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cjensen(at)dts9000.com
Guest

Posted: Wed Nov 21, 2007 11:49 am Post subject: coronary trouble

LSA is one of the times that the FAA has broken with tradition and not tried to keep everyone pressed under their arbitrary thumb...except for the medical denied versus driver's license absurdity.  Hopefully, like any new found freedom, it will be used carefully and treated with a reasonable degree of respect lest the FAA said "we thought so" and start pressing with the arbitrary thumb again.  I have to give the FAA their pros in having moved forward (even if they are mini-steps)with the LSA approach as well as a much improved special medical issue protocol.  The FAA is sometimes tone deaf, but if we holler loud enough....



Chuck Jensen

--

mrobert569(at)hotmail.com
Guest

Posted: Wed Nov 21, 2007 12:26 pm Post subject: coronary trouble

Guys, Be a little careful with this one.  There is a provision in the rule about self-certifying.  If you have knowledge of some medical fact that would preclude you from flying then you are supposed to ground yourself.  I know what will happen in reality but I still caution you to use some common sense.

 Mike Robertson

Das Fed

 > Date: Tue, 20 Nov 2007 20:21:15 -0600

 	  Quote: 	
		   From: sbuc(at)hiwaay.net

 To: rv-list(at)matronics.com

 Subject: Re: coronary trouble

 --> RV-List message posted by: Sam Buchanan <sbuc(at)hiwaay.net>

 Louis Willig wrote:

 > Dr. Katz has stated exactly what crossed my mind when you said you might 

 > go the LSA route. Whatever you do, don't talk to the FAA until you 

 > absolutely know what your options are. I am pretty certain that the FAA 

 > will refuse you for an LSA license if you tell them you have had a heart 

 > problem, even if an AME never refused you. This may truly be a case of 

 > "don't ask, don't tell."

 A private pilot doesn't have to "apply" for a LSA (Sport Pilot) 

 certificate. The pilot only has to restrict his flying to aircraft that 

 meet the LSA standard and fly under Sport Pilot rules. Since no medical 

 exam is required or specified in the Sport Pilot rule the FAA can't 

 prevent someone from flying due to medical problems as long as the pilot 

 hasn't previously failed an ================

Your smile counts. The more smiles you share, the more we donate. Join in!  [quote][b]

mrobert569(at)hotmail.com
Guest

Posted: Wed Nov 21, 2007 12:53 pm Post subject: coronary trouble

FAR 67 covers medical issues and has some standards.  It may not get specific as there are too many variables but don't say there is nothing.

  

 Mike Robertson

   

 > Date: Wed, 21 Nov 2007 12:07:54 -0600

 	  Quote: 	
		   From: sbuc(at)hiwaay.net

 To: rv-list(at)matronics.com

 Subject: Re: coronary trouble

 

 --> RV-List message posted by: Sam Buchanan <sbuc(at)hiwaay.net>

 

 Dale Ensing wrote:

 > --> RV-List message posted by: "Dale Ensing" <densing(at)carolina.rr.com>

 > 

 > Right.. There is no medical exam or statement of medical pre-condition 

 > for a Sport Pilot. But, according to the AOPA speaker at the safety 

 > meeting, if there is a reason for them to look at the pilots credentials 

 > (an accident or incident for example), the FAA will view the pilots 

 > knowledge of a pre-condition in the same way as failing to report the 

 > pre-condition on a medical exam. The Sport Pilot rules don't eliminate 

 > that responsibility just because no medical is required.

 

 

 So.....under what FARs do we find details and specifications on what 

 medically disqualifies a Sport Pilot??

 

 You can look, but you won't find it...... 

 

 Sam Buchanan

&=======================
	


&g======================

 	  Quote: 	
		   

 

 


	


Share life as it happens with the new Windows Live. Share now!  [quote][b]

Bob Collins

Joined: 11 Mar 2006
Posts: 470
Location: St. Paul, Minnesota

Posted: Wed Nov 21, 2007 12:58 pm Post subject: Re: coronary trouble

 	  cjensen(at)dts9000.com wrote: 	
		  LSA is one of the times that the FAA has broken with tradition and not tried to keep everyone pressed under their arbitrary thumb...except for the medical denied versus driver's license absurdity.  Hopefully, like any new found freedom, it will be used carefully and treated with a reasonable degree of respect lest the FAA -- 	


And most people will. But, you know, the same self-certifying position of LSA is already in the 3rd Class licenses too. You're supposed to evaluate and ground yourself the moment you become aware of a situation. But nobody does, realistically. They keep flying -- generally speaking -- until their medical is up.



I mean, really, wasn't it a little embarrassing when Jim Oberstar caught people lying on their medicals while they were claiming Social Security disability?



Plus, the nature of the beast is folks will try to work around it and cheat and then somewhere along the line people will get caught -- or die (see RV-10 List thread)  and we'll lose a privilege. 



I don't have much hope for LSA. I think the FAA gave us just enough rope to hang ourselves, figuring that we will.

_________________
Bob Collins
St. Paul, Minn.
Letters from Flyover Country
http://rvnewsletter.blogspot.com/

rv6n(at)optonline.net
Guest

Posted: Wed Nov 21, 2007 1:57 pm Post subject: coronary trouble

Mike C

  6nbsp;

 Really C what is self-certifying? 6nbsp; As the one that started this thread I feel fine and was even out digging a post hole today and putting up a new mail box E 6nbsp; Granted C I 7m not out throwing 50 3 cement block around all day like when I was 18 but I see no medical reason why I shouldn 7t 6nbsp;be able to jump in the RV 6nbsp;and go E 6nbsp; I am just hunting for answers E 6nbsp; Is there somewhere in the FARs 6nbsp;that says what medical condition precludes a private pilot from flying an LSA 6nbsp;plane? 6nbsp; If I owned one today C I would say I am good to go C and if I did go could the FAA say I was wrong in making that decision?

  6nbsp;

 I have a lot riding on this medical condition C the RV C the hangar C and vacant land in an N EC E airpark where I am hoping to start construction next year E 

  6nbsp;

  6nbsp;

 Please let me thank you all for being so kind and open about your own experiences 6nbsp;and knowledge about others that have gone through this E 6nbsp; THANK YOU! 6nbsp; From what I have gathered it seems to be that the best route to take for me C is to jump through all the hoops my cardiologist 6nbsp;asks me to and those we know the FAA will ask for C then possibly have a consultation only meeting with an AME 6nbsp;that has experience with special issues C before having an aviation medical E 6nbsp; If we feel that the 6nbsp; special issue is out of the question or if the FAA declines me  Cthen I will give up flying and sell it all E 6nbsp; This is my 6nbsp;fourth airplane in the 13 years since I soloed and I don 7t believe anything is more satisfying 6nbsp;than my RV6 E 6nbsp; An LSA 6nbsp;would not likely keep me happy E 6nbsp; 

  6nbsp;

 After April of next year the six month wait the FAA requires will be over and I 6nbsp;plan to attack this with everything I 7ve got to make it work E 6nbsp; I will 6nbsp;provide a summary of my experience at that time so others who have yet to go through this 6nbsp;will be better prepared E 6nbsp;Either I 7ll be seeing you all at a fly-in or there will be some really nice assets for sale E

  6nbsp;

 Thanks C

 Bob 6nbsp;B E





 6nbsp;-- 6gt; RV-List message posted by: Sam Buchanan 

 6gt;  6gt;  6gt; Louis Willig 6nbsp;wrote: 6gt;  6gt;  6gt; Dr E Katz has 

 6gt; stated exactly what crossed my mind when you said you might  6gt;  6gt; 

 6gt; go the LSA 6nbsp;route E Whatever you do C don 7t talk to the FAA until 

 6gt; you  6gt;  6gt; absolutely know what your options are E I am pretty 

 6gt; certain that the FAA  6gt;  6gt; will refuse you for an LSA license if 

 6gt; you tell them you have had a heart  6gt;  6gt; problem C even if an AME 

 6gt; never refused you E This may truly be a case of  6gt;  6gt;  2don 7t ask C 

 6gt; don 7t tell E 2 6gt;  6gt;  6gt; A private pilot doesn 7t have to  2apply 2 for a 

 6gt; LSA (Sport Pilot)  6gt; certificate E The pilot only has to restrict 

 6gt; his flying to aircraft that  6gt; meet the LSA standard and fly 

 6gt; under Sport Pilot rules E Since no medical  6gt; exam is required or 

 6gt; specified in the Sport Pilot rule the FAA can 7t  6gt; prevent 

 6gt; someone from flying due to medical problems as long as the pilot 

 6gt;  6gt; hasn 7t previously failed an FAA medical exam E 6gt;  6gt; Sam 

 6gt; Buchanan 6gt;======================== 6gt;  6gt;  6gt; 

 6gt; _________________________________________________________________

 6gt; Your smile counts E The more smiles you share C the more we 

 6gt; donate E 6nbsp; Join in E

 6gt; www Ewindowslive Ecom/smile?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_Wave2_oprsmilewlhmtagline

mhilderbrand

Joined: 28 Sep 2006
Posts: 36

Posted: Wed Nov 21, 2007 2:13 pm Post subject: coronary trouble

I really have a hard time understanding why the FAA makes people jump through hoops after an MI.  I am no expert, but too me the bigger risk is the obese person with borderline diabetes, who smokes frequently!    These are the people they should be testing!!  Someone that just had an MI PROBABLY just got the crap scared out of him/her and is watching their 6 pretty close. 

  

 A friend of mine, going through flight training, had to have a heart cath. Once revieled to the AME, it was down hill from there.  Talk about a LONG process!  1.5 years for all the paper work to go through the system.  After he finally got it, it was time to do the process all over again...  I personally do not trust the system enough! Somehow my paper work would get messed up and I would receive that big fat DENIAL letter from the guys in OK. 

  

 Tell you the truth, ME personally, I would not fight it. I would fly Sport and not risk the denial.  Which I not a gambler, and I probably do not know what I am talking about any way...     

 

Michael Hilderbrand

Derby, Kansas   



 ---

sbuc(at)hiwaay.net
Guest

Posted: Wed Nov 21, 2007 2:55 pm Post subject: coronary trouble

Mike Robertson wrote:

 	  Quote: 	
		   FAR 67 covers medical issues and has some standards.  It may not get

 specific as there are too many variables but don't say there is

 nothing.


	


Mike, thanks for your input.



Personally, I believe all of us should "self-certify" every time we get 

in the plane. However, my response was to Dale who I am convinced 

received some info from an misinformed speaker at an AOPA seminar. I am 

an AOPA supporter, but if what Dale related was presented at the 

seminar, it was contrary to everything the Sport Pilot rule involves 

concerning medical conditions.



Even though FAR 67 covers medical issues, there are NO mechanisms in the 

Sport Pilot rule (or spelled out elsewhere in FARs) to medically ground 

a *Sport Pilot* except for the following reasons:



1) Failure to pass an FAA medical exam

2) Absence of a valid US drivers license

3) Voluntary grounding because the pilot doesn't consider him/herself 

fit for flight



One of the main components of the Sport rule was the "drivers license 

medical" (vigorously supported by AOPA and EAA). If true that the FAA 

can use medical preconditions to prevent flight under Sport Pilot, then 

all the "no-medical" components of Sport Pilot can be tossed out the window!



There are no means for the FAA to medically ground a Sport Pilot if none 

of the above conditions are present, regardless of what some speaker may 

have said at an AOPA seminar. I am confident in this position having 

watched and studied the Sport Pilot rule from its earliest days. If 

someone can find "chapter and verse" where I am misinformed on this 

point, please provide the info so I can be corrected.



Time will tell how all this plays out, whether or not Sport Pilot 

survives in its present state. I suspect that if medical conditions 

enter the picture, it will be at the hands of the insurance industry who 

will refuse to insure pilots who have certain medical histories. At that 

point, the FAA won't have to worry itself with instituting medical 

requirements for Sport Pilot, the insurance industry will have done it 

for them......



Sam Buchanan

Bob Collins

Joined: 11 Mar 2006
Posts: 470
Location: St. Paul, Minnesota

Posted: Wed Nov 21, 2007 3:11 pm Post subject: Re: coronary trouble

I think we have to recognize, though, that some people should NOT be flying.  I've just gotten my medical back after a couple of years because of vertigo. I grounded myself because I recognize that I was a danger not only to myself, but to every other pilot.



I thought long and hard about not reapplying for a medical when the condition lessened, and just flying LSA, which still -- to my way of thinking -- would've violated the spirit of LSA.



I think we like to think of these issues as us against the man. But I know in my case if I'd kept flying, it'd be me against all the other pilots out there.



In that light, it didn't seem fair to me to use my freedom that way.

_________________
Bob Collins
St. Paul, Minn.
Letters from Flyover Country
http://rvnewsletter.blogspot.com/

Bob Collins

Joined: 11 Mar 2006
Posts: 470
Location: St. Paul, Minnesota

Posted: Wed Nov 21, 2007 3:18 pm Post subject: Re: coronary trouble

One area where this will play itself out, I think, is vision.



I can't see a damned thing without glasses. But I can pass my driver's license exam in Minnesota with my present vision.

_________________
Bob Collins
St. Paul, Minn.
Letters from Flyover Country
http://rvnewsletter.blogspot.com/

cjensen(at)dts9000.com
Guest

Posted: Wed Nov 21, 2007 3:24 pm Post subject: coronary trouble

Bob,

  

 As an  additional suggestion, when the cardiologist writes up his history, evaluation  of your stress test and prognosis, make sure you ask for a draft of the letter  for your comments.  Then read that letter like a lawyer.  See that the  word HISTORY is specifically mentioned in the correct area of the letter.   See that the word EVALUATION is used as a lead in to his evaluation of the  stress test (remember, you must submit the original EKG tracings, not  copies or computer generated samples).  When the cardiologist writes about  PROGNOSIS, look at every word and every phrase.  Sometimes, its just as  important how you say something as it is what you say.

  

 If you  come up with better phrasing or you would like him to soften some aspect of the  letter, ask to discuss it with him.  You don't need to worry about talking  him into something that he doesn't agree with.  As a broad sweeping  generalization, a few of the Cardiologists have been known to have egos of  substantial size, so do not be concerned about intimidating him---won't  happen.  The real challenge is to cast your suggestion in such a way that  you are asking him for his help rather than advising him that you think he wrote  a crappy letter.

  

 Then,  when you are done and have the whole package together ready to  submit...stop.  Go back over that FAA letter again; word by word.   Have you included every single thing they asked for?  Is the data current  enough to meet their requirements?  Have you organized it with a cover  letter that lists each enclosure and how many pages for each enclosure.   I've had instances of Oklahoma loosing 3 submittals of the same data (4-5 years  ago--I believe they are much better now).  However, when they see that you  have taken the time and effort to inventory your submittal, they may feel  compelled to be just a little more careful with your documents because they will  have difficulty claiming it was missing. 

  

 Why is  this scrutiny of your submittal so important?  If something is missing,  several weeks later you will get a letter requesting the missing document.   When you then submit it, it gets put in your file and you go to the back of the  queue, thus losing more weeks.  Until a couple years ago, each one of these  cycles was 2-3 months.  Now they have reduced it to a few weeks.  Much  improved but can still eat up a lot of weeks if you don't do it right the first  time.

  

 So, if  you haven't caught the hint, be anal about the documents, their submittal and  follow up.  It won't guarantee that you will get your license back in a  timely fashion, but to not do so will ensure you won't!!

  

 Chuck Jensen 

 [quote]   --

Bob Collins

Joined: 11 Mar 2006
Posts: 470
Location: St. Paul, Minnesota

Posted: Wed Nov 21, 2007 3:37 pm Post subject: Re: coronary trouble

 	  cjensen(at)dts9000.com wrote: 	
		  

 So, if  you haven't caught the hint, be anal about the documents, their submittal and  follow up.  It won't guarantee that you will get your license back in a  timely fashion, but to not do so will ensure you won't!!

  

 Chuck Jensen 

	




Also, be sure you don't give the FAA anything they didn't ask for. I threw in an ECG tracing in a pile of stuff about the vertigo. I thought I'd kill 'em with paperwork,  and they sent a letter back saying I'm good to go on the vertigo, but now they want a stress test and -- well -- you know the drill because of what the ECG showed. They apparently didn't know that that issue had been addressed several years earlier. Stupid delays.  So, be sure you don't shoot yourself in the foot.

_________________
Bob Collins
St. Paul, Minn.
Letters from Flyover Country
http://rvnewsletter.blogspot.com/

larywil(at)comcast.net
Guest

Posted: Wed Nov 21, 2007 4:11 pm Post subject: coronary trouble

At 09:21 PM 11/20/2007, you wrote:

 	  Quote: 	

Louis Willig wrote:

>Dr. Katz has stated exactly what crossed my mind when you said you 

>might go the LSA route.  Whatever you do, don't talk to the FAA 

>until you absolutely know what your options are. I am pretty 

>certain that the FAA will refuse you for an LSA license if you tell 

>them you have had a heart problem, even if an AME never refused 

>you. This may truly be a case of "don't ask, don't tell."

A private pilot doesn't have to "apply" for a LSA (Sport Pilot) 

certificate. The pilot only has to restrict his flying to aircraft 

that meet the LSA standard and fly under Sport Pilot rules. Since no 

medical exam is required or specified in the Sport Pilot rule the 

FAA can't prevent someone from flying due to medical problems as 

long as the pilot hasn't previously failed an FAA medical exam.

Sam Buchanan

Sam and the List, ( except Mike Robertson)

Please reread my original Post.

No matter how honest or dishonest you want to be about 

self-certification of your health, and no matter whether or not a 

private pilot needs to "apply" for an LSA certificate, and no matter 

whether or not you have been approved or turned down by an AME, and 

no matter whether or not you have a valid driver's license ........ 

The minute you tell the FAA that you have had a heart problem, they 

can and probably will put a halt to your flying until you comply with 

their requests.  You have several options, as has been stated by 

others on the list. You can keep quiet, or you can find a competent 

AME, and you can and should ask AOPA. But I stand by my statement " 

Don't tell the FAA until you absolutely know what your options are."

Sam, you don't have to fail a medical exam to be denied a private or 

LSA certificate. All you have to do is accidently or purposely tell 

the FAA of an exclusionary problem and you will be "Hooverized".

Louis

rv6n(at)optonline.net
Guest

Posted: Wed Nov 21, 2007 4:11 pm Post subject: coronary trouble

These are things I needed to know E 6nbsp; They get what they want and no more E

  6nbsp;

 Thanks

do not archive

 

---

Bob Perkinson

Joined: 10 Jan 2006
Posts: 51
Location: Hendersonville, Tennessee

Posted: Wed Nov 21, 2007 4:20 pm Post subject: coronary trouble

Since I am not a Medical Doctor how can I recognizes when I need to ground my self, even if there was a list of ailments I am not qualified to diagnose the symptoms of those maladies. As long as you are able to get to the airplane and have a valid drivers license, and a pilots license you can climb in and fly. I think the FAA is admitting that a 3rd class medical is a joke.  Don't get me wrong I would never climb in and take off knowing that I was seriously impaired, but how many pilots out there in there 50's have clogged arteries and don't have a clue, or don't want to know because that would cause all sorts of problems retaining there medical. I think it is better to know and be able to do something about it, than to die suddenly. The FAA is causing a situatin where sudden death is more likely to occure in thoes polots that may know somthing is wrong and are not doing anything about it.

Bob Perkinson

-

 	  Quote: 	
		   So.....under what FARs do we find details and specifications on what 

 medically disqualifies a Sport Pilot??

 

 You can look, but you won't find it...... 

 

 Sam Buchanan

 

\

sbuc(at)hiwaay.net
Guest

Posted: Wed Nov 21, 2007 4:35 pm Post subject: coronary trouble

Louis Willig wrote:

 	  Quote: 	

 At 09:21 PM 11/20/2007, you wrote:

> 

>

> Louis Willig wrote:

>

>> Dr. Katz has stated exactly what crossed my mind when you said you 

>> might go the LSA route.  Whatever you do, don't talk to the FAA until 

>> you absolutely know what your options are. I am pretty certain that 

>> the FAA will refuse you for an LSA license if you tell them you have 

>> had a heart problem, even if an AME never refused you. This may truly 

>> be a case of "don't ask, don't tell."

> A private pilot doesn't have to "apply" for a LSA (Sport Pilot) 

> certificate. The pilot only has to restrict his flying to aircraft 

> that meet the LSA standard and fly under Sport Pilot rules. Since no 

> medical exam is required or specified in the Sport Pilot rule the FAA 

> can't prevent someone from flying due to medical problems as long as 

> the pilot hasn't previously failed an FAA medical exam.

>

> Sam Buchanan

 Sam and the List, ( except Mike Robertson)

 Please reread my original Post.

 No matter how honest or dishonest you want to be about 

 self-certification of your health, and no matter whether or not a 

 private pilot needs to "apply" for an LSA certificate, and no matter 

 whether or not you have been approved or turned down by an AME, and no 

 matter whether or not you have a valid driver's license ........ The 

 minute you tell the FAA that you have had a heart problem, they can and 

 probably will put a halt to your flying until you comply with their 

 requests.  You have several options, as has been stated by others on the 

 list. You can keep quiet, or you can find a competent AME, and you can 

 and should ask AOPA. But I stand by my statement " Don't tell the FAA 

 until you absolutely know what your options are."

 Sam, you don't have to fail a medical exam to be denied a private or LSA 

 certificate. All you have to do is accidently or purposely tell the FAA 

 of an exclusionary problem and you will be "Hooverized".

Louis, I think you are missing the point:

There are no "exclusionary problems" as related to a Sport Pilot 

license. I know this is hard to accept given our long experience with 

having to satisfy medical requirements for our private and commercial 

certificates......but LSA is a totally different animal.

Just when would a potential Sport Pilot "tell" the FAA about his medical 

problems? The instructor has no power to ground the student, the check 

pilot has no medical jurisdiction to check prior medical issues.....and 

there is no AME!!! Even if your AME failed your medical when you applied 

for retaining your private ticket, the AME has no jurisdiction over how 

you exercise the privileges of Sport Pilot. Hard to believe, but true.

I am speaking in regard to the regulations, not moral responsibility.

Sam Buchanan

sbuc(at)hiwaay.net
Guest

Posted: Wed Nov 21, 2007 4:41 pm Post subject: coronary trouble

I wrote:



"Even if your AME failed your medical when you applied for retaining 

your private ticket, the AME has no jurisdiction over how you exercise 

the privileges of Sport Pilot. Hard to believe, but true."



Please strike that statement, it is confusing to say the least. Typing 

fingers got ahead of my brain.



Sorry,



Sam Buchanan



===========

ddurakovich

Joined: 24 Jun 2006
Posts: 3
Location: Detroit, MI

Posted: Thu Nov 22, 2007 6:00 am Post subject: Re: coronary trouble

 	  askdrkatz wrote: 	
		  Your medical requirement for sports pilot is valid drivers lic, but that only if you have never been refussed a medical certificate and thats were it gets a little merky, I have heard it both ways from two different AME s.  I would like to think that I  can fly sport pilot by simply letting my special lapse, however my gut tells me this may not be so.

   

  Paul Katz DO

  RV7/fusel



	




The following was published in "The Federal Air Surgeon' s Medical Bulletin • Vol. 44, No. 3 •", 

and while it appears to be very enlightening, is still clear as mud to me.



However, for those of you versed in the language.......



Letters to the Editor



Dear Editor:



Great job on this month’s Medical Bulletin. I would like to see an article that discusses the Light Sport Aircraft [LSA] pilot and medical issues. Here is what I am seeing in my aeromedical practice...



I am now seeing previously medically certificated pilots who are transitioning to the LSA pilot status who under normal circumstances could not meet the requirements for medical certification for Class 1,2, or 3. These people feel that just because they have a valid “unrestricted” driver’s license that it okay to fly in the LSA class. Here are some  examples...



• A previous Class 3 pilot allowed her medical to lapse so she could continue flying LSA. She has breast cancer, is receiving radiation, and is also on chemotherapy.



• A previous Class 3 pilot allowed his medical to lapse so he could continue flying LSA. He had advanced coronary artery disease and is taking Comadin.



• A previous Class 3 pilot allowed his medical to lapse so he could continue flying LSA. He is currently taking SSRI’s for depression.



I pointed out to each of these pilots that under [Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations, part] 61.53 they [are] not okay to fly even LSA. They stated that FAR’s don’t count because they have a valid non restricted driver’s license. Who is right? Them or me??? My understanding of the regs is that ALL airman still need to meet the medical standards of Part 61. The ruling as told in various LSA brochures and lectures is indeed vague. The reg 

states...“Not know or have reason to know of any medical condition that would make that person unable to operate a light sport aircraft in a safe manner.” People think that just because they can drive a car that they can fly LSA. I believe that this reg needs to be better spelled out for the lay public flying LSA. I believe very specific language needs to be created as a guide for people who are “self certifying.” Specific things like “you cannot fly LSA if you’re taking SSRIs, Coumadin,” and so forth.



Please let me know if my understanding of the regs is correct.



Bob Lewis, DO

Columbus, Ohio



Dear Dr. Lewis:



Actually, if considered “safe to fly” is based on a personal physician’s impression, an airman can fly under Sport Pilot. 



So, consider, for example, a person with a cardiomyopathy, ejection fraction of 30%, no dysrhythmias, no CHF, and can pass a stress test. This person would, in fact, be eligible under Sport Pilot, but not likely under third-class certification rules. 



All those airman you described may be safe to fly under the Sport Pilot rules. 



Thank you for these excellent questions.



Warren Silberman, DO, MPH

Manager, Aerospace Medical

Certification Division

_________________
Dave Durakovich
RV-4, Flying!
N666PR

cjensen(at)dts9000.com
Guest

Posted: Thu Nov 22, 2007 7:19 am Post subject: coronary trouble

What is the big deal...someone has breast cancer and is taking radiation and chemo?  How is that so debilitating that, as implied, they shouldn't be allowed to fly LSA?  Someone has coronary disease and takes a blood thinner?  So?  If everyone that had coronary disease were not allowed to fly, the skies would be empty.  It's all about degree/severity and prognosis (code for attempting to guess the future--always a chancy undertaking).  A person with coronary disease and taking a blood thinner scares me a lot less in an LSA than he does in a SUV barreling toward me at 65 mph in the opposing lane and passing by 6' away, which is perfectly legal.



Someone is being treated for depression.  So?  How does this impact LSA flying?  I've been fortunate to have never experienced depression, at least of the degree that benefited from medical attention, but I'm starting to be depressed by individuals, such as Mr. Lewis, who seems to want to sweep the skies clear of everyone that isn't of the health standard of an Olympic competitor.



So, why am I, and all the rest us, able to judge when I'm fit to fly LSA?  Well, I've been living with this body for 50 some years.  By now, I have a pretty good idea of when things are working good versus when some of the system are less than optimal to the point that concentration, reflexes, thought processes and judgment are impaired to the point that I'm uncomfortable with driving or flying. Yes, I can go to a doctor and get confirmation or more information regarding unusual or new conditions, but I believe I, and most of the rest of us, are perfectly capable of assessing our fitness for flight without someone looking over our shoulder.  I have no wish to harm myself and certainly not others, so when I'm under the weather and not fit, I'll stay on the ground until those circumstances change---its not that complicated for responsible folks.



Finally, kudos to Silberman for not taking the bait and giving a straightforward answer that doesn't attempt to get into the subtleties and nuances of every medical condition that might arise.  Score one for the bureaucrats.



Chuck



--

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