Dr. Vlahos retiring !!

[murano]

For those of you in the Virginia/DC/Maryland area that use Dr Vlahos for your medical ... unfortunately he is retiring in January. :crying:

Anyone else in the area found another doc yet that uses similar practices and procedures (if you know what I mean)?

 

[IFLYIMC]

When did he tell you this?

 

[El Pobre]

You mean a doctor who really doesn't give you and exam...kind of just goes through the motions and wouldn't care one way or another if you were safe to fly, just as long as he gets his money? The typical FAA physical....seriously, these things are a joke.

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.

 

[Furloughed80]

This sucks.

 

[UAL-GSO]

That sucks indeed.

 

[PSL]

If you want a straightforward physcial from a Dr. who follows the rules and IS a pilot advocate, try Anil Chopra, MD. He is used by a fair number of SWA pilots in BWI.

He is in Glen Burnie MD. The office is a bit of a dump, but the support staff is professional and supportive.

You can find his phone number and directions using Google and MapQuest.

If anyone has troubles finding the information I will post it when I return home.

 

[glasspilot1]

You mean a doctor who really doesn't give you and exam...kind of just goes through the motions and wouldn't care one way or another if you were safe to fly

Sounds like "cough and go" Cunnick. When I was at Comair in the '80's a lot of us used to go to him. His "office" was at Batavia airport east of CVG. I think he has passed away since then.

 

[Jonny Sacko]

Vlahos was a great guy.

 

[Patriot328]

Vlahos was a great guy.

Yeah he used to ask if you were a CA or FO and then check whichever hand you would use to program the box. If there were no calluses on your finger tips, you were good to go!

 

[murano]

If you want a straightforward physcial from a Dr. who follows the rules

Yeah, that's exactly what I DON'T want. Anyone? Buehler?

 

[sat74]

There are many Delta guys still flying thanks to Dr. Swithin Chandler in SLC. His office is a who's who of guys that fly in from all over the world to get their "medical" from him.

 

[Andy]

I hate to break it to you, but every and I mean EVERY civilian flight doc I've been to has been that way. The class I is a joke. My military flight surgeon's a LOT more rigorous.

 

[Rez O. Lewshun]

You like it rigorous?

 

[Dumb Pilot]

I hate to break it to you, but every and I mean EVERY civilian flight doc I've been to has been that way. The class I is a joke. My military flight surgeon's a LOT more rigorous.

Try a medical in Japan

 

[Flyboi]

Any suggestions on alternatives in the Northern Virginia area now that Vlahos is retiring?

 

[skyaddict]

This is sad news indeed- rats. I am seeing him next week and will wish him well... A-hunting we will go. How booked up is that BWI guy?

 

[UndauntedFlyer]

I hate to break it to you, but every and I mean EVERY civilian flight doc I've been to has been that way. The class I is a joke. My military flight surgeon's a LOT more rigorous.

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?

 

[Jonny Sacko]

Still putting on the uniform every morning?

 

[NEDude]

Try Dr. Nadler near EWR.

Also, if you do have a problem he is good at working with the FAA to get it resolved quickly.

 

[Propblast]

Sorry to see Doc Vlahos go. Hopefully he has a good replacement to recommend.

 

[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