Hogger60
22nd Nov 2013, 01:18
If you read the memo, this is only the beginning.
Once we have appropriately dealt with every airman examinee who has a BMI of 40 or greater, we will gradually expand the testing pool by going to lower BMI measurements until we have identified and assured treatment for every airman with OSA.
-Federal Air Surgeons Medical Bulletin Vol 51, No.4, pg 2.
http://www.faa.gov/other_visit/aviation_industry/designees_delegations/designee_types/ame/fasmb/media/201304.pdf
It will initially start with the guys who fit the overweight 40+ BMI/fat neck profile. But it appears his goal is to test ALL commercial pilots and controllers for sleep apnea, as they believe 30% of the pilot population suffers from this dreaded disease which of course is responsible for the high level of fatigue in the pilot force. Couldn't be the contract work rules that have been gutted, back side of the clock flying, crappy hotels, max duty days, etc., etc., etc., now could it?
Remember this testing will all be done at your expense. Even if you are lucky enough to live in a place where there is a "board certified sleep disorders specialist" (this will be especially onerous for those of us who live overseas, as "board certified sleep disorders specialist" just doesn't exist in most parts of the world outside the US) you will still have to use your days off to get the study done. And should your "sleep specialist" find that you do have sleep apnea, then there is the requisite time and paperwork to clear you to fly. Then after all this happiness has past, you will soon be lugging your nighttime sleep mask and its associated paraphernalia (treatment usually involves positive pressure breathing device which varies in size but generally the smallest travel compressor/humidifier is 6-8" sq, and weighs 2-5lbs) with you on all your trips.
Everyone should really be up in arms about this, as even those who don't fit the "Free Willy" profile of the initial cadre of testees, will be caught up in this fiasco (remember, they think that 30% of all pilots suffer from sleep apnea). Just because you have a BMI of 15-20, doesn't mean you won't soon be seen standing there while your friends at the TSA pull apart your bag to make sure your CPAP mask and machine are not some diabolical terrorist device.
Once we have appropriately dealt with every airman examinee who has a BMI of 40 or greater, we will gradually expand the testing pool by going to lower BMI measurements until we have identified and assured treatment for every airman with OSA.
-Federal Air Surgeons Medical Bulletin Vol 51, No.4, pg 2.
http://www.faa.gov/other_visit/aviation_industry/designees_delegations/designee_types/ame/fasmb/media/201304.pdf
It will initially start with the guys who fit the overweight 40+ BMI/fat neck profile. But it appears his goal is to test ALL commercial pilots and controllers for sleep apnea, as they believe 30% of the pilot population suffers from this dreaded disease which of course is responsible for the high level of fatigue in the pilot force. Couldn't be the contract work rules that have been gutted, back side of the clock flying, crappy hotels, max duty days, etc., etc., etc., now could it?
Remember this testing will all be done at your expense. Even if you are lucky enough to live in a place where there is a "board certified sleep disorders specialist" (this will be especially onerous for those of us who live overseas, as "board certified sleep disorders specialist" just doesn't exist in most parts of the world outside the US) you will still have to use your days off to get the study done. And should your "sleep specialist" find that you do have sleep apnea, then there is the requisite time and paperwork to clear you to fly. Then after all this happiness has past, you will soon be lugging your nighttime sleep mask and its associated paraphernalia (treatment usually involves positive pressure breathing device which varies in size but generally the smallest travel compressor/humidifier is 6-8" sq, and weighs 2-5lbs) with you on all your trips.
Everyone should really be up in arms about this, as even those who don't fit the "Free Willy" profile of the initial cadre of testees, will be caught up in this fiasco (remember, they think that 30% of all pilots suffer from sleep apnea). Just because you have a BMI of 15-20, doesn't mean you won't soon be seen standing there while your friends at the TSA pull apart your bag to make sure your CPAP mask and machine are not some diabolical terrorist device.