ALPA opposes third-class medical reform
#102
More significant is the enemies ALPA generated. The political costs, both from within the membership and in the aviation community will have to be paid. Hardly worth the benefit of protecting the arcane methodology of making the sausage. It just give the ALPA haters another talking point, but maybe that is the desired result here.
#103
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Jan 2008
Posts: 246
Not to worry, it will get done eventually.
More significant is the enemies ALPA generated. The political costs, both from within the membership and in the aviation community will have to be paid. Hardly worth the benefit of protecting the arcane methodology of making the sausage. It just give the ALPA haters another talking point, but maybe that is the desired result here.
More significant is the enemies ALPA generated. The political costs, both from within the membership and in the aviation community will have to be paid. Hardly worth the benefit of protecting the arcane methodology of making the sausage. It just give the ALPA haters another talking point, but maybe that is the desired result here.
Finally, as a member, I am happy ALPA took this stance.
#104
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Dec 2005
Posts: 8,898
The General Aviation Community is going to need ALPA a lot more over the next few months than ALPA will need the GA Community. With the FAA Reauthorization Bill and the talk related to that and ATC privatization which will lead to user fees, there are going to be bigger fish to fry than the middle school hissy fit AOPA and EAA had over ALPA's stance on 3rd class medicals.
Finally, as a member, I am happy ALPA took this stance.
Finally, as a member, I am happy ALPA took this stance.
#105
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Dec 2005
Posts: 8,898
I would also venture a guess that the overwhelming majority of airline pilots against this measure are guys that no longer fly GA. The 3rd class med is 3 yrs in duration so you could fly today after last having seen a doctor 2 years and 11 months ago. I don't see how that's any safer.
#106
The General Aviation Community is going to need ALPA a lot more over the next few months than ALPA will need the GA Community. With the FAA Reauthorization Bill and the talk related to that and ATC privatization which will lead to user fees, there are going to be bigger fish to fry than the middle school hissy fit AOPA and EAA had over ALPA's stance on 3rd class medicals.
Finally, as a member, I am happy ALPA took this stance.
Finally, as a member, I am happy ALPA took this stance.
If you think ALPA doesn't need support from every segment of the pilot community, you would be mistaken. While many in GA pilots hate unions and narcissistic airline pilots, they will at least not oppose our agenda, unless you rub their nose in it with an issue that doesn't have any effect on the profession. So, ask yourself, who will write and call their congressman, 500,000 EAA and AOPA pilots, that have a vested interest in this change, or a split pilot union without a horse in the race?
#107
New Hire
Joined APC: Aug 2015
Posts: 1
Tim et al,
I started out by writing in the Contact section of the website only to find that it allows only a string of 0 to 600, whatever that means (characters? words?). Then I got a little more careful and searched for the actual letter you wrote to Congress about Third Class Medical reform and found this email address.
I know you have been getting some heat from members on this issue due to the disclaimer on the site stating that "ALPA's sole responsibility is to advocate for its members in their capacity as professional airline pilots."
ALPA needs to remember that aviation is not an 'us against them' between airlines and general aviation. I have been involved in both for over 50 years, and I can tell you that it is important for ALL pilots to work together, whether airline, general aviation, or military. We are ALL pilots and we need to defend ourselves as a group, not fight amongst ourselves!
I would ask what data, statistics, and documentation you used to support your statement "This legislation has the potential to allow medically unfit pilots unfettered access..." AOPA and EAA seem to have a good deal of data to support their contention that there would be no degradation of safety. It seems to me after 33 years as a Northwest pilot that if ALPA were really concerned about medically unfit pilots having access to the skies you would be calling for 100% preflight drug and alcohol testing. It has never seemed to me that drug use was an issue among airline pilots, but alcohol impairment is definitely an issue and a common problem.
On most issues I agree with ALPA and always have, but this simmering contempt (jealousy?) of general aviation has always troubled me. Approximately half of ALPA's members came from general aviation, and without general aviation the airlines would not have been able to staff their flight departments over the years. The new experience rules supported by ALPA are about to bite the industry as more pilots are needed but become unavailable due to the cost of acquiring the requisite time. The oft used move via flight instructing will become less viable as fewer trainees find it economically worthwhile to proceed. ALPA should be supporting general aviation in every way possible; not fighting against it.
I started out by writing in the Contact section of the website only to find that it allows only a string of 0 to 600, whatever that means (characters? words?). Then I got a little more careful and searched for the actual letter you wrote to Congress about Third Class Medical reform and found this email address.
I know you have been getting some heat from members on this issue due to the disclaimer on the site stating that "ALPA's sole responsibility is to advocate for its members in their capacity as professional airline pilots."
ALPA needs to remember that aviation is not an 'us against them' between airlines and general aviation. I have been involved in both for over 50 years, and I can tell you that it is important for ALL pilots to work together, whether airline, general aviation, or military. We are ALL pilots and we need to defend ourselves as a group, not fight amongst ourselves!
I would ask what data, statistics, and documentation you used to support your statement "This legislation has the potential to allow medically unfit pilots unfettered access..." AOPA and EAA seem to have a good deal of data to support their contention that there would be no degradation of safety. It seems to me after 33 years as a Northwest pilot that if ALPA were really concerned about medically unfit pilots having access to the skies you would be calling for 100% preflight drug and alcohol testing. It has never seemed to me that drug use was an issue among airline pilots, but alcohol impairment is definitely an issue and a common problem.
On most issues I agree with ALPA and always have, but this simmering contempt (jealousy?) of general aviation has always troubled me. Approximately half of ALPA's members came from general aviation, and without general aviation the airlines would not have been able to staff their flight departments over the years. The new experience rules supported by ALPA are about to bite the industry as more pilots are needed but become unavailable due to the cost of acquiring the requisite time. The oft used move via flight instructing will become less viable as fewer trainees find it economically worthwhile to proceed. ALPA should be supporting general aviation in every way possible; not fighting against it.
#108
I would also venture a guess that the overwhelming majority of airline pilots against this measure are guys that no longer fly GA. The 3rd class med is 3 yrs in duration so you could fly today after last having seen a doctor 2 years and 11 months ago. I don't see how that's any safer.
The people that are pushing for the removal of the medical are a small minority of GA pilots that feel they may fail the physical, and ones with political clout to make this suddenly an issue when it has been a non-issue for the past 50 years. And somehow they have the ability to get a bunch of others on board for the ride.
I think it was very odd for ALPA to voice a position on the matter but I'm not that surprised on their position, which is what a lot of us GA pilots are thinking but afraid to speak out.
Tim et al,
On most issues I agree with ALPA and always have, but this simmering contempt (jealousy?) of general aviation has always troubled me. Approximately half of ALPA's members came from general aviation, and without general aviation the airlines would not have been able to staff their flight departments over the years.
On most issues I agree with ALPA and always have, but this simmering contempt (jealousy?) of general aviation has always troubled me. Approximately half of ALPA's members came from general aviation, and without general aviation the airlines would not have been able to staff their flight departments over the years.
#109
Who died and made alpa policeman of the skies? There's more important and relavent things they need to attend to, like revising the screw job they handed the Delta pilots.
Don't know who is steering the ship over at alpa but it's headed for the rocks. Alpa can take its opinion of GA and stick it where the sun doesn't shine.
Yes I'm "ex" alpa, and yes im GA (falcon owner).
Don't know who is steering the ship over at alpa but it's headed for the rocks. Alpa can take its opinion of GA and stick it where the sun doesn't shine.
Yes I'm "ex" alpa, and yes im GA (falcon owner).
#110
ALPA sent its letter to Congress days after a group of aviation associations led by AOPA sent a letter to Senate leaders expressing their strong support for medical reform.
In addition to AOPA, the letter was signed by the Allied Pilots Association, which represents 15,000 pilots at American Airlines and US Airways; Experimental Aircraft Association; Flying Dentists Association; Flying Physicians Association; General Aviation Manufacturers Association; Helicopter Association International; National Agricultural Aviation Association; National Association of State Aviation Officials; National Air Transportation Association; National Business Aviation Association; and Southwest Airlines Pilots’ Association, which represents more than 8,000 pilots at Southwest Airlines. The NetJets Association of Shared Aircraft Pilots, which represents another 2,700 professional pilots, sent a separate letter of support
In addition to AOPA, the letter was signed by the Allied Pilots Association, which represents 15,000 pilots at American Airlines and US Airways; Experimental Aircraft Association; Flying Dentists Association; Flying Physicians Association; General Aviation Manufacturers Association; Helicopter Association International; National Agricultural Aviation Association; National Association of State Aviation Officials; National Air Transportation Association; National Business Aviation Association; and Southwest Airlines Pilots’ Association, which represents more than 8,000 pilots at Southwest Airlines. The NetJets Association of Shared Aircraft Pilots, which represents another 2,700 professional pilots, sent a separate letter of support
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