40 Pilots charged with Medical Certificate Fraud

[STL717]

Pilots flew despite disqualifying illnesses, U.S. says


GOVERNMENT REVOKING CERTIFICATION
B[size=-1]y Chuck Carroll[/size]



Several Bay Area pilots are among 40 fliers who are facing federal charges in the wake of a federal investigation of those who kept serious health ailments secret from aviation regulators for fear of being grounded, the government said today.

Operation Safe Pilot, an 18-month investigation into pilots' alleged falsification of medical records required by the Federal Aviation Administration to secure airplane pilot's licenses, found that the pilots falsely claimed to be medically fit to fly an airplane.

They were caught by inspectors general from the Social Security Department and the Department of Transportation who cross-checked Social Security disability databases with Federal Aviation Administration pilot certification records and discovered that many of the pilots should have been disqualified from flying because of their medical conditions.

After reviewing the records of 40,000 Northern California pilots, the government said it brought charges against only the most egregious violators. Thirty were charged with making false statements to a government agency, while 10 were charged with making and delivering a false official writing.

Some of the pilots apparently continued to fly even though they were receiving Social Security benefits for such illnesses as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, drug or alcohol addiction, disabling back condition, or severe heart condition. A number were airline transport and commercial pilots, as well as medical doctors.

``The fraud and falsification allegedly committed by these individuals is extremely serious and adversely affects the public interest in air safety,'' Nicholas Sabatini, FAA associate administrator for aviation safety, said in a statement. The agency is in the process of revoking the medical certificates of the defendants.

Among those charged are Amy Aucutt of San Francisco, 36; Stanmore Cooper of San Francisco, 63; Arnold Dolgins of Felton, 61; and Karl Redmon of San Leandro, 40.

 

[Clutch_Cargo]

How about a link...
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/news/archive/2005/07/18/state/n143553D93.DTL

cc

Edit: I see you fixed the problem... thx.

 

[Kream926]

does this mean there will be some job openings?

serious question, no flame guys

 

[aeronautic1]

Kream

OH geez, a new low!!

Sonny, your mommies legs have more time in the air than you do!!

 

[Snakum]

As I've said here before, the Federal Agent who did my FAA background investigation last year told me that the FAA will be MUCH more vigilant and nosey about certification and licensing in the wake of 9/11. The number of enforcement actions will likely increase every year. That's why I always caution guys about so-called 'expunged' and 'minor' criminal records and about skirting the rules concerning disclosure.

I have been completely honest on my apps since my very first medical (1995) and I still got put thru the ringer. I was told that if they had found evidence of ANY attempt at dishonesty on my applications I would probably have served an active federal sentence.

They're not playing anymore guys ... do the right thing.

Minh

 

[Vik]

pwned!!!!

 

[Dodge]

So what??? Mesaba had a Chief Pilot that forged his medical for a long time. The company did have to terminate (reluctantly, however) him.

 

[NuGuy]

Heyas all,

It shouldn't come as any surprise. Sign off on the medical form saying your OK, but then nick the government for disability, and you get what you ask for.

If you are going to pull a stunt like this, better make sure your trail is clean. If you are going to pull something stupid, better pay with cash, even at the toll booths.

This reminds me of those clowns who try to rip off the disability insurance, then get caught on video lifting heavy objects, on the golf course or whatever.

One thing for certain...since the FAA did pretty well on this in CA, you can bet it goes nationwide.

Nu

 

[TDTURBO]

This isn't rocket science boys, you can legally be disabled and fly an airplane. If you lost an arm and you were a concert pianist, you would be 100% totally disabled but could certainly fly an airplane. Without going into specifics, suffice to say the government will have a tough time getting any convictions. If a rat brain cell can fly an airplane, so can a guy with a herniated disc that was surgically removed and then developed scar tissue causing lower extremity weakness and therefore permanant partial disability.

I know of an active local DE with one leg that collects disability, so what. Each case is different, it depends what the person did for a living not the injury.

These things are not black and white as the "Germans" would have you believe.

Sorry AB, I couldn't help myself.

 

[FN FAL]

.....bump. Gotta keep the conversation going.

 

[TDTURBO]

.....bump. Gotta keep the conversation going.

Ok, here goes, take your 50 caliber liquid cooled machine gun, (probably better to use a .22), "accidentally shoot yourself in the foot while "cleaning" it.

Being the accomplished ballerina dancer you are, j/k, you can still fly and collect the millions you would have got dancing, how’s that?

 

[ms6073]

This isn't rocket science boys, you can legally be disabled and fly an airplane.

If a pilot was able to meet FAA regualtions to qualify and hold the appropriate medical certificate for the flying job that person held, then I have to agree. Suppose a pilot currently holds an ATP and flys planes for a living but worked for FedEx or UPS way back when in order to make ends meet while building experience or earning ratings but was not yet employed as a pilot. One day a ton of boxes falls on the guy and causes injuries which medically prevent this person from continuing to work for UPS or Fedex as a package handler? Now while it does prevent that person from working at Fed Ex or UPS, it might not prevent the person from piloting an airplane. Depending on the injury, such a person could qualify for disabilty benefits yet still be medically qualified to pilot a plane and thus earn a living as a professional pilot. I think there is a moral distinction to be made in that it is not soudn reasoning to be earnig a living wage in one profession while collecting disability benefits in another.

Not directly related but another example would that of a professional pilot who develops a disqualifying medical condition which the pilot immediately reports. The pilot is grounded while a battery of tests are conducted to determine if the condition is wavorable but in the end, the pilot no longer meets the FAA requirements for holding a medical certificate. In this case the pilot would not likely be able to earn a living as a professional pilot and under would then be considered 'disabled' and eligible for compensation. In effect, because the FAA has made it improbable for the pilot to earn a living flying planes, the individual would be eligible to collect disability benefits even though that individual could persue alternative means of employment within the field of aviation (or even another career field such as Fed Ex or UPS).

 

[Occam's Razor]

From the article:

"Some of the pilots apparently continued to fly even though they were receiving Social Security benefits for such illnesses as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, drug or alcohol addiction,"

Let's not try to parse these. If you are taking psychotropic drugs for any disorder, you can't fly airplanes.

If you have any extra though....call me!

 

[FN FAL]

Ok, here goes, take your 50 caliber liquid cooled machine gun, (probably better to use a .22), "accidentally shoot yourself in the foot while "cleaning" it.

Being the accomplished ballerina dancer you are, j/k, you can still fly and collect the millions you would have got dancing, how’s that?

Hahaha...I wish I could afford a .50 Caliber Browning or Browning clone...Since I'm not a Major Airline pilet, I have to stay down wit da trailer trash homies in subgun land.

Even If I could afford one of those leviathans, I couldn't afford to feed it like it should be fed. However, as part of the living room decor, it would go a long way towards promoting that Feng Shui thing I got going on.

 

[TDTURBO]

I still would hate to be the poor SOB that broke into your house, for that matter, mine either. I have a few toys.

 

[FN FAL]

I still would hate to be the poor SOB that broke into your house, for that matter, mine either. I have a few toys.

Not that there's anything wrong with that.

 

[UnAnswerd]

I have a question. If someone is legally blind, is there any type of FAA waiver so you can fly???

 

[Yank McCobb]

Well...they let someone who was legally pronounced a jackass fly, even without a waiver, so why not?

 

[FN FAL]

Well...they let someone who was legally pronounced a jackass fly, even without a waiver, so why not?

Muhhahahaha.

 

[billybob sblade]

If anyone cares to rehash - I don't think any of the Saudi "pilots" on 9-11 lied on their medicals. Kudos to the feds for another big-time, totally meaningless "bust."