Release #13.65
December 4, 2013

ALPA Hails New Legislation that Helps Protect Medical Certifications for Pilots

WASHINGTON—The Air Line Pilots Association, Int’l (ALPA), issued the following statement in support of legislation considered by the House Subcommittee on Aviation of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, which requires the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to follow the appropriate rulemaking process in order to make any changes to medical certification for pilots and air traffic controllers with regard to sleep apnea.

“As the voice of airline pilots, ALPA applauds new legislation [H.R. 3578] that would ensure any FAA policy changes to a pilot’s medical certificate related to sleep apnea will go through a proper rulemaking process that includes input from industry stakeholders. We would like to thank Chairman LoBiondo for introducing the legislation and Representatives Larsen, Bucshon, Graves, Lipinski, Meehan, and Hudson for cosponsoring this important bill. We are pleased to see how quickly Chairman LoBiondo recognized the need for this legislation and hope that H.R. 3578 moves rapidly through the legislative process.

“ALPA has long represented airline pilots in the area of aeromedical services to help keep them healthy and flying. A medical certificate for a commercial airline pilot is their livelihood, and any actions taken to change or alter the requirements to acquire or retain one needs to be thoroughly discussed in advance with ALPA, the airlines, and the FAA.”

Founded in 1931, ALPA is the world’s largest pilot union, representing nearly 50,000 pilots at 32 airlines in the United States and Canada.

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CONTACT: ALPA Media, (703) 481-4440, Media@alpa.org