Medical fails may climb

[msmb]

Some of the most severe cases of sleep apnea my doctor has ever seen where on " normal" or " skinny" people. It is not always a weight thing....

 

[Ty Webb]

This was a big issue in the military. There was a time they used BMI as a rough estimate for fitness and a few folks who worked weights for fitness were told they were out of shape in spite of an atlas profile. Had to jump through hoops like caliper measurements and even "Hydrodensitometry Weighing (Underwater Weighing)" to prove they weren't fat even though it was obvious they weren't. It was nuts.

As to your other point, who pays for this testing? If an AME required it your doctor may or may not refer you to a specialist, and your medical plan may or may not cover it.

If the FAA is really that hard over about ferreting out apnea and think it's such a hidden problem they should just require everyone to do a baseline sleep study in order to get a Class One medical. Ha. Then there would really be a pilot shortage and the LTD funds would be drained.

Sleep apnea tests require sleeping on the back. In that position many if not most people snore and many will be diagnosed with apnea. While apnea is a far more serious condition than simple snoring, sleeping on the side "cures" it for many people. IOW they don't normally have sleep apnea but the sleep study on the back will say they do. There will be a lot of false positives.

Exactly... The only time my snoring leads to apnea is when my wife puts a pillow over my head.

 

[Just thinking]

Nancy boy pillow biter! Go to any quiet room in any lounge and you will have your pick of the potential candidates......

 

[Dumb Pilot]

I for one applaud stricter medical tests not only for pilots and controllers, but for cabin attendants as well.

 

[Ty Webb]

Nancy boy pillow biter! Go to any quiet room in any lounge and you will have your pick of the potential candidates......

I for one applaud stricter medical tests not only for pilots and controllers, but for cabin attendants as well.

:laugh::laugh:

 

[Bringupthebird]

Well here's the tougher standards that so many thought would help their careers. I hope you enjoy what you asked for.
http://careers.homedepot.com/

 

[Dornier 335]

I for one applaud stricter medical tests not only for pilots and controllers, but for cabin attendants as well.

Correct me if I am wrong, but the US is one of the very few countries which does not require f/a's to hold medicals.

 

[Andy]

Well here's the tougher standards that so many thought would help their careers. I hope you enjoy what you asked for.
http://careers.homedepot.com/

I'm all in favor of it. Check your height in a BMI calculator to see how heavy you would have to be for a 40 BMI. Or even a BMI of 30.

 

[Bringupthebird]

I'm all in favor of it.

Why, exactly?

The BMI issue is just a starting point. Eventually every pilot will have to undergo this testing and perhaps be forced to wear a CPAP mask for the rest of their careers. I understand the parallels with EKG testing, but sleep apnea is very subjective and with enough pressure from CPAP manufacturers on AME's, many pilots will be stuck wearing one every night for 20 or 30 years.

And should you want to eventually fly under Sport Pilot rules without a medical, you may find this puts that in jeopardy. Going to look for another flying job overseas. The Special Issuance you may require could disqualify you from many jobs.

Sleep Apnea is not caused by being fat. And losing weight does not necessarily make it go away (most of the time it doesn't). It does come on generally in later middle age and maybe you just have a grudge against older pilots. I hope you get the chance to become one some day.

But I don't share your enthusiasm for something that adds very little safety benefit, but comes at potentially a very high cost.

 

[Flopgut]

Was this an actual problem? Because I do not recall this being causal too, well, anything...

What's the plan when a third of us are grounded?