Too Old?

On Mon, 01 Sep 2008 20:44:51 -0400, Dudley Henriques wrote:

I would have no
problem with medicals requiring a shorter active period based on a
proactive projection of accident stats vs health issues within a
specific age bracket graduated after say a beginning point of 40.
In other words, the older you get and/or when you enter into an age
bracket where stats put you at a higher risk factor, the period of your
medical shortens accordingly.

This makes sense especially if the quality of the medical is increased
accordingly.

The rub in all this, even in my own projection, is that it assumes that
sooner or later a pilot will reach a "no further medicals allowed" point
where a mandatory retirement is indicated.

Disagree. If you can pass a sophisticated and comprehensive medical,
there should be no approach points. Pass = fly regardless of age.

Considering present regulations, the engine to implement such a plan
would be extremely difficult to design and push through the required
legislation.

Can't argue with this, don't have the expertise.

Gezellig wrote:
On Mon, 01 Sep 2008 20:44:51 -0400, Dudley Henriques wrote:

I would have no
problem with medicals requiring a shorter active period based on a
proactive projection of accident stats vs health issues within a
specific age bracket graduated after say a beginning point of 40.
In other words, the older you get and/or when you enter into an age
bracket where stats put you at a higher risk factor, the period of your
medical shortens accordingly.

This makes sense especially if the quality of the medical is increased
accordingly.

The rub in all this, even in my own projection, is that it assumes that
sooner or later a pilot will reach a "no further medicals allowed" point
where a mandatory retirement is indicated.

Disagree. If you can pass a sophisticated and comprehensive medical,
there should be no approach points. Pass = fly regardless of age.

Make sure we're on the same page with the above. I might not have stated
this as accurately as I should have,
What I'm saying doesn't conflict with the Pass= fly regardless of age.
It simply RECOGNIZES that at a certain point while following the "plan",
a pilot WILL reach a specific point in time where the medical can no
longer be passed. In other words, Fail= no longer fly.
What I'm saying is simply that even my "plan" so to speak, ends up with
basically what we have now :-)) You fly until you can't pass the
physical then no more. The same issue remains. The "rub" is that no
matter what is done, the end of the road seems unchanged. There can very
well be a point where the pilot passes the physical at some ripe old
age, then has that heart attack in the air during the periods between
physicals.
This is the basis for what I have envisioned as a "plan" to shorten the
period between physicals as a pilot ages.

Considering present regulations, the engine to implement such a plan
would be extremely difficult to design and push through the required
legislation.

Can't argue with this, don't have the expertise.

You're doing well :-))


--
Dudley Henriques

Dudley Henriques wrote in
:

Make sure we're on the same page with the above. I might not have
stated this as accurately as I should have,
What I'm saying doesn't conflict with the Pass= fly regardless of
age. It simply RECOGNIZES that at a certain point while following
the "plan", a pilot WILL reach a specific point in time where the
medical can no longer be passed. In other words, Fail= no longer
fly. What I'm saying is simply that even my "plan" so to speak,
ends up with basically what we have now :-)) You fly until you
can't pass the physical then no more. The same issue remains. The
"rub" is that no matter what is done, the end of the road seems
unchanged. There can very well be a point where the pilot passes
the physical at some ripe old age, then has that heart attack in
the air during the periods between physicals.
This is the basis for what I have envisioned as a "plan" to
shorten the period between physicals as a pilot ages.

My situation is one of cost. I can easily pass the FAA Medical (even
at my age) but have decided not to try after passing my last one.

I have a Special Issuance wherein the FAA required documentation from
each of my two physicians. My Medical Group charges nearly $100 per
"official" letter and then there's the AME fee. I felt that a little
under $300 each year was a tad much at this time so it may well be
that it's time to hang up the spurs or do other flying alternatives.

--

"John Godwin" wrote in message
...


My situation is one of cost. I can easily pass the FAA Medical (even
at my age) but have decided not to try after passing my last one.

I have a Special Issuance wherein the FAA required documentation from
each of my two physicians. My Medical Group charges nearly $100 per
"official" letter and then there's the AME fee. I felt that a little
under $300 each year was a tad much at this time so it may well be
that it's time to hang up the spurs or do other flying alternatives.

--

That a shame John, sorry to hear it.

How old are you, and why the special?

John Godwin wrote:
Dudley Henriques wrote in
:

Make sure we're on the same page with the above. I might not have
stated this as accurately as I should have,
What I'm saying doesn't conflict with the Pass= fly regardless of
age. It simply RECOGNIZES that at a certain point while following
the "plan", a pilot WILL reach a specific point in time where the
medical can no longer be passed. In other words, Fail= no longer
fly. What I'm saying is simply that even my "plan" so to speak,
ends up with basically what we have now :-)) You fly until you
can't pass the physical then no more. The same issue remains. The
"rub" is that no matter what is done, the end of the road seems
unchanged. There can very well be a point where the pilot passes
the physical at some ripe old age, then has that heart attack in
the air during the periods between physicals.
This is the basis for what I have envisioned as a "plan" to
shorten the period between physicals as a pilot ages.

My situation is one of cost. I can easily pass the FAA Medical (even
at my age) but have decided not to try after passing my last one.

I have a Special Issuance wherein the FAA required documentation from
each of my two physicians. My Medical Group charges nearly $100 per
"official" letter and then there's the AME fee. I felt that a little
under $300 each year was a tad much at this time so it may well be
that it's time to hang up the spurs or do other flying alternatives.

That's a CRIME. I'm VERY sorry this is happening to you. I never quite
know what to do or say when I see things like this happening to a pilot.
We're at the mercy of these damn doctors and they know it. You could
complain, but many times that simply ends up in an endless loop that
goes nowhere. Charging $100 to fill out a form is a gross over charge
and the only reason they can get away with it is because you HAVE to
have it.
This doctor could easily have been a lawyer!


--
Dudley Henriques

"John Godwin" wrote

I have a Special Issuance wherein the FAA required documentation from
each of my two physicians. My Medical Group charges nearly $100 per
"official" letter and then there's the AME fee. I felt that a little
under $300 each year was a tad much at this time so it may well be
that it's time to hang up the spurs or do other flying alternatives.

Go find you a sexy little experimental homebuilt that fits in the Light
Sport class.

No more medicals!
--
Jim in NC

On Tue, 02 Sep 2008 17:29:39 -0400, Dudley Henriques wrote:

Considering present regulations, the engine to implement such a plan
would be extremely difficult to design and push through the required
legislation.

Can't argue with this, don't have the expertise.

You're doing well :-))

lol

Dudley Henriques writes:

This is the basis for what I have envisioned as a "plan" to shorten the
period between physicals as a pilot ages.

The intervals should not be based on age; they should based on the results of
the previous medical exam.

In other words, someone who is on the borderline but passes at one point
should have another medical at an earlier date than someone who passes the
medical with nothing to be concerned about.

Age is largely irrelevant. There's no point in a medical every 90 days for a
person who is 80 years old if he passes each of the medicals with flying
colors. Conversely, a 20-year-old who just barely squeaks by the medical with
some borderline condition should have another medical fairly soon. The
interval could be adjusted after each medical as a function of how the medical
turns out, with the date of the following medical being advanced or postponed
as appropriate.

That would be a truly representative and rational way to schedule medicals,
and there's no need for any age barriers at all.

You obviously know nothing about the process, since you have never had a
medical and never will. Go look up special issuance.

In rec.aviation.owning Mxsmanic wrote:
Dudley Henriques writes:

This is the basis for what I have envisioned as a "plan" to shorten the
period between physicals as a pilot ages.

The intervals should not be based on age; they should based on the results of
the previous medical exam.

In other words, someone who is on the borderline but passes at one point
should have another medical at an earlier date than someone who passes the
medical with nothing to be concerned about.

Age is largely irrelevant. There's no point in a medical every 90 days for a
person who is 80 years old if he passes each of the medicals with flying
colors. Conversely, a 20-year-old who just barely squeaks by the medical with
some borderline condition should have another medical fairly soon. The
interval could be adjusted after each medical as a function of how the medical
turns out, with the date of the following medical being advanced or postponed
as appropriate.

That would be a truly representative and rational way to schedule medicals,
and there's no need for any age barriers at all.

I guess that would make sense to someone who has no idea how the current
system works.


--
Jim Pennino

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