STL717
CL-215 Lake James, NC
- Joined
- Jun 3, 2003
- Posts
- 251
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.
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.
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