Class 1 medical and Cardiomyopathy ?

[med1]

hi,

just need some advice if anyone knows if it is possible to hold a class 1 medical with cardiomyopathy, in particular Arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia/cardiomyopathy ?

had a routine ecg come back with inverted T wave which has lead from one test to another. At this stage cardiologist believes it is the above and is talking about putting in an Implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD).

I've had a quick look through the CASA DAME Handbook and its not looking very positive.

Any help would be appreciated, I haven't been able to find out if any pilot in Australia has managed to keep his/her medical with the disease.

Cheers..

[teresa green]

Me for one. First diagnosed at the age of ten. Flew for 49 years (TAA and QF) plus some OS after (the year no one dares mention) had no medical treatment, but some problems came about around the age of 70 and now need medication to keep heartbeat regular, other wise stops for up to 4 seconds, not one medical put me out, and I flew in New Guinea as well as OZ and OS with the problem. Yes they know more now, but with the correct medication, I cannot see why you cannot fly. On medication you are safer than some bloke with blocked arteries who is unaware of his/her problem. Good luck, you are better off than I was, at least the treatment is effective.

[med1]

thanks for the info. if you don't mind me asking, what type of cardiomyopathy so you have and did it require a defibrillator to be put in?

thanks again

[teresa green]

No no defibulater required, drugs keep the problem under control. I had no idea what was really wrong with me for years, I knew I could not lie on my right side without my heart making some rather spectacular movements, I dreaded medicals, especially as my blood pressure always went haywire, due to stress, knowing that some Doctors used to get strange looks on their faces whilst listening to the ticker, they knew the problem was there but no one ever sent me on to a specialist. I never used to worry otherwise because I could do hard physical work and exercise without it causing me any grief. It would appear the right ventrical valve was malfunctioning but other than stopping for a couple of seconds, it has continued on for nigh on seventy years, and for some reason did not interfere with my career, when it probably should have had, especially when in single pilot operations in New Guinea. Hope you can overcome this, with drugs (which seem to work well) and get your flying career away, good luck.

[lumax1425]

Hi Med 1,

I was an airline pilot in the US until diagnosed with HCM (not HOCM) in 2008. Lost my medical and therefore my job. FAA will not give me a medical even though I do not have any symptoms. I do have an ICD because I was placed in the high risk category. I am currently trying to see if I can convert my license to JAA and get a JAA approved medical so that I can fly in multicrew flightdeck.
Answer to your question, with HCM you will not get any kind of FAA medical. If it was up to the FAA, they would not let your fly a kite.

I am lurking here because I would like to know if there is anyone out there that has a JAA approved medical even though diagnosed with HCM?


Thanks