Dr. Vlahos retiring !!

[Iflyforyou]

I highly recommend Dr. Robert Comunale -- I've been using him for five years. He is in McLean, VA, and he works out of his house. His schedule seems flexible, and he takes last-minute appointments.

Check him out at www.flightdoctor.com

 

[Outta Here]

Good luck in his retirement, he will be missed. A real pilots doctor.

 

[Andy]

What kind of idiot advocates a more rigorous FAA Class I physical? Besides what you obviously fail to understand is that the FAA physical depends on the applicant’s honesty. Failure to state recent past medical history is grounds for revocation of all certificates. Only a fool would try to hide a medical condition, the result is that the FAA physicals do reveal problems if they exist. Therefore it is not necessary for a more rigorous on site exam as you seem to advocate. Such an exam as you suggest will only ground healthy pilots until they are able to prove otherwise, by spending $100K or so.

BTW: Don't think you'll be returning to airline work, do you?

The kind of idiot who advocates a more stringent FAA physical is the one who is concerned about safety. Something that you snub your nose at.
As for depending on the honesty of the applicant, that is a huge flaw in the system. You have proven time and again on this board that you lack a moral compass. I have no doubt that you would have no remorse for lying on your medical. And I doubt that you are alone among the pilot population.

As for my return to airline work, you're proving that you are one of the biggest a-holes in existance. I returned to United on 1 April 2008. I returned to military leave status on 3 November 2008. I will be furloughed again in February 2009.

 

[UndauntedFlyer]

I returned to military leave status on 3 November 2008. I will be furloughed again in February 2009.

Your answer didn't answer the question:

"Don't think you'll be returning to airline work, do you?"

I would guess that if you ever get an opportunity to do airline work again it will require you to fly past age 60. So after you've "retired" from you're military job, and if you want to double-dip and do airline work you should send a thank you note to all the pilots you have so criticized regarding age 60. But I forgot, you are going to retire at age 60 and give up your big chance to ever work for the airlines.

So what is it, still planning on retiring at age 60?

 

[Herman Bloom]

I'm sure that you won't have trouble finding one...once OBAMAS socialized medicine is enacted, plenty of docs will be looking for an extra buck.

Well since you're not in the medical field, you really have no idea what you're talking about. Try looking into his proposed plan. It doesn't even approach "socialized medicine".

 

[32drvr]

Wow...

That's sad news indeed! Even though I haven't lived or worked in DC for years, it was always nice to know he was there in case I needed him.

 

[Ralph Cramden]

Saw the good doc just this past week. He says a Dr Patel will be taking over his practice with the same phone number. His nurse is retiring at end of year so it was best to do the same, but he did say to call early and check which days he would be "helping the new doctor out" from time to time.

Doc V sends greetings to all...

 

[captainjack]

I highly recommend Dr. Robert Comunale -- I've been using him for five years. He is in McLean, VA, and he works out of his house. His schedule seems flexible, and he takes last-minute appointments.

Check him out at www.flightdoctor.com

I'll second this. Dr. Comunale is excellent. It will take you more time to fill out the paperwork than the physical will take.

Been using him for 10 years. Bring him a plastic model airplane from your airline and he'll be even more grateful. Pilots have been bringing them to him for years and he has a large collection.

 

[Andy]

So what is it, still planning on retiring at age 60?

I plan on returning to United after recall and will retire from United prior to age 60 once I have secure pass benefits for life.
My previous financial planning allows me to not work another day in my life if I wanted to; I prefer to work. The amount that I pay in income taxes due to investment income for this year exceeds the wages that I am paid - and I'm an O-5 on flight pay. Unlike you, I did not piss away my paychecks during my prime working years.

But yes, thanks to people like you, I'll be furloughed again, along with many others who already spent several years on furlough. You are a fine representative of the greediest generation.

I can't help but laugh at you; you're a bitter shell of a man who has contributed nothing to society during your lifetime. All of the posts that I've seen from you are filled with anger toward the world. Your fate couldn't happen to a nicer person.

 

[Benhuntn]

Dr Kesseler at Shady Grove. 301 354 2900

 

[UndauntedFlyer]

I plan on returning to United after recall and will retire from United prior to age 60 once I have secure pass benefits for life.

Don't you read the news or understand the industry. There are no pass privileges because there will probably be no airline when you "retire," and even if there is, those benefits are worthless unless you want to standby for days at the airport. You must have been kidding or way out of touch with your comment about passes.

You also seem to not understand that you may never be recalled; and again, even if you are, you'll only be there for a very few years (unless you work past age 60). The industry is in turmoil because of you and your "get out of my seat" crowd that was responsible for dividing the Union at a critical time. You divided the airline with BS about age 60, and that BS is being proven every day. OK, so divided you fell, just as I warned you. I have no sympthy for you. Your dreams of being an airline captain are just that: Dreams. It's too bad you and your crowd took so many good people down with you, including the Union.

Don't forget; too, most of your crowd voted Republican every year, and look what you got. Can anybody believe that Union members voted Republican. But that is the mindset of the military pilot.

You have said that I am bitter, I am going to tell you again that I have no bitterness toward you or your friends. I'm actually quite happy to be out of the airline world. I would be pleased to have a drink with you anytime so I can tell you all this right to your face. Please let me know when you're in town.

Now do I sound bitter. I just ride my Goldwing and fly my new airplane.

 

[DH2WN]

Anyone been to the guy working out of Valahos' office?? I forget his name but does he do anything or does he fill out the paperwork and send you on your way in the spirit of Dr. V.

 

[DH2WN]

Bump....

Anyone been to a different MD?

 

[Southern Cross]

I did a physical with Dr. Vlahos in January. I asked him about the retirement and he said that he thought he would continue to do physicals about once a week or so. Give his office a call - he may still be doing them.

 

[jws717]

DO NOT go to Dr. Sam Scott in Downtown D.C. He charges $200!

 

[dalegribble]

Saw the good doc just this past week. He says a Dr Patel will be taking over his practice with the same phone number. His nurse is retiring at end of year so it was best to do the same, but he did say to call early and check which days he would be "helping the new doctor out" from time to time.

Doc V sends greetings to all...

I've used both Patel (if it is Anil Patel, MD) and Vlahos in the past. Patel is a good enough guy. Had an issue I reported through Patel and he worked fast to get it resolved for me, no delay in issuance. No complaints.

 

[brownie]

To all the idiots out there revealing the pilot friendly ame names. Don't you for a minute think that there will be some unfriendly eyes monitoring these sites and you can f..k it up for them and the rest of us. Take your head out of your a..es:angryfire

 

[DH2WN]

I did a physical with Dr. Vlahos in January. I asked him about the retirement and he said that he thought he would continue to do physicals about once a week or so. Give his office a call - he may still be doing them.

I did and he is officially done. He was doing them on Wed. only for a month or so but now he is done.

I'm going to try Comundale recommended above.

 

[dalegribble]

To all the idiots out there revealing the pilot friendly ame names. Don't you for a minute think that there will be some unfriendly eyes monitoring these sites and you can f..k it up for them and the rest of us. Take your head out of your a..es:angryfire

Could be, but the names I mentioned performed the physical in accordance with FAA requirements. He is pilot friendly because he wanted to help me, LEGALLY! and with my long term health in mind. Which is what I paid him for.
No implications of impropriety in my post!

 

[DH2WN]

Went to Comundale today and it was a very very weird experience being in the guys house but very Valahos like. In and out 10 minutes.

I recommend..