Becoming an airline pilot with mild asthma?

[TheGuyNamedCris]

Hello all. I have been long interested in aviation and travel since I was young and I am considering perusing a career in the aviation industry as a commercial pilot. I don't need people telling me it is a bad idea - I have done my research already.

Anyways I suffer from mild asthma, allergy induced primary. I am allergic to dogs and cats. I have never been hospitalized, and I currently do not use steroid medications. My symptoms are infrequent, and not severe. In fact, I have never had a legitament attack, only have I gotten tight, and started to wheeze. I am 16 years old now, my peak flow is around 460, which my doctor tells me is normal for males my age.

I will likely get my first class medical, or try, later this year. I was under the impression that its a good idea to get it early- just to know you can pass it. Do I have a chance at getting a certificate? I will likely bring a doctors note to AME - that states I am safe to fly with my asthma. I have been hearing a lot about waivers. Will I get a waiver, and if so, will I have a chance at getting an airline job in the future? I live in the US and plan to stay in the US for my career. My dream airline is American, or Emirates, but I will be grateful with any job. But do they even consider asthmatic pilots.

I understand that getting a job outside of the US is harder medically. As said previously, a job at Emrates would be fantastic. But would they even look at my application? Am I obliged to not tell them about my asthma? Will they like the fact that I speak three languages fluently (English, Spanish, and Arabic) , and I am in the process of learning another (Man. Chinese). I also play soccer for an academy team that travels across the US. I will likely get soccer scholarships for school, but does this clear to show that I am in shape? Please help me come to terms with this, cause I am freaking out!

[redsnail]

You need to check the medical requirements for your licensing authority.
Over here in EASA land, so long as you don't take oral steroids, you're ok.
(I'm mildly asthmatic).
Same situation in Australia.

If you know what triggers it and can take mitigating steps to control it, you *should* be ok.

Mild controlled asthma is no real problem. Emphasis on controlled.

[gingernut]

"Mild asthma" - Never actually seen that as a diagnosis.

If you're doc gave you an inhaler once when you got a cough when you got a new dog, then actually he hasn't give'n you a diagnosis.

To be honest, if my doc did that a few years ago, I probably wouldn't even remember that.

Allergy induced primary.It does sound like you have indeed done your research.

Who came out with that phrase ?

Good pilot's are people who can get the plane on the black stuff, those who try and get it on the numbers shouldn't be trusted.:)

Never lie to your AME. Enjoy your flying career.

[mnehpets]

The FAA guide says that mild infrequent asthma symptoms don't disqualify you for a certificate. Some airlines, though, may impose stricter requirements.

One thing you can do beforehand is to visit a respiratory specialist, and ask for spirometry tests to assess your asthma. Make sure you get a written report.

"Mild asthma" - Never actually seen that as a diagnosis.

It's a recognised classification of asthma, depending on frequency and severity of symptoms. Here's one guide:

http://www.med.umich.edu/1info/fhp/practiceguides/asthma/EPR-3_pocket_guide.pdf

[homonculus]

Gingernut is correct. In e UK we classify asthma according to the level of support ie drugs and damage and stability. However in the US they also have a mild moderate severe classification. At international meetings everyone uses our classification. Confusing.

Anyhow please do not go and see a specialist. Not only will it cost you money, but you will also need to do lots of tests only to have them repeated at your medical. The specialist will likely tell you to try some drugs and before you know it you will be under investigation. Your AME will not be inclined to pass you.

If your asthma is controlled and occasional just go have a medical. If you pass go flying.

[gingernut]

Asthma can indeed be a serious illness.

"Asthma" can sometimes be a subjective term, "mild asthma" even more so.:)

I once thought I had it, turned out to be a viral induced wheeze.

[HEATHROW DIRECTOR]

A young lady ATCO failed to arrived for work one morning so they contacted her family..... who found her dead. She had apparently died from an asthma attack never having suffered from it before.

[gingernut]

Although tragic, that is quite an unusual scenario HR. And I'm certainly not saying we shouldn't take asthma seriously. At my last count (which is probably a little out of date), about 1200 people a year died from asthma (interestingly, most could have been prevented.)

What I am saying, is that we are sometimes a little zealous when making a diagnosis.:)

[homonculus]

Correct

About 1990 there were a couple of publications in the UK showing something like 300 unnecessary deaths as a result of under diagnosis of asthma. There was a big push to educate general practitioners. Those days are now gone and we see very few undiagnosed asthmatics, although I am not aware of any new papers.

The natural result of this is that nowadays some people get diagnosed as asthmatic who in fact may not have true asthma.

Asthma is defined as reversible airway constriction ie it comes and goes and when it goes there is no sign of it. Unlike an aircraft engine with HUMS diagnosis can be challenging and liable to errors.

My bottom line is that I don't accept the diagnosis until I see a pattern of airway restriction that recurs whenever the particular trigger exists be it exercise or infection or cats. It also has to improve when you take ventolin.