scubadiver

Many folks on here will never understand exactly what you said... They want to burn him (them) at the stake and don't know what they would do in that same situation, nor are the details even known. This is no different than protesters in the street wanting justice for an officer involved shooting without knowing any facts, it's mob mentality.

Burn the witch, she turned me into a newt!

I love how our federal prosecutors go for the low hanging fruit like this. So many of our politicians and celebrity's get away with crap 10x worse than any of us have, or ever will, do and it's acceptable because they have the money, connections, and lawyers to get away with whatever they want.

I don't know the facts of the case or anything so personally, I will withhold judgement.

A Squared

That may be true, but it's not particularly relevant. The issue here isn't the sirens tempting you with VA riches at separation. The issue is him perjuring himself on an FAA medical application. Some of us may not have gone though separation from the military, but I'm pretty sure that with a very few exceptions, we've all filled out a FAA medical application, and we understand that just fine. So spare us the condescending "you don't understand because you weren't in the ....yadda yadda yadda" horesecrap. This seems to be exactly what PDRit was predicting.

scubadiver

Yes, and I am not saying it is right, I am just saying try not to jump to a verdict. I bet most everyone could probably be found guilty of this if the search was thorough enough, even if it was something small and a non-issue. Trip to the doc because you thought you had an ingrown toenail, and forgot to mention it? Then you are also just as guilty.

All that said, I believe it is best to be honest and forthcoming, regardless of whether you may lose a medical. Most FAA people I have met and dealt with are nice and want to keep us flying if any way possible, but you may need to jump through some hoops.

I can also imagine when you have been flying for most of your life the temptation to omit may be greater. Someone could get into a spot where they can't afford to lose their ability to fly so they risk it by omitting.

sherpster

He gambled and lost. Dont make excuses for his poor actions. This wasnt some shoulder injury he forgot to mention.

rickair7777

For clarity, it's understandable how someone could load up their VA rating on the way out, that's what we're all told to do by the experts who advise us on our transition to the civilian world (which many of us have no prior experience in).

Also understandable that some folks (maybe most folks) could have minor discrepancies from forgotten minor ailments or injuries in the past.

But claiming an OBVIOUS grounding condition with the VA and then NOT checking the box with the FAA is pretty darn blatant. Hard to come up with any mitigating scenario, unless he hypothetically got "competent" advice from a lawyer or AME to do that for whatever reason, in which case he probably has grounds for a big lawsuit.

The fed's enforcement of the felony aspect has been pretty consistent: You have to either go on record contradicting yourself with disability benefits for a grounding condition, or become incapacitated in flight with a grounding condition which you were aware of and didn't report. Those are both egregious and pretty easy to prove.

I don't *think* they're going to start scouring records in search of forgotten hangnails.

PDRit

Thanks for making my point about Militart pilots...

Excargodog

Did my comment ALSO make your point about military pilots? Just wondering....

scubadiver

FYI, not a military pilot at all.. but glad you confirm how easily you can solve something with no facts.

Stimpy the Kat

" Trip to the doc because you thought you had an ingrown toenail, and forgot to mention it? Then you are also just as guilty."

No. You are not. Very poor analogy.

We are all capable ( and, probably guilty ) of accidentally forgetting a visit to a given doctor for a minor problem. NBD.

But "forgetting" that you have a Disability rating from your former Employer-The U.S. Military AND, that you have been receiving A CHECK EVERY MONTH for that Disability is hardly analogous to the above.

It is a blatant deception...Otherwise known as " You are a Fuc&ing LIAR. "

NO SOUP...JAIL FOR YOU!

scubadiver

Ok, maybe not JUST AS GUILTY, but still technically guilty. If you go 60mph in a 55mph zone, its speeding and illlegal. You go 30 over and its speeding too but it's a little harder to believe one wasn't aware.

Both are illegal. Granted, one is a little more forgivable as an error and likely to incur lower punishment, if any. Point is, you can get a ticket for either.