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Medical in trouble
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jszantho(at)gmail.com
Guest

Posted: Tue Apr 25, 2006 11:16 am Post subject: Medical in trouble

Recently I was prescribed a medication that will prevent me from acting as

PIC. Unfortunately this will have to be a lifetime commitment. I am building

a RV9-A and I am approximately 8-10 month from finishing the project. You

probably understand the total devastation this development created in my

life (close to depression). I loved the building process and was looking

forward to flying my airplane. Now all these dreams are wiped out. Perhaps

light sport plane is still an option. I was not an active contributor to the

list since I am a first time builder and my philosophy is to keep silent if

you can't add better advice than already offered. All I can say is that this

list and other RV lists were invaluable aid to me. A big hart felt thank to

all of you. I am writing this to see if any of you guys know someone who

might be interested in taking over the project. I would like to get as much

of my basic cost back as possible. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

My kit had the quick build wing and fuselage, have the firewall forward kit

and a new Lycoming O-320 engine. 90% of the riveting and 100% of the priming

is done, the canopy is assembled. Essentially from here on it is an assembly

project. I have full documentation on everything including cost. Thanks for

any help. 



 



John



RV9-A



jszantho(at)gmail.com

Ollie Washburn

Joined: 10 Jan 2006
Posts: 56
Location: Central Florida

Posted: Tue Apr 25, 2006 1:28 pm Post subject: Medical in trouble

John



  Sorry to hear of your problem, but if you enjoy building why don't you 

finish the plane. I think you would recoup more money from a finished plane 

than the kit and you will have the enjoyment of seeing it take shape. I also 

have had medical problems but I am lucky in that my wife also has a license 

so I take her along and keep right on a flyin, I also have a Rans S7S kit on 

order that is to be shipped May 8th so I can fly alone under the LSA rules.

   Hang in there.



Ollie   6A    Central Fl.



---

_________________
Ollie RV6-A & Rans S7S
Central FL

jjessen

Joined: 22 Apr 2006
Posts: 285
Location: OR

Posted: Tue Apr 25, 2006 2:18 pm Post subject: Medical in trouble

I agree.  Stay with the project!  Finish it, see it fly, then move over to

the LSA if you can.  We all are behind you!   



--

Bruce(at)glasair.org
Guest

Posted: Tue Apr 25, 2006 2:39 pm Post subject: Medical in trouble

Why don't you talk to the AOPA and your physician to see if there is an

alternative drug you can take and still keep your medical. If that fails,

petition the FAA for a waiver, or just keep your mouth shut, the AME only

knows what you tell him.



In any case, you'll get more for your collection of parts if you turn it

into an airplane.



Bruce

www.glasair.org

 



--

Oldsfolks(at)aol.com
Guest

Posted: Tue Apr 25, 2006 5:50 pm Post subject: Medical in trouble

I agree with the others , go ahead and finish the plane.

DON'T ask the FAA for anything !!!!!!!!   Once they get a hint of  any 

problem, you're duck soup !!   As the other guy said , check the  AOPA website and 

you can get a list of approved medicines.  Work with you  own doctor to switch 

to an approved one.  Use it for awhile before you go  to an AME for your 

medical.

Try to get an AME recommended by other pilots.

I had a problem with a partially clogged small artery and sent letters from  

my internal medicine specialist and cardiologist saying I was OK.  I  sent 2 

pounds of paper to the FAA about 3 weeks before the LSA was approved ,  with 

the medical change sneaked in.   They denied my medical and now I  have a 62 

hour  RV-4 sitting in my hangar.   NO  LSA for me  either.

Don't trust the FAA for anything !!

 

Bob Olds RV-4  , N1191X

A&P , EAA Tech. Counselor

Charleston,Arkansas

Real  Aviators Fly Taildraggers

jpl(at)showpage.org
Guest

Posted: Tue Apr 25, 2006 6:28 pm Post subject: Medical in trouble

Write your congressmen.  They can update the laws the FAA works under.



-Joe



On Apr 25, 2006, at 8:47 PM, Oldsfolks(at)aol.com wrote:



 	  Quote: 	
		   DON'T ask the FAA for anything !!!!!!!!   .....

 They denied my medical and now I  have a 62

 hour  RV-4 sitting in my hangar.   NO  LSA for me  either.

 Don't trust the FAA for anything !!

Bruce(at)glasair.org
Guest

Posted: Tue Apr 25, 2006 8:01 pm Post subject: Medical in trouble

Sorry to hear that Bob, did you have an angioplasty to clear the problem? 



Bruce

www.glasair.org

 



--

davidfenster(at)comcast.n
Guest

Posted: Tue Apr 25, 2006 9:09 pm Post subject: Medical in trouble

I may get flamed for this, but...............

Don't tell the FAA squat.  Do you feel safe?



Oldsfolks(at)aol.com wrote:

 	  Quote: 	
		   



 I agree with the others , go ahead and finish the plane.

 DON'T ask the FAA for anything !!!!!!!!   Once they get a hint of  any 

 problem, you're duck soup !!   As the other guy said , check the  AOPA website and 

 you can get a list of approved medicines.  Work with you  own doctor to switch 

 to an approved one.  Use it for awhile before you go  to an AME for your 

 medical.

 Try to get an AME recommended by other pilots.

 I had a problem with a partially clogged small artery and sent letters from  

 my internal medicine specialist and cardiologist saying I was OK.  I  sent 2 

 pounds of paper to the FAA about 3 weeks before the LSA was approved ,  with 

 the medical change sneaked in.   They denied my medical and now I  have a 62 

 hour  RV-4 sitting in my hangar.   NO  LSA for me  either.

 Don't trust the FAA for anything !!

  

 Bob Olds RV-4  , N1191X

 A&P , EAA Tech. Counselor

 Charleston,Arkansas

 Real  Aviators Fly Taildraggers

lsbrv7a(at)yahoo.com
Guest

Posted: Wed Apr 26, 2006 3:05 am Post subject: Medical in trouble

Who would support a candidate that wants the FAA to be removed from 3rd class medicals. So much is clincal evaluation that the FAA will second guess.



Sherman Butler

RV-7a Wings

Idaho Falls

		

---------------------------------

Love cheap thrills? Enjoy PC-to-Phone  calls to 30+ countries for just 2/min with Yahoo! Messenger with Voice.

braygarrett(at)hotmail.co
Guest

Posted: Wed Apr 26, 2006 4:01 am Post subject: Medical in trouble

Make sure you don't try to get your medical renewed and are denied. You then 

can not fly sport pilot rules until you get the reason for the denial 

resolved with the FAA. I am taking meds that would preclude me from passing 

a medical, but I haven't gone to renew mine. If I decide to fly certified 

aircraft in the future I will be able to at least fly sport pilot rules.

Good luck.

Oldsfolks(at)aol.com
Guest

Posted: Wed Apr 26, 2006 5:11 am Post subject: Medical in trouble

I had a small artery with 'estimated'  60% blockage - FAA allows  50%.  The 

cardiologist's letter stated that I wasn't likely to be  incapicitated.   FAA 

didn't even consider that ??

I have been driving my class 8 diesel tractor,riding our Goldwing  motorcycle 

and anything else I would normally do.  I had done the 40 hours  

testing(Including +4 & -3.5 aerobatic tests) on the RV-4 and was flying just  fine until 

my medical was expiring.  I appealed the decision and was denied  again.

The RV-4 will be sold and more time will be spent motorcycling - I'll see  if 

I can wear out a Goldwing !!

Keep flying guys - while you can and Good luck.  



Bob Olds RV-4  , N1191X

A&P , EAA Tech. Counselor

Charleston,Arkansas

Real  Aviators Fly Taildraggers

Bob Collins

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

Posted: Wed Apr 26, 2006 5:34 am Post subject: Re: Medical in trouble

This is a touchy subject for me as I am going through much the same thing. A lot of folks have suggested to me that I lie to the FAA and try to squeeze through a medical.... but let me ask you this. I have bouts of vertigo (Meniere's Disease). Do you really want me flying formation with you?



Look, I get the whole "big bad federal government" thing, but the first step any pilot should consider when getting this news isn't "how can I fool the federal government and keep flying, " it's : am I safe to fly? Would I put my kids in the back seat and my wife in the front and launch?



If you're not sure,  then you already know the answer.  Alternately, this is a long discussion you can and should have with your doctor (but definintely not your AME).



Not telling the FAA is a silly suggestion -- imho -- because you've already told the person responsible for making the decision. You.  Your medical records are on file, your prescriptions can be traced. and your insurance isn't going to pay for your careening into a schoolyard if it's determined you flew with a known disqualifying condition. And LSA was never meant to allow you to either.



Can you get away with it? Maybe. Lots of folks will tell you you can. And you might even be able to rationalize it by telling yourself you're just striking a blow for pilot's freedom; that's it's really not about flying safely. But let's dig a little deeper.  Where do you draw the line?  An epileptic seizure? A debilitating bout of vertigo? Narcolepsy?



Would you get into a plane as a passenger with one control stick and a pilot with no license and no training? Why not? They're just exercising their freedom.



I'm with you. I probably will never fly again and there's nothing right now more depressing than that. I'm searching for ways to do so, but lying and breaking the law isn't an option for me. Why? Because if I do, I can never again look in the mirror and say I'm a responsible pilot. I can never advocate for us to fly safer and fly smarter and lead by example. And those are important to me.



I can try to kid myself and say it's just me striking a blow against the bureacracy. Except for one thing. I know that it's not safe for me to fly. And I know it's not safe for YOU for me to fly.



I can read the FAR as well as anyone and I can see I have a disqualifying condition. I KNOW that I'm required  to ground myself and I KNOW I'm required to tell the FAA...not at my next medical. Right now.



Do I like it? Hell no. It changes the entire rest of my life, including big plans for how my wife and I were to spend our retirement. But that's what being an adult is about in this world.  Making sound decisions. 



So what do I recommend?  I can't tell you what to do. I can only tell you what I'm doing.  I'm going to keep building, and I may accelerate my building, basically for the same reason someone else posted: A finished plane is worth more than an unfinished one.   If I'm never going to fly it but sell it when it's done...I can load more goodies into it, because I won't have to pay for it. Someone else will.



That said, others will try to take advantage of you and try to get your to sell your plane at a reduced cost . Those people are leeches and don't  belong in our RV community. So kick them out the garage door the minute they step in.



In the meantime, I'm not giving up. I'm still going to investigate what  alternatives are out there -- medically speaking -- that might allow me to one day fly again. But I'm not going to count on it. And I'm not going to risk anyone's life -- including my own -- or leave my estate stuck with a $1 million dollar payout because I wanted to fly illegally.



One of the reasons I started the RV Builder's Hotline, is it's one way to still be a part of the RV community, even though I probably won't have an RV.  That's why I'll probably build another RV when this one is done.  Maybe folks will stop when they're flying via Minnesota and give me a ride in THEIR RV sometime. Hey, it's not the way I thought things were going to work out, but that's still a hell of a lot better than 99% of the people on this planet.



We homebulders build becaue we love challenges. Well...now I've got one. And you've got one too. Meet it the same way you approach meeting the building challenge -- like a professional.



YMMV.

_________________
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 Apr 26, 2006 6:35 am Post subject: Medical in trouble

I think that's a salient point. For you guys that CAN fly.... Appreciate

what you have.  Our bodies are flawed and they can turn on you tomorrow. At

any age.



Maybe we should have an Rvers "Take a guy whose lost his medical" flying

day. 



Remember that Flying Magazine article a couple of years ago when someone

took Gordon Baxter flying? It brought tears to my eyes. 



When I'm building the Rv in the garage now and a small plane flies over,

that does too.



DO NOT ARCHIVE



 	  Quote: 	
		   I can wear out a Goldwing !!

 Keep flying guys - while you can and Good luck.  

 

 Bob Olds RV-4  , N1191X

 A&P , EAA Tech. Counselor

 Charleston,Arkansas

 Real  Aviators Fly Taildraggers

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

cjensen(at)dts9000.com
Guest

Posted: Wed Apr 26, 2006 6:48 am Post subject: Medical in trouble

Bob,

You raise a good point about responsibility resting with the pilot.

This is particularly so if one starts taking liberties with the rules.

While not suggesting that one ignores rules, limits, requirements, I

would suggest that anyone contemplating doing so take a long hard look

at the medical circumstances.  Certainly, in your case, Meniere's

disease, with an acute attack which may be fully unpredictable, can

render a person absolutely unable to fly an aircraft.



On the other hand, a poster that has 60% blockage when the FAA may allow

50%, and with the 'best-guess' from his cardiologist that it is not a

problem, and he's exercising, eating right to lower the overall risk,

may well reach a different conclusion about being a miscreant.  In the

end, it's all about risk management--with your health and with the

FAA...both are important.



Regarding the poster with the 60% blockage, I'd suggest that he redo the

test and quiz his Cardiologist about the '60% rating'...is he sure it's

60%?  It feels like 50% and sure looks like 50% to you?  There is a high

degree of subjectivity in many of these measurements and diagnosis.  The

Cardiologist may have 10% to give.  Then again, it was maybe closer to

70% and he already 'gave' as much as he can.  It's worth asking.



Chuck Jensen

[quote] --

jszantho(at)gmail.com
Guest

Posted: Wed Apr 26, 2006 6:57 am Post subject: Medical in trouble

The flying community is truly unique. You realize you have friends you never

knew existed. Thank you guys, but expressing this in words will never be

enough. Your words of encouragement mean everything for me. I put into this

project heart and sole and you are right it would be a shame to quit

something I enjoyed so much. As you suggested I will try to go on. I am

still in the dumper, but maybe just working on my RV project will help. I

have talked to AOPA and EAA but they could not come up with any suggestions.

The sad part of this is that I feel I am not a danger to anyone on the

ground or in the air. Except for the medication I have to take I could fly.

Obviously I do not know if my condition will become more serious in the

future.  If that would happen I would ground myself without FAA's help.

According to two doctors I will have to stay on the pills for life and these

are the mildest of the bunch. I wish the FAA would be less bureaucratic

(even the word is a mouthful). Many of your suggestions were really helpful

and I will try to follow up on them. I hope these discussions will be

helpful for others now or in the future, they sure helped me. Thanks

again!!!



John



RV9-A



Firewall Forward

Bob Collins

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

Posted: Wed Apr 26, 2006 7:06 am Post subject: Medical in trouble

 	  Quote: 	
		   On the other hand, a poster that has 60% blockage when the 

 FAA may allow 50%, and with the 'best-guess' from his 

 cardiologist that it is not a problem, and he's exercising, 

 eating right to lower the overall risk, may well reach a 

 different conclusion about being a miscreant.  In the end, 

 it's all about risk management--with your health and with the 

 FAA...both are important.

 


	


That is certainly true. And every individual is different; that's one of the

problems, I guess. (g).  Aside from flying, you now what I'd do if I had

even 50% blockage... I'd have an angioplasty done.  I'm not a doctor, but

I'd be worried that the 50% becomes 60%, and then 70% and then stroke city. 



But, yes, I think you're right, I think the minute you get a diagnose, it's

time to do a LOT of homework and question-asking to really pin down what's

what.  Like I said, completely separate from flying, blockage is a good

thign for longevity.



Do Not Archive

_________________
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 Apr 26, 2006 7:10 am Post subject: Re: Medical in trouble

 	  jszantho(at)gmail.com wrote: 	
		  The flying community is truly unique. You realize you have friends you never

knew existed. 	




John, Best of luck to you and working on the RV will, at times, be tough... or bittersweet is perhaps a better word. The minute you sell it, you lose touch with the RV community.  Losing flying privileges is bad....losing a community is worse. 



What you and I -- and others -- are going to have to figure out...is how to build an RV and get it flight tested and hangared etc., when it isn't going to be hours. Doesn't make sense buying or renting a hangar.... so we'll need that RV FLYING community to really help us out.

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

flyrv6(at)bryantechnology
Guest

Posted: Wed Apr 26, 2006 8:06 am Post subject: Medical in trouble

John, do you mind sharing what the medication is?  Only so we know if it =

is

ever mentioned to any of us.=0D

=0D

thanks=0D

Tim =0D

 =0D

----

jszantho(at)gmail.com
Guest

Posted: Wed Apr 26, 2006 12:21 pm Post subject: Medical in trouble

Tim Bryan asked me about the medication I take. If any of you guys want to

know, send me an e-mail and I will send it to your mailbox.



John

Charles Heathco

Joined: 10 Jan 2006
Posts: 201

Posted: Wed Apr 26, 2006 4:55 pm Post subject: Medical in trouble

As for me, if I dont feel right, I dont fly, and if Im feeling ok, but =

not up to snuff, i will fly, but wont tack anyone else up with me. I =

think this is a paoint that  Faa is missing. I would assume this is the =

way most of us think. If I dont feel right, I dont fly, Yes?? Charlie =

Heathco

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