"Hundreds" Of Potential Cases Of Fraudulent Reporting
The Aircraft Owners and Pilots
Association reports pilot medical applications and certifications
may be headed for closer scrutiny, based on the Safe Pilot
Committee Report issued this month by the US House Transportation
and Infrastructure Committee and the Chairman James Oberstar (D-MN,
shown at right).
In July 2005, the Department of Transportation Inspector General
found "egregious cases" of airmen lying about debilitating medical
conditions on their applications for Airman Medical Certificates.
In a sample of 40,000 Airman certificate-holders, 3200 were found
to be holding current medical certificates while simultaneously
receiving Social Security benefits, for medically disabling
conditions.
While the US Attorney's Office ultimately prosecuted only about
40 cases, it alleged "hundreds more could have been pursued if
resources had not been constrained".
The FAA developing a new system to identify fraud, and to
periodically check medical application for false information, is
the backlash from this investigation.
"AOPA does not condone pilots who make false statements or omit
known disqualifying medical conditions on their medical
application," said AOPA President Phil Boyer, "but we do want to
ensure that pilots who make unintentional omissions on the
application do not face FAA enforcement actions or criminal
charges."
Gary Crump, AOPA director of medical certification, states,
"Pilot incapacitation is very rare, not only because the FAA has
rigorous medical standards, but also because diligent pilots ground
themselves if they feel that they cannot safely act as pilot in
command."
AOPA added pilots may find it hard to understand what
medications are permitted or unacceptable.
From the FAA's website:
"A list may encourage or facilitate an airmen's
self-determination of the risks posed by various medical conditions
especially when combination therapy is used. A list is subject to
misuse if used as the sole factor to determine certification
eligibility or compliance with 14 CFR part 61.53, Prohibition of
Operations During Medical Deficiencies (.pdf).
Maintaining a published a list of acceptable medications is labor
intensive and in the final analysis only partially answers the
certification question and does not contribute to aviation
safety.
"Therefore, the list of medications referenced below provides
aeromedical guidance about specific medications or classes of
pharmaceutical preparations and is applied by using sound
aeromedical clinical judgment. This list is not meant to be totally
inclusive or comprehensive. No independent interpretation of the
FAA's position with respect to a medication included or excluded
from the following should be assumed."
The AOPA does offer medical certification experts to provide
pilots assistance in understanding the FAA's medical requirements
and disqualifying conditions.