That’s good to hear. I’ve worked at a 121 that required a sick note for any holiday/Super Bowl sick call, on your own dime.
If they asked certain pilots to go see a doctor AFTER they’ve called in sick, then yes, would pay for the visit.

At XJT, after 3 unexcused absences in a rolling 12 months, it triggered the Attendance and Reliability Program. It started with a verbal warning and could go all the way "Up to, and including, termination" (learn that phrase). However, if you brought in a Dr's note, the absence would be excused and not trigger the program.

At AA, we seem to be treated much better in that regard. The only time you need a Dr's note is after 14 consecutive days on a sick call. I've never been asked for a Dr's note or proof of anything when I've called out sick here...regardless of the day of the year.

Doctors know that as well as HR people. This is an issue that I’m sort of schizophrenic about. In the USAf flyers get a 1042 when they see the flight surgeon to take them off flying and another one to put them back on. It doesn’t say anything except whatever duty restriction was warranted. The PRP program for flyers and nonflyers was run the same way, with a doctor making the decision whether or not anybody could be around special weapons. People could also be put on quarters, and the commander really didn’t have anything to say about it, barring all-out war. Nor did they get any info that would have violated HIPPA. But that was the military, who was paying for the whole thing, including the healthcare. And I haven’t noticed any hard points on CRJs or ERJs suitable for carriage of a B-61-12.

Nonetheless, I can understand concerns. Nobody has a right to fly an airplane, far less to fly one full of passengers for hire. The month seldom passes that some pilot somewhere doesn’t get picked up for trying to fly while intoxicated. Frequent absences are often a strong indicator of someone with an alcohol or mental health issue. Nobody wants another Germanwings-like incident with them or their loved ones on the aircraft.

And even besides that, every time someone does abuse their sick leave - even to make it to a job fair or interview - they are at least to an extent screwing over the people that have to cover for them as well as the people who have to come up with a solution for the shortfall.

This really seems like something the union and management people ought to sit down and negotiate and come up with a reasonable way to do this because I don’t see labor and management necessarily being on different sides of this issue. There ought to be a way that both can agree to respect the medical confidentiality but still make sure abuse of the sick leave system, either for individual gain or for concealing safety related issues, is minimized.

Anyone taking too dogmatic a stand either way is sort of suspect, in my mind at least. We ought to be able to hammer out a way to do this that protects everyone’s interest.

Nobody needs to know what I am doing on my sick time. It is a negotiated benefit and there for my use when I am sick. I am employed as a professional and don’t need the sick-time police.

Want a note??? Come by my house... I’ll give you that special “note” along with the ID and Company property in exchange of my last paycheck.

You would not resign your job if asked for a sick note.

Sick time is a sunk cost to my company. It accrues at a very predictable rate.


What I do with my time when I am unfit to fly is no one’s business but my own. Reserves get paid whether they fly or not.


It’s a huge case of not my problem.

Well, guess what. That's not the last word on the subject. There is no constitutional right to fly an aircraft, and it won't take a whole lot more incidents like GermanWings to get legislation passed in much the same dogmatic way the 1500 hour rule got passed. There are a fair number of people in the FAA that would like it passed now.

https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-n...health-records

One big incident will get HIPPA amended. Just like your right to avoid self incrimination gets trumped by random and targeted DOT drug testing, it may become a condition of the job.

The note that said the pilot went to the doctor. The company may ask for if they question the use of the sick leave. It’s usually outline in the CBA under “sick leave” section. You would quit because they are doing what’s outline in the CBA?:confused:

40+ years since grade school. My parents can’t sign my absentee note as are both deceased. That said, in response to your question... not a prayer!