A social media post with explosive power
When Nina Coppik, a lawyer in the L6 division of the LBA, announced her departure from the authority on LinkedIn, she probably had an idea of the reactions that would follow. Her words were clear: she spoke of "utterly intolerable conditions" and a decision made for "reasons of conscience". Internal attempts to remedy the shortcomings had failed time and again. Coppik had previously spent around a year and a half dealing with countless cases in which pilots were grounded due to aeromedical decisions made by the LBA.
The response from the aviation community was not long in coming. From former DFS managers to Boeing captains - numerous voices from the industry expressed understanding and approval. Doctors also had their say: aviation physician Dr Stefan Reschke spoke of an administrative practice that "has little to do with medical practice" and has long represented a safety risk.
Old problems - new escalation
The discussion that has now been sparked is nothing new. For years, Germany has been at the bottom of the EASA member states when it comes to processing times for medicals. While decisions are often made within a few days in other European countries, pilots in Germany sometimes have to wait months or even years.
The causes are cited as follows:
- Bureaucratic paralysis and fear of making mistakes: Decisions are often made on the basis of files, without personal discussions. Even minor theoretical risks often lead to extensive additional claims and expert opinions.
- Disregard of court orders: On several occasions, the LBA is said to have failed to react promptly despite clear instructions from the judiciary.
- Staff shortage as a permanent argument: Critics doubt the veracity of this justification. The number of cases processed daily is manageable and does not justify years of delays.
- Failure of digitalisation: New software that was supposed to speed up processes apparently turned out to be ineffective.
The result: a system of mistrust, overloading and technical setbacks that has grown over the years and is a burden on both pilots and air traffic safety.
Human and economic consequences
For professional pilots, the withdrawal of their medical fitness to fly often means an immediate loss of earnings. This is particularly life-threatening for freelancers. Employed pilots fall back on sick pay and lose considerable income.
Private pilots are no less emotionally affected. For many, flying is both a way of life and a passion. If their licence is withdrawn without a comprehensible reason, they not only lose a hobby, but often also a central part of their identity.
Years of protest - and hardly any movement
Associations such as AOPA, DAeC and DULV have been criticising the situation for a long time. A petition with almost 20,000 signatures failed to materialise, as did talks with the LBA management. Even political interventions have not yet led to any noticeable improvements. In autumn 2024, the AOPA expressed its disillusionment that politicians and the administration had apparently lost control of the authority.
A system before the turn of an era?
Nina Coppik's resignation is more than just a personal step. It reveals that structures have become entrenched at the LBA over the years that are neither efficient nor citizen-centred. For many observers, it is clear that without far-reaching reforms, German aviation medicine is at risk of losing further credibility - with potentially serious consequences for the entire aviation industry.
Whether the current debate leads to real change now depends on politics, the management of the authorities and public pressure. One thing is certain: things cannot continue as they are.
Source references:
Flieger.News