES ON THIS DAY WERE THAT THE FAA WAS PRESENT AND; DUE TO THE LACK OF MANPOWER; I WAS UNDER THE CAPT'S SUPERVISION TO CONDUCT THE DUTIES OF THE GND CREW TO INSURE THE AREA WAS CLR DURING THE STARTING OF ENGS #3 AND #4 IN ORDER TO AID IN A TIMELY DEP FROM THE HANGAR AREA. AFTER RETURNING FROM THE DAY'S SCHEDULED FLYING; IT WAS BROUGHT TO THE CAPT'S AND MY ATTN THAT THE FAA HAD QUESTIONED A FEW OF OUR PROCS. MAINLY WHY THE FO WAS DIRECTED BY THE CAPT TO ENSURE THE AREA AROUND ENGS #3 AND #4 WAS CLR PRIOR TO STARTING. THE FAA'S PRESENCE; I FEEL; WAS LIKELY DUE TO SOME RAPID EXPANSION PROCS OF THE AIRLINE UP N WHICH WERE BEING QUESTIONED BY FAA. DUE TO THE FAA QUESTIONS THE WAY IN WHICH WE CONDUCTED OUR PREFLT AND THE STARTING OF THE ENGS; I FEEL THAT; EVEN THOUGH THIS CREW ENSURED SAFETY WAS NOT SACRIFICED; THAT THE COMPANY MAY PUNISH THE CREW AND USE US AS AN EXAMPLE TO OTHER CREWS IN ORDER TO EASE TENSION BTWN THE FAA AND UPPER MGMNT. I AM AWARE THAT THERE IS ALWAYS ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT AND WILLING TO ACCEPT CONSTRUCTIVE CRITICISM IF I DID NEGLECT ANY SAFETY OR PREFLT PROCS. I'M STILL UNCERTAIN OF THE EXACT DISCREPANCY SINCE MY COMPANY IS NOT VERY FORTHCOMING TO THE FAA'S COMMENTS AND IS KEEPING THE WHOLE INCIDENT A BIG SECRET. LESSON TO BE LEARNED: PLTS ARE OFTEN UNDER EXTREME PRESSURE FROM MGMNT TO MEET SCHEDULING INTEGRITY AND; IF A PROB OCCURS; IT IS OFTEN DISMISSED AS PLT ERROR. I WOULD REMIND PLTS THAT; UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES; SCHEDULING SHOULD NEVER JEOPARDIZE SAFETY. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: RPTR'S MAINT DEPT WAS UNDERGOING AN FAA INSPECTION. SOME OF THE MAINT PERSONNEL AND THE FAA INSPECTOR WERE IN THE VICINITY OF THE RPTR'S ACFT WHEN THE FLC WAS READY TO START THE ENGS IN ORDER TO TAXI FROM THE HANGAR. BECAUSE THE MAINT PERSONNEL WERE BUSY WITH THE FAA INSPECTOR; THE CAPT DIRECTED THE FO TO DEPLANE AND CLR THE AREA BEHIND THE ENGS SO HE COULD START THEM. THE FAA INSPECTOR; NOTING THIS PROC; NOTIFIED THE RPTR'S CHIEF PLT ABOUT THE IMPROPER ENG START TELLING HIM THAT BOTH PLTS OF A 121 ACR MUST BE IN THE COCKPIT FOR ENG STARTS. THE CHIEF PLT DIDN'T BELIEVE THE FLC'S STORY AND SAID IT WAS AGAINST SOP AND DANGEROUS. HE GAVE THEM 2 WKS OFF WITHOUT PAY. THE FLC ALSO MET WITH THEIR FAA PRIMARY OPERATING INSPECTOR WHO HAD NO COMMENT NOR INITIATED ANY PUNITIVE ACTION.