Prosthetics and medicals

[spudskier]

Knock on wood I have all my parts... but I was watching a show on one of the Discovery channel variants and saw a story about a guy who used to be an airline captain, turned aerobatics/airshow performer... lost both his hands in a car accident.

He got artificial hands, and from the story they seemed to do everything a normal human hand can. then they showed him flying with them! aerobatic maneuvers!


is it possible to get a medical with prosthetic hands?

just a curiosity I had

[Flyin'Dutch']

Looking at your signature I see that you are based in the US.

Yup the FAA takes a rather pragmatic view on these matters. You will have to do a flight test with an FAA examiner but if you can fly the machine using your prosthesis you are on your way!

FD

[trium16]

Yup the FAA takes a rather pragmatic view on these matters.


Indeed, if it were the (UK) CAA, we'd have a very very different story.

Well done to the Guy, it just shows, you can't keep a good 'un down!

[spudskier]

It was an amazing story, I can't imagine not being able to fly!

[Irish Steve]

for what it's worth, the CAA allowed a thalidomide victim who had no fingers worth talking about to do a PPL a number of years ago (late 80's) , he did his training, and some "extra" requirements at Shoreham around the time I was doing a twin rating there.

He was just at the solo stage when I was there, and seemed to be coping well, despite the limitations he had.

I don't know if he continued flying, or if it was just a "prove I can do this" scenario