What is my risk? Medical Question

[dpilot_citation]

I fly as part of a two person crew in a aircraft requiring two pilots. What are the problems for me if I know or suspect the other pilot is not able to meet the requirements of 61.53?



Just want to know what my exposure is.



Thanks Dpilot

 

[FN FAL]

I fly as part of a two person crew in a aircraft requiring two pilots. What are the problems for me if I know or suspect the other pilot is not able to meet the requirements of 61.53?



Just want to know what my exposure is.



Thanks Dpilot

Well, if he has a heart attack while he's boinking you on a layover, you might have some splaining to do.

 

[urflyingme?!]

Remember about reporting crewmember incapacatation(sp?) in flight. If you say, "he was just rubbing his left arm like always and talking about how stresed out he is and needing a smoke," Johhny Law might not be too happy!

 

[midlifeflyer]

My offhanded educated guess is that (assuming proof that you knew) your exposure would be exactly the same as if the other required crewmember were your aunt Matilda who had never even touched a toy airplane before.

 

[Vladimir Lenin]

if he has multiple personalities and all of a sudden decides to "stop the train to get some blueberries" you may be in trouble

 

[avbug]

You ask an ambiguous question without much direction. Apparently, you are flying with someone who either has no medical certificate, or is flying with a known medical deficiency that makes them inelligible for a certificate, or inelligibe to fly under their certificate.

You're going to need to be a little more specific. Does this person have a headcold, and you're passing your opinion as judgement, or is there a valid reason for the question?

A lot of different ways to answer your question apply, all valid, and all depending on what the question really is and the circumstances behind it.

 

[dpilot_citation]

More Info

Avbug...You are right, he just had PRK and the Doctor has not released him. One eye still very fuzzy. He is thinking about not telling AME. Does this help?

Thanks Dpilot

 

[Lead Sled]

...he just had PRK and the Doctor has not released him. One eye still very fuzzy. He is thinking about not telling AME.

When it comes to FAA medical certificates, they are little more than a "snapshot" of our heath status on a particuliar day. In essence we have to "self certify" our medical condition prior to each and every flight. Personally, if I were in you position, I would not fly with a fellow crewmember who was not "airworthy" - but hey, that's just me. I don't believe that it would be too hard to come up with a set of circumstances where you would have some 'splaining to do if there were to be a problem.

'Sled

 

[FracCapt]

Avbug...You are right, he just had PRK and the Doctor has not released him. One eye still very fuzzy. He is thinking about not telling AME. Does this help?

The procedures pertaining to Lasik and PRK are:

1) Pilot must be released by an opthamologist and/or surgeon to return to flying. There is a form that tells what criteria must be met in order for them to release the pilot back to flying.

2) Pilot must report the surgery at the next flight physical. It is not necessary to report it prior to returning to flying, so long as the opthamologist/surgeon has released them back to flying status. They need not be an AME to do this.

If he is flying before he meets the requirements set forth, he is flying without a medical. His medical is not valid if he does not meet the requirements of that class TODAY. If he does not notify the FAA at his next physical, he will be guilty of falsifying an FAA document. Punishable by prison time and/or losing all certificates.

If you KNOW he's not legal to be flying, but you're still flying with him...you're potentially in a lot of trouble yourself. If you decide to continue flying with him, plead ignorance should anything occur. You knew nothing.

Maybe JAFI will see this thread and chime in. I'd like to hear his opinion.

 

[DorkProp]

Just to clear up one point that I remember from my LASIK a few years ago: The "Report of Eye Evaluation" must be forwarded to the FAA once you are released to return to flight duties. They will then send you a new medical without the vision restriction (if your doctor reports 20/20 on the form). You also have to report the procedure at your next medical exam.

 

[FracCapt]

Just to clear up one point that I remember from my LASIK a few years ago: The "Report of Eye Evaluation" must be forwarded to the FAA once you are released to return to flight duties. They will then send you a new medical without the vision restriction (if your doctor reports 20/20 on the form). You also have to report the procedure at your next medical exam.

Ok, that may be the case now....what I stated was as it was back in 1999 when I had LASIK. At that time, it was not mandatory that the form be sent to the FAA immediately. It was allowed, at that time, to have the form filled out at the time of your release, and present it at your next flight physical. Of course, you COULD send it to the FAA as well, but they would not issue a new medical(you had to carry a copy of that form to prove you don't need corrective lenses if your medical stated you did).

I sent my form in to the FAA(certified mail) immediately upon being released by the opthamologist/surgeon, but never heard a single word back from them. I actually called a week after they received it to make sure they had it in their system...and they had...but stated that they would not send out a new medical certificate. I did get ramped once after the surgery but before I got a new, unrestricted medical....and the inspector never asked me about corrective lenses. I did, however, have the paperwork ready to show him in case he did ask.

 

[DorkProp]

My LASIK was back in '99 as well. The FAA sent me a new medical after I sent in the Report. Different FSDO, different procedures, I guess. But that's neither here nor there and this is off topic anyway.

 

[bobbysamd]

Medical deficiency

[H]e just had PRK and the Doctor has not released him. One eye still very fuzzy. He is thinking about not telling AME.

Bad, very bad - for him, because he would be violating the law by not disclosing a medical deficiency to his AME - and for you, if you continue to fly with this individual.

This person appears to be in violation of 14 CFR 61.53, Prohibition on Operations During Medical Deficiency. You have knowledge of this person's medical deficiency. My somewhat educated guess would be that your exposure is high. I would not fly with this individual - just as if you encountered a drunken captain with whom you were scheduled to fly.

Hope that helps a little. The long and short of it: Don't risk your certificates and reputation.