Glider license with heart condition?

[gabrielbr]

Hi guys,

does anyone here have a license for piloting gliders with a bicuspid valve and/or an ascending aorta Dacron graft?

I have both (lucky guy) and went to a medical examination for the class II license needed for gliding school and the Cardiologist there said it would be possible to grant the license but advised me still not too pursue this (useless to say, its my childhood dream to be able to pilot gliders/airplanes, I'm sure most of you will relate...). Reasons for this were "maybe its not worth it, the Dacron graft could come loose (is that possible?) on a traumatism, etc"...

What do you think about all this? Maybe I should see another AME for other opinions? Of course, I'm super disappointed and saddened by this, I always thought maybe at least I'd have a chance with gliders... :( (based in Bucharest, Romania and frankly, it seems to me the rules are a little tighter here, not sure though...)

Many thanks!

[Cirrussy]

If it's possible to get the medical granted, then do it. The valve could come loose driving your car, whilst swimming in the sea, whilst free-climbing... etc!

Some countries don't even require a medical to fly a glider solo. In the UK, if you can drive a car you can fly solo.

[gabrielbr]

Hey mate, thanks for getting back. Yeah, that's exactly what I'm always thinking...:/ I also have a motorcycle license and that seems to me a lot more dangerous than gliding really! (you could crash at any moment, plus driving every second meters from other motorists..)
I have another appointment with a AME on Monday, hopefully it will go better...

[Radgirl]

No the Dacron wont come off.

A bicuspid valve is simply 2 cusps rather than 3. In itself it is irrelevant but clearly you have had major surgery so there must be other pathology, and without more details nobody can advise you as to whether you can get a license.

If you dont need a medical dont worry about the graft. If you do need a medical you really need to get your medical records and see an AME.

[gabrielbr]

Thanks Radgirl. Oh, the reason was just my aortic graft, more than the bicuspid itself...Well to be honest, there are just a few AME's in my country and the cases similar to mine must be just a few throughout time, closer to none even, so I think he's just a bit scared because of the lack of experience handling these cases...The discussion was more towards the direction of him trying to convince me to let it go, rather than not accepting me. He managed to do that for the moment but one life-time of aviation passion can't go away in a day so I don't think I'm giving up yet.

[Cirrussy]

Sorry, I should have said I have no medical background.... I was thinking more of risk mitigation, in that if it could fail, it could fail performing daily activities that could have more serious consequences than failing whilst gliding solo.

Good luck!

[gabrielbr]

It's ok, I think you're right. I think Radgirl was just referring to the fact that the AME I've seen (cardiologist) wasn't too sure and up to date on current surgical procedures so its just that he's probably a bit afraid to grant me the license just so he won't be to blame if something does happen...That's how things work when they're just a couple of AME's in one country and cases like mine are very rare. Its a whole different thing compared to the US or UK for example...At least that's my take on things. Thanks again, cheers!