Declaring Chronic condition?

[msgz]

Good day all,

Just wanted to direct some questions towards you all but kind of goes into some legal black areas I'd assume.

So , I'm currently 2/3 of the way through my Comm which is being completed in south africa, which generally go by the same standards as the UK CAA , about 10 days ago I was diagnosed with Ulcerative colitis, upon reading the rules and regulations from the CAA a candidate would be assessed as unfit if presenting symptoms and then have to wait a minimum of 6 months before a reinstatement with an OML restriction which could be further reviewed after another 6 months in terms of a removal as I understand it

Digestive guidance material (GM) | UK Civil Aviation Authority

My questions here being

1.has anyone actually had any success in removing an OML for a chronic condition ?

Also, assuming I was doing my license in south africa but my medical treatment, diagnosis and life were abroad , is there any way for the south african CAA or my Ame to get my medical history without my knowledge from my foreign country ? If it wasn't declared on my class 1 renewal , I know they only pose a questionnaire to you about being diagnosed but it doesn't involve any tests

Would it make sense to continue my license and complete it along with my initial first job which I would need no restrictions for the most successful result without declaring it and later on if synptoms presented then go for tests again and get diagnosed in south africa ? Or is that just setting myself up for prosecution?

Thoughts if any ?

[msgz]

Well , that's refreshing , it's not exactly that simple though I understand it probably offends your moral side which I respect but it's important for me to find out the limits for an Ame or CAA to check your history in a foreign country? Being so close to finishing.

Or 2. has anyone got a success story about removing an OML for a chronic condition?

It's trying to decide my best course of action based on the potential inputs of much more experienced individuals regarding these matters who I know can understand my situation and maybe steer me in the right direction rather than to a desperate one...

[Radgirl]

I know nothing about South African law, but in any of the jurisdictions I have knowledge of this is a criminal offense

Diagnosis does not need any tests, nor necessarily a doctor. If you are asked if you have headaches and you do, you cant hide behind some nonsense that it hasnt been tested or diagnosed. You are I regret being silly

There is no place in aviation for people who deliberate break the law in this way. Unless you are highly specialised in the branch of medicine that deals with the particular condition you havent a clue as to the ramifications or risks of your disease. You may well kill yourself or others. Apart for the legal consequences, I certainly dont want you flying over my house

This stupid question seems to raise its head repeatedly in this forum. I for one am getting angry

Now if you want help with your condition or to try to get a medical despite declaring it, start a new thread.

[wiggy]

I agree with all the above with regard to hiding a condition, for all sorts of reasons just don't.

1.has anyone actually had any success in removing an OML for a chronic condition ?

If it is any help FYI I know of someone flying in the UK who has regained his Class one and is flying heavies following successful treatment for Ulcerative colitis: I'm not sure exactly what his treatment involved, and whether he was cured ( if that is possible- I'm not a medic) or whether he got his licence back because his condition was controlled to satisfaction of the AME.

[Twin Squirrels]

msgz I concur with all the above posts. As a long retired nurse I confess that I am not up to date. However, Ulcerative Colitis is a very serious condition. I would suggest that you take your condition seriously and forget about trying to pass a medical by basically lying by omission.

And don't underestimate South African hospitals, they are excellent. A couple of years ago I discovered that one of my three episodes of flu had actually been glandular fever.

[cavortingcheetah]

In my day we used to cut every corner in the book and had fun doing it too. Rules were for bending, hostesses for serving and wenches for night stops.
Still I wouldn't want an attitude like that on my flight deck nor a sudden screaming incapacitation while we were engaged in rule bending either.
Radgirl is absolutely correct and one should always listen to New Zealanders. My cardiologist just moved to Nelson and a son is one. So I know that they have hidden attractions.

[msgz]

All fair points, and really don't take me like some devious little weasel who wants to put anyone at risk, I'd never do that sort of thing and would have avoided flying If felt I was not fit to do so on top of declaring it as soon as I was finished and placed somewhere , these are questions I'm sure you might ask for advice on if you were in a similar position, it doesn't mean I have made up my mind, like I said , asking advice from others never hurts @radgirl

@wiggy

Thanks for your input , that's the sort of info that I'm searching all over for , to know it's not some irreversible restriction to the point I should just cut my losses and run

[Fostex]

Be open, I have an OML on my Class 1 from a 'severe' head injury in 2005. I didn't suffer epilepsy or any loss of consciousness but due to a small subdural brain haemorrhage my condition was classed as severe and required an OML. The neuro consultants now estimate my risk of developing PTE (Post Traumatic Epilepsy) to be less <0.3% pr annum. Unfortunately I need it to be <0.1% to be free of the OML. That will (statistically) come with time...

My OML has been a massive pain in the arse. I have paid thousands in consultant reports and medical imaging. Sometimes I wonder if things would have been different if I had been careful with the truth during my Class 1 medicals. I'm glad I was honest though, you can never take back lies like that and they would haunt you your entire career.

[msgz]

My OML has been a massive pain in the arse. I have paid thousands in consultant reports and medical imaging. Sometimes I wonder if things would have been different if I had been careful with the truth during my Class 1 medicals. I'm glad I was honest though, you can never take back lies like that and they would haunt you your entire career.

Fostex, did you start your flying career on that OML ?

[cavortingcheetah]

I wonder if you were diagnosed in South Africa, by what means and by whom?
South Africa is medically quite aggressive compared to England and the CAA in Pretoria is infinitely more intransigent than its British counterpart. They're also dumber, less trained, more racist and a thorough going bunch of half witted excuses for doctors-according to a South African specialist I happen to know.
Be that all as it may, if you haven't had the diagnosis confirmed by a UK specialist then perhaps you should do so before you go banging on the CAA's doors telling them that you have it. You want to avoid an OML to start with because, even though they can 'come off' a licence, it's not necessarily the best thing to take into an interview although that caveat would apply more to DICs.
South Africa and the UK do exchange medical information from time to time. You shouldn't volunteer to the South Africans that you have a UK medical or licence. Of course, you mustn't lie either but you want to avoid a telephone exchange between the two authorities.
Bottom line then, if not already done so, get diagnosis confirmed in the UK.
If confirmed then collect every piece of paperwork you can from specialists in order to substantiate your application for a UK medical without an OML or intention for early lifting.
Volunteer nothing to the South African medical department and try to keep them in the dark about your UK licence/medical saga.
I cannot possibly tell you whether your condition will preclude a successful flying career. For further on that I would suggest you follow Radgirl's suggestion, deleting this thread and staring again perhaps.
Best of luck anyway and the above is entirely without prejudice and quite possibly totally bad advice anyway.

[msgz]

I think your friend is correct, I guess they're medically aggressive once they know about your condition potentially but as I understand it's really down to the AME , mine is pretty relaxed, old man at his house practice, so will take all of this into account, I believe I have my course of action roughly planned out then.

I'm glad you gave me your opinion there , it holds true to allot of what my pilot friends have said as well , just wanted a ballpark opinion not coming from biased friends, either way I believe this thread has helped me put things into perspective ever so slightly for me, thanks.

[Radgirl]

If it waddles like a duck, flies like a duck and quacks like a duck....then it is a duck

Amazing. The simple answer was dont break the law, dont risk killing other people.

And the response was semi intelligible wheeler dealing and comments from others to 'keep them in the dark'

How on earth does the OP know if 'felt I was not fit to do so'. We are talking about breaking the law, manslaughter, and bringing the profession into disrepute. Dont. Stop. Now. End of.

[obgraham]

Couple of points for OP:
1. Radgirl has provided a very clear assessment of the discussion. Heed it.
2. You might consider FAA certification, as the procedures are not identical. UC requires a Special Issuance, which would be dependent on the severity and treatment required.
3. This discussion right here is easily subject to a Google search. So there is no such thing as full concealment in a situation like this.

(Disclaimer: Despite a semblance of medical training, I am not now, never have been, nor will be, an AME. My comments should be taken in that regard.)

[cavortingcheetah]

This whole digestive saga gives one indigestion.
There is no requirement to inform one particular CAA that you hold a flying licence or a medical issued by another authority. If you hold either an FAA licence or medical or an EASA equivalent you are not obliged to inform the South African CAA that you do so nor, as far as I know, are you obliged to volunteer the fact of an OML imposed by one authority to another authority. But what you must not do of course is to lie to an authority and I think that advice has been given to the OP by absolutely everyone who has responded and of course, that is the right advice.

[Radgirl]

I would recommend you read, very carefully, the CAA MED 160. In particular questions 18, 19 and 20 asking about any licenses held in any other countries, any medicals and any adverse outcomes to medicals. Then the list of conditions you have to report if you have ever had them, and finally the statement that you have not withheld any relevant information

Failure to disclose is as illegal as lying

Quack quack

[cavortingcheetah]

Darn it, more indigestion; aviation is just no fun anymore and that's no lie.