Hypoglycemia?

"Capt. Geoffrey Thorpe" The Sea Hawk at wow way d0t com wrote in message
news:Ecedncx7tONiWIrbnZ2dnUVZ_vGinZ2d@wideopenwest .com...
"Maxwell" wrote in message
...

"EFIS2" wrote in message
ups.com...
I am a person with reactive hypoglycemia (getsif does
not eat healthy snacks/meals regularly) - I'm sure there is not much
chance of being certified to get a PPL or go onto being an airline
pilot - I just thought I'd ask if anybody knows what the deal is, or
if anybody knows about this problem. I also have bad eye floaters,
I'm sure that would be a problem too. I'm not really optimistic given
that the condition often causes weakness and lack of awareness if I do
not keep my blood sugar up.


I haven't seen your name here before, so just incase you aren't aware.

All the advice given here seems to be very good to this point and time,
except that of MXMANIC.

Hey!! You forgot to warn him about me!!! :-)

Don't assume anything for sure, until you sit down
and talk it over with an AME. He's the man, not only to acess your
situation relative to aviation, but also to suggest solutions.

You can talk to an AME, but DO NOT make an appointment for an FAA
physical! If you attempt and fail then you are also locked out of the
Sport Pilot option. If (and only if) you can fly OK, but can't pass the
physical you can still be a sport pilot as long as you didn't fail a
physical first. But, you really don't want to find yourself with
"weakness and lack of awareness " at the end of a long demanding flight -
you have to take care of yourself, eh? Ask the AME if "sport pilot" is a
bad idea.

Another option is the AOPA - they have a medical department and can give
you some information on how likey you are to have problems.


You're right, I guess I'm assuming most AMEs are as helpful as the ones I
have used, and perhaps many are not. When I had a problem with my medical 10
years or so ago, my AME seemed as helpful as good lawyer in helping me
navigate the system. But I guess they are certainly not obligate to do so.

"Capt. Geoffrey Thorpe" The Sea Hawk at wow way d0t com writes:

You can talk to an AME, but DO NOT make an appointment for an FAA physical!
If you attempt and fail then you are also locked out of the Sport Pilot
option. If (and only if) you can fly OK, but can't pass the physical you can
still be a sport pilot as long as you didn't fail a physical first. But, you
really don't want to find yourself with "weakness and lack of awareness "
at the end of a long demanding flight - you have to take care of yourself,
eh? Ask the AME if "sport pilot" is a bad idea.

You may be getting ahead of things a little. It has not yet been established
that he could not pass the physical or otherwise obtain a medical, and you're
talking as though he has already failed it. Neither hypoglycemia nor floaters
are unconditionally disqualifying. It would be best to make discreet
inquiries, have his state of health assessed by a physician familiar with FAA
requirements, or ...

Another option is the AOPA - they have a medical department and can give you
some information on how likey you are to have problems.

.... and then decide.

--
Transpose mxsmanic and gmail to reach me by e-mail.

Mxsmanic wrote:

You may be getting ahead of things a little. It has not yet been established
that he could not pass the physical or otherwise obtain a medical, and you're
talking as though he has already failed it.

You have no ****ing clue again. Do you know that if you go into an AME
office with the intention of taking the physical (i.e., you start
filling out the application) you have started down in irrevocable path?

You can't just punt out of the medical. If for some reason you can't
pass, you can't get a sport pilot. If there is any chance you aren't
going to be able to qualify, you do WANT to act like you might fail it
and cover your bases.

Neither hypoglycemia nor floaters
are unconditionally disqualifying. It would be best to make discreet
inquiries, have his state of health assessed by a physician familiar with FAA
requirements, or ...

You don't want to bother with a physician or flight simulator wannabe
who thinks the know what is an FAA requirement. You need to talk to
people who know.

There are a handful of AME's (who know and who specialize in tricky
issuances) on the AOPA forums and the AOPA office itself. You
don't want some random doc playing with this. Just because he writes
you a letter saying that he sees no reason for your condition to
interfere with piloting MEANS SQUAT TO THE FAA.

Ron Natalie writes:

You have no ****ing clue again.

I get my clues from the FAA, so you may wish to direct your criticisms to
them.

Do you know that if you go into an AME
office with the intention of taking the physical (i.e., you start
filling out the application) you have started down in irrevocable path?

I didn't say anything about that. I simply said that it has not been
established that he cannot obtain a medical. Neither of the conditions he
mentions are unconditionally disqualifying. They are only a problem if they
interfere with his ability to fly. It has not been established that they do
so.

Thus, the possibility of getting a medical still exists, and prematurely
writing it off at this point is unwarranted.

You can't just punt out of the medical. If for some reason you can't
pass, you can't get a sport pilot. If there is any chance you aren't
going to be able to qualify, you do WANT to act like you might fail it
and cover your bases.

That prevents you from getting a PPL. Not everyone wants to be a sport pilot.
And see above--it hasn't been established that he'd fail a medical.

You don't want to bother with a physician or flight simulator wannabe
who thinks the know what is an FAA requirement. You need to talk to
people who know.

That's what I said.

There are a handful of AME's (who know and who specialize in tricky
issuances) on the AOPA forums and the AOPA office itself. You
don't want some random doc playing with this. Just because he writes
you a letter saying that he sees no reason for your condition to
interfere with piloting MEANS SQUAT TO THE FAA.

Actually, I've understood otherwise, but again, this is premature.

--
Transpose mxsmanic and gmail to reach me by e-mail.

"Ron Natalie" wrote in message
m...
Mxsmanic wrote:

You may be getting ahead of things a little. It has not yet been
established
that he could not pass the physical or otherwise obtain a medical, and
you're
talking as though he has already failed it.

You have no ****ing clue again. Do you know that if you go into an AME
office with the intention of taking the physical (i.e., you start
filling out the application) you have started down in irrevocable path?

You can't just punt out of the medical. If for some reason you can't
pass, you can't get a sport pilot. If there is any chance you aren't
going to be able to qualify, you do WANT to act like you might fail it
and cover your bases.

Neither hypoglycemia nor floaters
are unconditionally disqualifying. It would be best to make discreet
inquiries, have his state of health assessed by a physician familiar with
FAA
requirements, or ...
You don't want to bother with a physician or flight simulator wannabe who
thinks the know what is an FAA requirement. You need to talk to
people who know.

There are a handful of AME's (who know and who specialize in tricky
issuances) on the AOPA forums and the AOPA office itself. You
don't want some random doc playing with this. Just because he writes
you a letter saying that he sees no reason for your condition to
interfere with piloting MEANS SQUAT TO THE FAA.

In my case I called the FAA in OK City and asked them directly about a
medical condition I had been diagnosed with. Based on this, I bought a 1941
Taylorcraft and am happily flying sport aviation.

Danny Deger

On Apr 7, 9:25 am, "Capt. Geoffrey Thorpe" The Sea Hawk at wow way
d0t com
Don't assume anything for sure, until you sit down
and talk it over with an AME. He's the man, not only to acess your
situation relative to aviation, but also to suggest solutions.

You can talk to an AME, but DO NOT make an appointment for an FAA physical!

Listen to Capt Geoff on this one. I understand that the medical forms
(Forgot the number) are tightly controlled, so once you fill it out,
the process will begin. Best to find out what you are up against
before you start. Most AME's will be glad to help.

Another option is the AOPA - they have a medical department and can give you
some information on how likey you are to have problems.

Take anything AOPA says with a grain of salt. If I had a buck for
every piece of bad advise they have given people I know, I could go
out and buy an airplane.

--
Geoff
KB

On 2007-04-07 09:25:47 -0700, "Capt. Geoffrey Thorpe" The Sea Hawk at
wow way d0t com said:



You can talk to an AME, but DO NOT make an appointment for an FAA physical!
If you attempt and fail then you are also locked out of the Sport Pilot
option.

Not at all. This is a major misconception about Sport Pilot. While you
cannot automatically fly if you have failed a medical exam, neither are
you 'locked out.' What it means, if you have failed an exam, is that
you need to clear up the issue with the FAA. That does not mean passing
the medical.

The thing is, too many people assume (from the badly written
regulation) that being physically able to drive and legal to hold a
driver's license allows you to fly Sport Pilot. That is not true. The
key is "other conditions." Basically, it means that you have to
convince the FAA that you are fit to fly Sport Pilot.

There are increasing numbers of pilots who lost their ability to fly
because they failed a medical, but who have been given the OK to fly
Sport Pilot. Granted, it is an extra step that you would not do if you
had never had a medical exam, but it is a far cry from being 'locked
out.'
--
Waddling Eagle
World Famous Flight Instructor

"C J Campbell" wrote

Not at all. This is a major misconception about Sport Pilot. While you
cannot automatically fly if you have failed a medical exam, neither are
you 'locked out.' What it means, if you have failed an exam, is that you
need to clear up the issue with the FAA. That does not mean passing the
medical.

I would love to see you back this opinion up with a relevant passage from
the regs.

"Clearing it up" by passing a failed medical IS necessary. You are correct
in that you can fail a medical, but you eventually must pass your last
medical, then continue to fly on the sport pilot rules.
--
Jim in NC

Morgans writes:

I would love to see you back this opinion up with a relevant passage from
the regs.

That would be FAR 67.401. A medical is not required in this case.

--
Transpose mxsmanic and gmail to reach me by e-mail.

"EFIS2" wrote in message

I am a person with reactive hypoglycemia (gets weak/confused if does
not eat healthy snacks/meals regularly)

Has it been diagnosed by an MD? Do you monitor your BGLs? If not, you
should get this done before getting your medical. mxmaniac is an idiot, but
his response, in this case, is substantially correct. Your alleged
condition isn't even tested for on a standard medical unless you admit that
you may be incapacitated or seriously adversely affected by it. That
admission would be made in the written questionaire applicants fill out as
part of the certification process. But there are a near-infinite number of
conditions that will beg for further scrutiny and / or disqualification.
First, establish that you really have reactive hypoglycemia. If you do,
you'll come under further scrutiny. If not, maybe you should disqualify
yourself on the grounds that you have a legitimate concern that you may not
be fit to act as PIC for uncertain reasons. mxmaniac, for instance, could
use his posting history here as an admission of a potentially dangerous
fantasy life.

moo