"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.

FMI: www.aopa.org, www.faa.gov