The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) reported yesterday that a federal jury has convicted a pilot of twice making false statements to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) on his application for a Class 1 medical certificate. The case, dating back to June, involves pilot Olukayode Ojo, 36, of Dallas, Texas. Ojo was found guilty on August 16 on two counts of making false statements.
Something here doesnāt pass the smell test. Misdemeanor convictions stopping someone from a decent career needs explanation and details. Is this a fair and reasonable assessment? If weāre to debate the cons and merits of this situation then more needs to be told.
Agreed WRT the merits of the system - it seems petty that minor offences would prohibit a Class 1 Medical (I have no idea of the actual regulation), but, like many minor infractions that blow up to be major - itās the cover-up not the actual initial infraction that causes the issue.
Why is the TSA releasing information that is under the responsibility of FAA Aeromedical? Is the TSA going to be used to make criminal convictions of FAR violations?
We had a similar statement in our employment applications. Iāve hired people with many, many different problems and pasts. From minor driving incidents, to multiple felonies. But mark āno prior convictionsā and have any kind of record? You are out of here so fast youāll miss the door going by as you sail through it. Itās not about what you did. Itās that you lied about having done it. Seems the same issue is true here.
The guy should have said something about itāThey look at medical information as telling the truth, not so much as what heās done. Heck, the guy was probably a sniffer and took a chance that there might be some dirty underwear in there. Typical pilot. To qualify as a captain in the old days you had to have one divorce, two arrest (no convictions) or you might not make the check out program!
Tom - Iām sure that the FAA concern is the falsification - and if he was convicted of a crime, and didnāt disclose it, he was clearly aware of the falsification.
I would assume that the TSA was part of the trial to convict him on theft from luggage. I also would assume that TSA was āmore than helpfulā in contacting the FAA to follow up on the matter.
Because the TSA is responsible for identifying and investigating security and safety threats. In this case, Mr. Ojo fits that bill. For sure though, the FAA will take certificate action as well.
Itās all about the lies on applications, not what the lies were for. Do not lie on an application. It probably even states what the penalty for doing so is.
My question has always been, why does the medical application ask about prior convictions? Unless they are for substance abuse, they really shouldnāt belong on the medical application form at all. Certainly they should be questions on job application forms, but not the medical application form.
Unstated circumstances are likely behind what looks like the use of his lying on the medical application as a convenient āhandleā to remove Mr. Ojo from the playing field. Utilizing an easily prosecuted offense that may be only indirectly related to the prosecutorsā underlying motivation is a shortcut used all the time in the legal system. Many people may feel concerned about this, but right or wrong it is certainly ālegalā.
The real question is if brushes with the law should even be considered relevant information to include in the process of declaring a person medically capable to safely fly an aircraft. Entwining unrelated objectives into a process that presumably is intended purely as an evaluation of medical fitness seems to be a bad idea.
One Observationā¦a Medical Certificate should be on the subject of Medical topicsā¦general physical heath, mental health, and subsequent risk for flight safety. this should not be in any way shape of form a screening for criminal past. THAT should be at the depression of the employer. This is NOT an application for a secret clearance.
The medical is the only piece of the pilot certification system that expires regularly, so itās used as a mechanism for the FAA to catch up on āwhat have you done lately?ā It is kind of screwy that they put that non-medical stuff on the medical application, but Iād much rather have the current arrangement than have pilot certificates expire every two years.