Andreas Lubitz: Federal Aviation Authority apparently not informed about the disease – SPIEGEL ONLINE

The German aviation oversight did not know claims to have the mental illness of German Wings-pilot Andreas Lubitz. “It is not true that the Federal Aviation Authority (LBA) on the medical background in the case of L. was informed,” citing the “Welt am Sonntag” (Welt am Sonntag) the authority. It was only after the crash, the Office on 27 March 2015 Aeromedical Center (AMC) Lufthansa had access to Lubitz ‘files in Frankfurt.

According to the newspaper so that gets the medical service of the Lufthansa under pressure. A flight surgeon had since April 2013, case, refer to the LBA of major diseases such as depression. Since this rule applies, have given it two fitness tests – in the summer of 2013 and 2014.

The doctors have in these tests do not necessarily know about the disease, because psychological issues play a minor role. However, according to the Federal Aviation Authority also Lubitz ‘airworthiness certificate was issued in 2009 by the AMC and forwarded to the Office. This year, the aspiring pilot had his flight school a “decayed severe depressive episode” informed.

According to “Welt am Sonntag” Lufthansa doctors Lubitz have a total of at least six confirmed the suitability since 2009. After 2009, in addition to the usual test a psychiatric report was created, the doctors had waived reportedly sure to obtain further such reports.

Because savings were overwhelmed especially the physicians of the AMC in Frankfurt, the newspaper quoted an insider. You would have had less and less time for the suitability tests, called Medicals. The “Welt am Sonntag ‘arises a personal plan that confirms and indicates that Lufthansa currently have only eleven Aeromedical Examiners for the top category of the pilots in their own ranks. Of these, working according to the listing two part-time. Three were either terminated or go soon retire.

A Lufthansa spokesman rejected the criticism. The private medical service ceiling only part of the fitness tests, since the pilot can also go to doctors outside flyer. . “- Even if they should be true – that extent, the number of employed physicians in medical service not reflect the total available capacity Imputed says staff changes have nothing to do with the quality of the aero-medical examinations.”

Also, the Federal Aviation Authority should recently have been found to staff shortages, according to a report by the “Wall Street Journal”. Accordingly, the Commission requested in November 2014 “have long-standing problems” with the authority to resolve. EU representatives have a shortage of staff determined which could affect the control function of the Office, the newspaper said, citing two insiders.

A commission spokesman confirmed that there had been hints at Germany, but without them down to name. Such feedback spend it on all member states that they are “a normal and regular event.”