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On Sep 1, 3:36 pm, Dudley Henriques wrote:
Gezellig wrote: On Mon, 01 Sep 2008 13:30:50 -0400, Dudley Henriques wrote: Ben Jeffrey wrote: "Dudley Henriques" wrote in message ... Orval Fairbairn wrote: I know quite a few pilots flying well into their 70s -- some in high-performance planes. Hell Orval, it took that long for some of us to get proficient :-))) -- Dudley Henriques I have a friend in our soaring club who flew Corsairs as a USMC pilot in WW2 and still flys regularly in our club - usually the first to launch and the last to land. To top it off, most of the time he flys his Pitts to the club from his home field. Ben Jeffrey Some of the "older" pilots are in phenomenally good health. I deal with a lot of them on a daily basis. They're amazing! And some aren't Dudley neither of which is the point. The point is that Fed/FAA gets aggressive, age could come into question regardless. For that matter, why not a local port like Vegas throwing up their own rules? The one's that aren't should fail the medical. THAT is the point. The "system" is supposed to discover and weed out those not medically fit to fly. As long as you can pass the medical, you fly. It's THAT simple! Nobody says the system is perfect. There will always be those pilots who slip through a medical check and then have a heart attack while flying. Personally, I would be an advocate of more frequent medical checks for pilots of a specific age determined by accident stats and medical histories. Of course if they went that route, you'd have the ACLU on their ass screaming about "rights". There is only one additional safety gap in the present system; that being the individual choice of a pilot to voluntarily stop flying after having a medical issue during the period between medicals. As I said, it "ain't " a perfect system by a long shot! -- Dudley Henriques Well, you know, they already do that. A 3rd class medical is good for substantially longer period of time if you are younger than 40. Also, if you report certain conditions, etc, they give you a "special issuance" with a 1 year limit for all classes, including 3rd. |
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K l e i n wrote:
On Sep 1, 3:36 pm, Dudley Henriques wrote: Gezellig wrote: On Mon, 01 Sep 2008 13:30:50 -0400, Dudley Henriques wrote: Ben Jeffrey wrote: "Dudley Henriques" wrote in message ... Orval Fairbairn wrote: I know quite a few pilots flying well into their 70s -- some in high-performance planes. Hell Orval, it took that long for some of us to get proficient :-))) -- Dudley Henriques I have a friend in our soaring club who flew Corsairs as a USMC pilot in WW2 and still flys regularly in our club - usually the first to launch and the last to land. To top it off, most of the time he flys his Pitts to the club from his home field. Ben Jeffrey Some of the "older" pilots are in phenomenally good health. I deal with a lot of them on a daily basis. They're amazing! And some aren't Dudley neither of which is the point. The point is that Fed/FAA gets aggressive, age could come into question regardless. For that matter, why not a local port like Vegas throwing up their own rules? The one's that aren't should fail the medical. THAT is the point. The "system" is supposed to discover and weed out those not medically fit to fly. As long as you can pass the medical, you fly. It's THAT simple! Nobody says the system is perfect. There will always be those pilots who slip through a medical check and then have a heart attack while flying. Personally, I would be an advocate of more frequent medical checks for pilots of a specific age determined by accident stats and medical histories. Of course if they went that route, you'd have the ACLU on their ass screaming about "rights". There is only one additional safety gap in the present system; that being the individual choice of a pilot to voluntarily stop flying after having a medical issue during the period between medicals. As I said, it "ain't " a perfect system by a long shot! -- Dudley Henriques Well, you know, they already do that. A 3rd class medical is good for substantially longer period of time if you are younger than 40. Also, if you report certain conditions, etc, they give you a "special issuance" with a 1 year limit for all classes, including 3rd. This is true, but not what I'm addressing exactly. 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. 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. Considering present regulations, the engine to implement such a plan would be extremely difficult to design and push through the required legislation. -- Dudley Henriques |
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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. |
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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 |
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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. -- |
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![]() "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? |
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"Lonnie" @_#~#@.^net wrote in
: How old are you, and why the special? Pushing 70 and well-controlled Type II Diabetes (A1C=6.0 and decreasing) and Chronic lymphocytic leukemia. -- |
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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 |
#9
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Dudley Henriques writes:
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. Then again, if the doctor fills out the form and signs it for a pilot, and the pilot later dies in flight, the doctor gets sued, even if the cause of death had nothing to do with the doctor's evaluation. So it works both ways. |
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Dudley:
The OP is not at the mercy of a physician in the group- he simply could go elsewhere to get his FCIII exam performed. However, it sounds like he needs a complete new physical, a review of the records, and a submission via computer on a regular basis for the special issuance. Unfortunately, this all takes a fair amount of time. Performing the required tests, especially Class II, requires an EKG, hearing test, vision screening, etc, and between the equipment and time required this adds up to a lot of expense. Then, you, or a paid assistant, has to log onto the FAA computer and submit all of this stuff. A special issuance requires an extensive review of records, along with dictation of a letter (that has to be done by a paid transcriptionist) and then submission to the FAA. Most docs actually barely break even or lose money doing this service for pilots. So, yes, it's expensive, but so are a lot of other aspects of flying. I personally would rather have someone identify a potential problem and address the issue, rather than keep on flying until something breaks, just as if my mechanic found some potential problem that would ultimately save money or my life down the line. "Dudley Henriques" wrote in message news ![]() 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 |
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