Delta Medical: Hearing

[Z_Pilot]

I am a Delta Wannabe. I am qualified for an interview...& pulling several different strings to get one, it is just a matter of time. If I happen to get one, and if I pass the testing, interview, and psych tests, I worry about the medical. I was born with hearing loss, about -45db in the right ear, -40db in the leaft ear. (Roughly a 60% hearing loss). However, this loss was from day one, not a deteriorating condition...I have audiograms from age 6, 18, and now (age29) to prove that I have not lost more hearing. I am a regional airline captain, and have received first class medicals for the last 8 years without a problem. Am I toast? Does anyone know what the benchmark to pass is? Does the medical examiner consider history & medical records? Do they bust people out for hearing loss often? ZP

 

[EMB170Pilot]

Gotta love those 1st class medicals.

Can u hear me?

Yep

Can you see me?

Yep.

ok lets check your blood pressure

 

[ACL65PILOT]

I am guessing that it is up to the company that does the medical. You could always ask Delta. The way that the do their medical is this. They send you to a place and get a yes or a no. They do not know the medical history, so I am sure that if it is documented it could be waveable. What I would do it bring your documentation to the medical on day two. On top of that if you have a FAA waiver for your class one it probably is not an issue. That is just a guess.

 

[johnsonrod]

I wouldn't mention it ahead of time. Go in and cross your fingers. Good luck.

 

[~~~^~~~]

There are conflicting official answers for that question.

(1) Delta requires a Class 1 Medical.
(2) Delta requires that you pass their physical.

I would call the facility where Delta does their medicals at the end of Virginia Ave. and ask one of the Doctors. The facility administers tests and if you fail a test during the Delta interview you can re-take the test at your own expense. The Doctors are not Flight Surgeons (that I know of) but they might be willing to accept the alternative means of compliance followed by the Flight Surgeons when administering the Class 1.

If you did the leg work and came in with the test procedure it would likely go a long way to help make it easy for the Doctor to pass you. Call your Flight Surgeon, or ALPA aeromedical, for the paperwork.

This exact question came up last week and the person who asked is awaiting an official answer from Delta. If you PM me, I will give you the reply when I get it.

Here is the Doctor's office:
Concentra Medical Center
3580 Atlanta Ave, Hapeville, GA30354-1706
Tel: (404) 768-3351

 

[General Lee]

Go in there and be nice to everyone and smile. Do the best you can and have a good attitude. That could help.


Bye Bye--General Lee

 

[737 Pylt]

I am a Delta Wannabe. I am qualified for an interview...& pulling several different strings to get one, it is just a matter of time. If I happen to get one, and if I pass the testing, interview, and psych tests, I worry about the medical. I was born with hearing loss, about -45db in the right ear, -40db in the leaft ear. (Roughly a 60% hearing loss). However, this loss was from day one, not a deteriorating condition...I have audiograms from age 6, 18, and now (age29) to prove that I have not lost more hearing. I am a regional airline captain, and have received first class medicals for the last 8 years without a problem. Am I toast? Does anyone know what the benchmark to pass is? Does the medical examiner consider history & medical records? Do they bust people out for hearing loss often? ZP

I've heard of guys having problems with the medical.....Nobody I know had any problems with the hearing part, but there have been 3 guys I know, in pretty good shape who had VERY high cholesterol. Whatever they did to correct it, they were eventually all offered classes.
I guess if you followed fins' advice and contacted the company regarding that, before you take the medical, it won't be an issue. As long as you can pass the "class 1" medical standards, you're ok.

737

 

[Jmoney]

Medical Standards.....

Delta does not have more stringent standards than a 1st Class. I believe the standard for 1st class is to be able to hear the spoken word at 6 ft. The ADA came along and got rid of all these crazy standards that individual airlines used to have.
I have a cousin who works there, and he says if you have some sort of problem, they will totally work with you to get by their standards. I believe they will even accept you if you have the ability to get a Statement of Demonstrated Ability from the FAA. The bottom line is that they get into serious legal crap under the ADA if the FAA says you are OK to do the job, but they do not. Apparently, they are not allowed to do any such things anymore.
-J

 

[Z_Pilot]

I am guessing that it is up to the company that does the medical. You could always ask Delta. The way that the do their medical is this. They send you to a place and get a yes or a no. They do not know the medical history, so I am sure that if it is documented it could be waveable. What I would do it bring your documentation to the medical on day two. On top of that if you have a FAA waiver for your class one it probably is not an issue. That is just a guess.

No, I don't need a waiver for my hearing...it's really a non-issue until you stick me in an audiobooth. I have just heard (read) many comments on how thorough and difficult the hearing test is...kinda got me all worked up. Thanks for the constructive reply. ZP

 

[Z_Pilot]

I wouldn't mention it ahead of time. Go in and cross your fingers. Good luck.

Hmmm...be honest beforehand (& shoot yourself in the foot) or just "wing it"....?

 

[Z_Pilot]

There are conflicting official answers for that question.

(1) Delta requires a Class 1 Medical.
(2) Delta requires that you pass their physical.

I would call the facility where Delta does their medicals at the end of Virginia Ave. and ask one of the Doctors. The facility administers tests and if you fail a test during the Delta interview you can re-take the test at your own expense. The Doctors are not Flight Surgeons (that I know of) but they might be willing to accept the alternative means of compliance followed by the Flight Surgeons when administering the Class 1.

If you did the leg work and came in with the test procedure it would likely go a long way to help make it easy for the Doctor to pass you. Call your Flight Surgeon, or ALPA aeromedical, for the paperwork.

This exact question came up last week and the person who asked is awaiting an official answer from Delta. If you PM me, I will give you the reply when I get it.

Here is the Doctor's office:
Concentra Medical Center
3580 Atlanta Ave, Hapeville, GA30354-1706
Tel: (404) 768-3351

This is the exact information I was looking for. Thanks so much! I think that I will take your advice and give them a call so I can get my ducks in a row...

...look for my PM.

ZP:beer:

 

[Z_Pilot]

I've heard of guys having problems with the medical.....Nobody I know had any problems with the hearing part, but there have been 3 guys I know, in pretty good shape who had VERY high cholesterol. Whatever they did to correct it, they were eventually all offered classes.
I guess if you followed fins' advice and contacted the company regarding that, before you take the medical, it won't be an issue. As long as you can pass the "class 1" medical standards, you're ok.

737

Thanks for you insight 737...I think that Fin's advice is the way to go.

ZP

 

[Muskycat]

Heya Z,
I too have a hearing lost, however it was not a problem with Delta. I was hired on back in 2001.
I remember the nurse or assistant making a comment about my hearing results. I suddenly felt a sinking feeling in my belly....lol. The doctor walked in and I asked her about it. She's was like "no big deal, looks good."

My hearing loss is similar to your's. Around the -40db mark. Years ago I went and had test done too. I brought copies with me to show during the medical but the doctor didn't care. In fact just remembered the doc's last name. Dr. Odegard (female) not sure the first name. But she was at the clinic mentioned above. Delta is still using the same place.

Anyways, I learned that a first class medical and Delta are really only interested in the lower db's. My loss is around the higher scale, 4000 to 8000. Voices are in the lower range, like 50 to 100 db. So that is why you and I have first class medicals. And the reason the FAA only test in that range. Hence the "can you hear me now???" question for you medical.

Hope this makes you feel better.
Good luck!

 

[Z_Pilot]

MuskyCat-

Hey thanks for the reply. I am glad to hear that they were not overly concerned about it. Perhaps things will work out for me afterall.

ZP

 

[SDF2BUF2MCO]

FWIW, if you haven't done so already and want to see if your type of hearing loss is "correctable", I recommend Shea Ear Clinic (they have a web site) in MEM.