Diabetes Pro Quarterly - Winter 2020 - 11

Advocacy News

Federal Aviation Administration Opens Cockpit Doors
to Commercial Pilots with Diabetes
The American Diabetes
Association (ADA) applauds the
Federal Aviation Administration
(FAA) for its recent adoption of
a protocol for pilots with insulintreated diabetes to obtain the
type of certificate needed for
commercial flight. In 1959, the
FAA banned pilots who use insulin
from commercial operations, so its
recent move marks a historic day
for people with diabetes.
"After many years of fighting for
the rights of pilots with diabetes
at every turn, we are pleased
to have broken down a barrier
that stood in place since 1959,"
said John Griffin, past chair of
ADA's Board of Directors and a
member of ADA's Legal Advocacy
Subcommittee. "Finally, children
with diabetes are free to dream of
growing up to be airline pilots."
The ADA's position is that
blanket bans against people with
diabetes are never medically or
legally appropriate. People with
diabetes should always be given individual assessment of their
qualifications and medical condition.
In 2010, the ADA began educating the FAA about advances in
diabetes medicine and treatment that make it possible to identify
insulin-treated pilots who can safely fly. Over the course of the
past decade, the ADA has continuously educated and negotiated
with the FAA and ultimately supported litigation geared toward
convincing the FAA that it is medically appropriate to grant
individual assessment to commercial pilots who are treated with
insulin. Through the years, the ADA met with the FAA, brought
industry stakeholders to the table, convened a panel of expert
endocrinologists to provide recommendations, engaged members
of Congress, and filed friend-of-the-court briefs in litigation
brought by pilots to challenge FAA inaction.
Thanks to the dedication of tireless ADA health care professional,
attorney, and pilot volunteers and staff members, the FAA adopted
its new protocol in November 2019, fulfilling a promise it made
to pilots in 2015. Countless volunteers contributed to this victory,

Finally, children with diabetes are free to dream
of growing up to be airline pilots.

most notably former American Airlines Captain Eric Friedman,
whose devotion to the cause of justice is extraordinary. Thanks to
these volunteers and their sacrifices, people with diabetes have one
fewer hurdle to overcome.
The following websites offer more information.
*	 Official FAA announcement: bit.ly/2uj3yXl
*	 Guidance on submitting an application: bit.ly/382W7SQ
*	 Official ADA statement about the new rule: bit.ly/2OuYmqg
The ADA looks forward to working with the FAA to implement
the new protocol and eagerly awaits the day the first pilot treated
with insulin is cleared to fly a commercial plane.
professional.diabetes.org

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http://www.bit.ly/2uj3yXl http://www.bit.ly/382W7SQ http://www.bit.ly/2OuYmqg http://professional.diabetes.org
Diabetes Pro Quarterly - Winter 2020

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Diabetes Pro Quarterly - Winter 2020
