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Old 08-27-2023 | 12:03 PM
  #170  
AirBear
Gets Weekends Off
 
Joined: Dec 2017
Posts: 2,014
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From: Retired NJA & AA
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I did this link as a "gift" article so hopefully it's not behind a paywall. I'll do some bullet points in case it is. It's a long article:

https://wapo.st/44rvV0z

5,000 pilots suspected of hiding major health issues. Most are still flying.


-Military Vets who told the FAA they're healthy enough to fly but failed to report they're collecting VA benefits for disabilities that could bar them from the cockpit.

-VA investigators discovered the inconsistencies 2 years ago but the FAA has kept many details secret from the public

-FAA investigated 4800 pilots, half the cases have been closed. 60 pilots who posed a "clear danger" were ordered to stop flying in an emergency basis while records are reviewed.

-600 of the pilots under investigation are licensed to fly for passenger airlines.

-FAA has allotted $3.6M to hire medical experts and other staff to reexamine certification records for 5000 pilots

-FAA and DOT have refused to comment

-at least 10 pilots have been prosecuted since 2018, 2 were prosecuted after they crashed aircraft.

-the FAA's probe has intensified in recent months

-AOPA is calling for an amnesty, ALPA did not respond to request for comment

-after resisting more than a decade transportation officials agreed to share pilot records with VA investigators

-Aviation Law Attorney Joseph LoRusso says "it's an open secret that probably 85% of pilots are lying on their medical form because they don't want to flag conditions that might drag out approval of their licenses.
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