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Oversight of Pilots

This system ensures pilots' competency, medical fitness, and regulatory compliance. The California Board of Pilot Commissioners monitors training, mishaps investigations, and corrective actions, striving to enhance safety standards. It cooperates with the U.S. Coast Guard to maintain rigorous oversight protocols. However, outdated medical guidelines and systemic deficiencies require updates for enhanced operational safety.

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Oversight of Pilots

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  1. Oversight of Pilots

  2. Oversight • State pilots licensed and overseen by local or state authorities • State pilots required to hold valid Coast Guard licenses • Coast Guard does not oversee performance of state pilots operating under their state license

  3. State Oversight • In California, as in many other jurisdictions, Board of Pilot Commissioners: • Establishes, implements, and oversees selection criteria • Establishes training requirements • Investigates mishaps • Imposes corrective action, if needed, following investigations

  4. Oversight • Unlike most jurisdictions, California Board of Pilot Commissioners established pilot medical oversight system • U.S. Coast Guard also established pilot medical oversight system

  5. Oversight • Authorities are independent of each other • No formal mechanism for communication among the authorities • No national pilot data base, thus limited reliability of pilot performance assessments

  6. Oversight • Most pilots belong to associations • Associations serve as their business agents • Pilots consider themselves “independent contractors” • In San Francisco, work schedules coordinated by San Francisco Bar Pilots Association

  7. Oversight • In addition to scheduling, San Francisco Bar Pilots Association carries out: • Drug and alcohol testing • Matching pilot scheduling with level of training • Reporting (potentially) incapacitated pilots to California Board

  8. Accident Pilot • Investigation method and record changed in 1993 • 13 incidents before Cosco Busan accident • One was a grounding 1 ½ years before accident • One, 3 ½ years before accident, resulted in a psychiatric determination of fitness for duty

  9. Oversight of Accident Pilot • 13 incidents reported being “more than average in number but not by much” for someone with his years of service • San Francisco sample size is 60

  10. Medical Oversight • Two related systems of medical oversight • Pilots found fit by physician selected by California Board of Pilot Commissioners • Physicians not required to be qualified in occupational medicine • Medical guidance to physicians not updated since 1984 (SHIPS Standards)

  11. Medical Oversight • LNPs, PAs or MDs can perform evaluations • Evaluation data provided on form 719K • Coast Guard determines fitness based on data provided by examiner • Numerous systemic deficiencies noted in Andrew J. Barberi investigation

  12. Previous Safety Recommendations • M-05-04 urged reporting of all pilot medical evaluations to Coast Guard • M-05-05 asked Coast Guard to review and correct Safety Board-noted deficiencies in medical oversight system • No requirement for reporting of change in medication use or medical condition

  13. Response • Beginning in 2006 pilots required to submit results of annual medical evaluations • All medical evaluation results submitted to and reviewed by a medical expert at a central Coast Guard facility • Reviewer has training in occupational medicine

  14. Response • New NVIC issued in September 2008 to address shortcomings in medical condition and medication guidance • Still no requirement to report changes in medication and medical condition

  15. Pilot Medical Evaluation • Several medications and medical conditions listed – new since 1999 waiver • Use of potentially addicting pain reliever and an anti-anxiety medication • Absence of follow-up regarding previous alcohol dependency diagnosis

  16. Pilot Medical Evaluation • Reportedly warned pilot not to use these medications while serving as a pilot • Necessitated additional information and subsequent medical review • Without it, no assurance of a medically qualified pilot

  17. Pilot Medical Evaluation • Examining physician neither trained or qualified in occupational medicine • Not familiar with either NVIC 2-98 or Form 719K

  18. Coast Guard at That Time • Had not yet transitioned its San Francisco office to “new” centralized review system • That office improperly applied the 1999 waiver to pilot’s 2007 evaluation results • Conducted no further enquiry despite considerable information on medical condition and medications

  19. As a Result • Pilot retained Coast Guard license without any Coast Guard medical review • Asked pilot to surrender license after the accident because of information in January 2007 form 719K • Coast Guard actions in response to Recommendation M-05-05 completed in mid-2008

  20. California Board of Pilot Commissioners • Reviewing its medical oversight system • In interim, not using pilot’s examining physician to determine medical fitness for duty • Reviewing its use of 1984 standards

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