Received this yesterday from ALPA. If you're an ALPA member might want to "educate" your leadership.
Hi Mike,
Thanks for the note. We understand that this is an emotional issue.
A couple points that were contained in the AOPA and EAA messages to their members are incorrect. Just so you are aware, we have been attempting to work this issue with AOPA for some time now and in fact thought we had identified a middle ground solution. We spoke with GAMA reps about that middle ground solution in order to start to build consensus. It was the attempt to attach the amendment to the surface transportation bill without prior coordination that triggered ALPA?s response on Friday.
As you know, ALPA?s responsibility is to advocate for our members in their capacity as professional airline pilots. As highlighted we have been trying to work with AOPA to satisfy their concerns but they went ahead, without our knowledge, in an attempt to attach this amendment to the Highway Bill.
ALPA?s long standing policy is to maintain the highest level of safety within the National Air Space system. Self-certification of medical qualification for pilots flying in the same airspace as airlines is a step backwards from maintaining the highest levels of safety. You are correct in that all ALPA members who are also GA pilots hold a Class 1 or 2 medical (as part of their jobs) and thus not affected by this issues except for the fact it could have an adverse effect on the safety of the airspace in which we operate.
Contrary to many assertions, there have been airborne medical issues for GA pilots, just like commercial pilots, and moving to medical self-certification will just make it worse. There are a couple stats released by NTSB and the Aerospace Medical Association that folks should review when considering whether medical self-certification is safe. The Aerospace Medical Association has stated that immediately after the Sport pilot category was introduced the general aviation accident rate increased by 20% and NTSB has documented the sharp increase in accident involving Sport pilots where prohibited substances were found in the system of the pilot and contributed to the accident.
We are hoping to continue to work with AOPA and other stakeholders to find a solution to the their special issuance concerns and any other problem they would like to address. There are other aspects of the pilots bill of rights that we support which is why we have attempted to work the issue with AOPA.
Hope that this helps.
Keith Hagy
Director ? Engineering and Air Safety Department