The Air Line Pilots Association has called on the FAA to approve Covid-19 vaccines for pilots to avoid the prospect of its members risking suspension of their medical certificates, the union said Thursday. In a letter to the U.S. Senate Commerce Committee in advance of Thursday morning’s hearing on Capitol Hill titled “The Logistics of Transporting a COVID-19 Vaccine,” ALPA president Joe DePete said pilots and other airline workers also need priority access to the vaccine “to ensure a robust supply chain.”
“As you know, airline pilots are required to maintain medical certification from the FAA, but approval for use of the vaccine is required by the agency before it can be administered to flight crews,” wrote DePete. “Receiving the Covid-19 vaccine before the FAA’s approval could result in the suspension of a pilot’s medical certificate, creating potential staffing challenges that would threaten the efficiency of vaccine distribution across the United States.”
Separately, in calling for priority access to the vaccine, DePete noted that the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency has already deemed flight crews as essential workers.
“As pilots continue to vital work of connecting our national and transporting vital health care workers and products, our all-cargo flight crews, for example, have experienced an alarming increase in Covid-19 exposure and infections,” he wrote. “Ensuring this prioritization will allow the logistical component of the vaccine to continue unencumbered."