Huck

I'm speechless....





Page Not Found - AOPA






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

Nightflyer

Just another reason in a long list of why I will never give a penny to the ALPA PAC.

I can hear it now...

"but the train was leaving the station"

Perhaps they should spend more time and money working on correcting the cargo cut out and rules for lithium batteries.

Oh, wait, I forgot, they just want my dues money, so they can spend it on their pax driven agenda. When are we going to learn that ALPA national does not give one iota for FDX pilots? Never, I am afraid.

Cargo pilot lives matter.

md11retiree

[QUOTE=
Perhaps they should spend more time and money working on correcting the cargo cut out and rules for lithium batteries.

Cargo pilot lives matter.[/QUOTE]

I'm with you on this one. It's time for the 3rd class Pilot's Bill of Rights amendment. More importantly, it's years past right for a corrected cargo cut out and the lithium battery issue. Do you see pallets of lithium batteries on pax airplanes? An accident of this type would make front page headlines in the NY Times,etc. Did UPS and Asiana get front page recognition for their heroic efforts? They certainly deserved it.

SKYKN6

That letter just cost them $600/yr from me.

kronan

Is it really that tough to get a 3rd Class Medical these days? Is it simply asking too much to have someone hit the AME every 5 years if you're under 40, every 2 years above it?
Are that many private pilots being denied flight privileges for medical reasons?
Is the expense of getting a medical preventing folks from becoming\continuing as Private Pilots.

Having lived, and driven in Arizona and Florida, I tend to be of the opinion that not all of us make great decisions...at least in regards to whether we should still be driving or turning in the keys.

And things just pop up medically for some people. One of my buds was a low 30s A-10 Pilot, actively flying. Went in for his annual medical expecting the rubber stamp. Turns out he'd developed a blindspot during the previous year, pretty substantial one too. DNIF'd

Packrat

Again, amen. Why is it so hard to get a 3rd class. Fog the mirror, read the charts. Easy Peasy.

champ42272

This was my email today to the FDX MEC Chair And Vice Chair.



Dear Chuck and John,

I just returned from AirVenture at Osh Kosh and was blind sided by ALPA's criticism of the pending legislation regarding 3rd Class Medical Certificate reform.

I just can't believe that our organization would oppose this legislation, and then try to sabotage it only a few days before a critical vote in Congress.

I am generally supportive of most position our organization makes, but this is beyond the pale. We need less monetary, governmental and political obstructions for people to overcome to learn to fly airplanes, not more cost and bureaucracy.

I have been a FedEx pilot for over 20 years, and a GA pilot long before that, this attack on this legislation is a cheap protectionist shot at the GA Community.

I am very disappointed by the ALPA's stance on this issue and it needs to change immediately.


I haven't stopped my ALPA PAC contribution, YET.

Jetjok

Kronan,

Perhaps before you talk about guys trying to get or maintain a 3rd class physical, you might address all the commercial guys who probably couldn't pass a real, no $h!t First Class medical eval. After all, it's about keeping all of us safe (both in the air and on the ground), and I believe that someone who drops dead while flying a Cessna 172 is probably not going to be doing as much residual damage as say an overweight, high-blood pressured, sleep deprived, smoker who dies while at the controls of a heavy jet, while his cockpit mate is in the back, cooking his meal.

Personally, I like the idea of restricting the FAA's authority, with regard to the issues brought up in the Manchin amendment, while at the same time feel that ALPA is not helping the aviation community at large, by their opposition to S.Amdt.2267. Do you really think that only airline pilots self-report, or take themselves off status when they're sick? I know a bunch of general aviation types and they are just as conscientious as any in the commercial business.

ALPA definitely does not speak for me on this issue.

TonyC

Would it make any difference if the guy were flying a light twin with five of his friends at 14,000'? (<6,000#, 6 seats)



It sounds to me like the current system is working. What is the problem we are trying to fix?


We all self-certify between AME medical examinations, not in lieu of them. This change would allow someone to use his Driver License instead of a physical examination. Well, now that I think about it, some of those cats on I-240 really are flying.






.

Jetjok

Yes, the hole and damage would probably be smaller.


Exactly!