Loss of confidence in aviation medical supervision
The latest revelations by lawyer Nina Coppik, formerly working in the L 6 department of the LBA, as well as the statements of aviation physician Dr Steffen Grüner, have shed light on serious abuses. According to Coppik, "unacceptable conditions" prevail in the area of medical fitness assessment: decisions without sufficient clarification of the facts, expert opinions by people outside the field and a practice that regards unfitness not as a last resort but as a quick solution.
For pilots, this means an existential threat: those who are declared unfit may not only lose their licence, but also their professional future. The criticism is that the LBA delays procedures, makes them avoidably complicated and too rarely decides in favour of a pragmatic, risk-oriented interpretation.
Fear instead of fairness: reports from the field
Dr Steffen Grüner describes specific cases in which the authority made decisions that appear neither medically nor legally comprehensible. These include the refusal of his own recertification as an aviation medical expert due to a migraine episode years ago or additional examinations due to simple data errors.
Coppik also drew the consequences: At the end of September, she resigned from her position and publicly declared that she could not reconcile the LBA's practices with her understanding of her profession. Instead, she intends to support pilots as a lawyer in future - a signal that many of those affected see as a glimmer of hope, but also as a declaration of bankruptcy for the authority.
Structural deficits instead of individual cases
The LBA refers to internal checklists, digital file management and new communication channels. But crucial questions remain unanswered:
- Deadline management: Procedures often take months without pilots having a clear perspective.
- Transparency: Neither key figures on processing times nor comprehensible bases for decisions are published.
- Quality assurance: External professional control or systematic audits are largely absent.
This leads to a paradoxical situation: the very authority that is supposed to ensure security and trust is itself becoming a factor of insecurity.
European comparison: Germany is isolating itself
A look abroad shows that there is another way. In many European countries, such as Austria or the UK, GPs or aviation physicians in private practice can easily decide on the fitness of private pilots. The EASA regulations allow such simplified procedures, for example via the LAPL-Medical.
Germany, on the other hand, is considered a special case: here, the LBA sticks to complex processes, mistrusts the assessments of its own AMEs (Aeromedical Examiners) and thus causes not only frustration, but also migration. Every year, hundreds of pilots move to Austria to have their medical fitness renewed without months of waiting times and bureaucratic blockades.
Role of the associations and political responsibility
Associations such as AOPA, DAeC and DULV have been pointing out the shortcomings for years and calling for a round table. A petition recently collected almost 20,000 signatures. Although the Federal Ministry of Transport was willing to talk at times, the issue has been politically sidelined since the change of government.
The Vereinigung Cockpit pilots' union has already held talks with the LBA. However, the associations of private pilots in particular have so far felt ignored. Particularly controversial: according to an open letter from VC, applications from private pilots are to be systematically given lower priority - a practice that is highly questionable in legal terms and reinforces the impression of a two-tier administration.
Growing pressure for reform
At AERO 2025 in Friedrichshafen, the LBA announced that the problems would soon be solved. However, the reality shows the opposite: backlogs are increasing, complaints are piling up and credibility is dwindling.
The associations' demands are clear:
- Immediate reform of Unit L 6
- Political control by the Federal Ministry
- More transparency and fixed deadlines
- Strengthening the role of aviation physicians on site
This is not just about individual procedures, but about the trust of an entire industry in its supervisory authority.
Conclusion: Authority at a crossroads
The situation in German aviation medicine is symptomatic of a larger problem: an authority that is bogged down in bureaucracy and has lost touch with practice. While international role models show that medical safety can also be guaranteed with simplified processes, the LBA clings to structures that make life difficult for pilots and aviation physicians.
If the German government wants to credibly reduce bureaucracy and strengthen general aviation, it must start here. Without fundamental reforms, German aviation medicine risks losing further trust and acceptance - with serious consequences for pilots, associations and ultimately the future of aviation in the country.
Source references:
AOPA