Grumble

Shack.

How many pilots have lost their medical for menial issues, or completely treatable issues? How many are running around out there flying anyway without a medical, BFR, IPC, ETC? Bring them back into the fold, get them current again.

Alpa preaches restoring the profession, well guess what, it starts at the airport fence. Without a strong domestic GA community as a foundation and supply, the profession will die the death of a thousand cuts.

ALPA should butt out of this one, and they can rewrite that letter as 51,999 because I don't agree.

ManFlex

All of the examples you gave require the input of medical professionals and typically testing - medical, psychological or otherwise. It is in no way even remotely comparable to what ALPA is opposing here. What AOPA and the EAA are supporting is for pilots to be able to fly aircraft up to 6 seats, 6000 lb MTOW with no medical certificate at all. They would have to hold a valid driver's license and 'self-certify' that they are medically fit.

ShyGuy

And you forgot to add operations that are limited to current 3rd class medical. No commercial operations requiring a 2nd/1st class. LSA pilots have been flying under LSA rules in regards to medical. Where's your proof that what the AOPA is proposing is dangerous? The biggest danger for a lone pilot is passing out and the 3rd class doesn't really do much for that anyway.

Grumble

And one key restriction... < 250knots.

The reality of this is that a bunch of old timers, probably retired airline pilots, can continue to fly their Bonanzas without needing to pass a useless third class medical every year.

CitabriaMan

Dear President Canoll,

I realize we all operate by motives, some visible and some hidden. Don't think for one second that your letter will be taken at face value. Certainly, someone at your level has opportunities to make decisions based on statistics and integrity. Yet in this case, your argument is so weak and transparent, that frankly it's an embarrassment to the professionals in this field.

I don't know exactly how a dollar will get into your pocket by taking this stance, but it is obvious to me, and to any other self-respecting pilot, that you are for sale.







June 23, 2015


Dear Senator:


On behalf of the 52,000 pilots at 31 passenger and cargo airlines represented by the Air Line Pilots Association, International (ALPA), I want to make you aware of ALPA's opposition to S.Amdt.2267, filed by Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV) to H.R. 22. ALPA disagrees with the process and is fundamentally opposed to the dangerous policy shift proposed in the Manchin amendment. We do not believe a complex issue such as this should be attached to a surface transportation bill—especially in a year when both chambers must take up an FAA reauthorization bill that deals directly with issues such as this.


The amendment is a modified version of S. 571, the Pilot's Bill of Rights 2. Specifically, ALPA has grave concerns with how this amendment addresses the 3rd class medical requirement for general aviation pilots.


This legislation has the potential to allow medically unfit pilots unfettered access to the national airspace at altitudes up to 18,000 feet, which also includes commercial airline traffic carrying passengers and cargo. The amendment would eliminate the requirement that these pilots see an Aviation Medical Examiner (AME) at regular intervals for mental and physical evaluation in order to show medical fitness to operate an aircraft. It also reduces the number of medical conditions that could disqualify a pilot from receiving a medical certificate and relies on the pilot to self-report when a disqualifying condition is identified. Even if a pilot develops and discloses a serious medical condition that creates risk in the national airspace, the amendment could prevent the FAA from ensuring that the pilot seek treatment.


ALPA has engaged with stakeholders to address concerns about medical evaluation processes for pilots who hold a 3rd class medical and intends to continue collaboration to ensure aviation safety for all pilots and passengers; however, we cannot allow bad policy to be forced through on an unrelated bill. A common-sense solution is within reach, but the amendment as written introduces a level of risk within the national airspace, which we cannot support.


We urge you to vote no on the Manchin amendment.


Sincerely,


Tim Canoll, President[/QUOTE]

ManFlex

I don't have any data either way. I was just refuting your illogical and ridiculous comparison.

ManFlex

Light GA is dying a slow death in the U.S. This plays well to the EAA and AOPA predominant demographic.

Grumble

So why not help slow the bleeding by putting these guys back in the cockpit? FWIW I'm a dues paying member of all three. What is so scary about self certification (as you put it in quotations?). You self certify every trip that you're fit for duty. Has someone whose lost their medical, lost their judgement as well?

ManFlex

I don't know whether ALPA should have weighed in on this or not. My personal opinion is that in many things in life, people don't know when to hang it up. Having an objective medical standard to fly an aircraft in the national airspace system makes a lot of sense. Light sport mitigated the risk by restricting the size and speed of the aircraft as well as the maximum(1) number of passengers.

This proposal begins to roll back the factors that mitigated risk in the introduction of the light sport category.

ShyGuy

Not illogical nor ridiculous. All of those conditions are disqualifying medically. You can't fly until you are cleared, and this waiver/SODA procedure is because of groups like ALPA and the ADA that makes it possible. Anyway, the 3rd class med is a joke anyway and no way shows pilots are made more safer.