Spontaneous Pneumothorax, Class 1 & 2
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Spontaneous Pneumothorax, Class 1 & 2 ***UPDATE***
Hi, I tried a search and surprisingly little came up actually.
I have a UK PPL, and on Thursday I had a Spontaneous Pneumothorax (SP). It wasn't a big one and my lung didn't fully collapse. It was only about 4cm big. I didn't need anything done to it other than getting it asperated with a needle through my back into my pleural cavity(i think, i'm no doctor)
I'm young, fit and healthy, and I'm 18 years old. I'm also tall and thin, and I understand this occurs commonly in people of my anatomy.
What I am asking is, what are the repercussions of this on my would be career as an airline pilot within the UK. And have I now lost my class 2 medical. OBVIOUSLY before I next fly I will discuss this with an AME, but I am at uni right now and have no plans to fly in the near future as I can far from afford it, so it's not completely urgent yet.
Are there others out there who have had an SP and continued to fly with a Class 1 or 2? What about as an ATCO? Are my dreams in effect shattered?
Thanks a lot.
Update
I just wanted to update this so that anyone in a similar position in the near future can get an up to date opinion.
I called the CAA Medical Division who as it turns out are a nice bunch.
The Medical Officer on duty talked me through what my options were. As is the case for me right now, I am "temporarily unfit" and will be for 6 weeks after my respiratory consultant concludes that I am totaly recovered. (Which was about a week and a half after the incident to be honest!)
Once my certificate is re-instated I will be restricted to flying with a safety pilot.
If it was a Class One medical I had, I would be unfit for one year- after which I could re-apply for a Class One again.
Thanks everyone for your replies.
I have a UK PPL, and on Thursday I had a Spontaneous Pneumothorax (SP). It wasn't a big one and my lung didn't fully collapse. It was only about 4cm big. I didn't need anything done to it other than getting it asperated with a needle through my back into my pleural cavity(i think, i'm no doctor)
I'm young, fit and healthy, and I'm 18 years old. I'm also tall and thin, and I understand this occurs commonly in people of my anatomy.
What I am asking is, what are the repercussions of this on my would be career as an airline pilot within the UK. And have I now lost my class 2 medical. OBVIOUSLY before I next fly I will discuss this with an AME, but I am at uni right now and have no plans to fly in the near future as I can far from afford it, so it's not completely urgent yet.
Are there others out there who have had an SP and continued to fly with a Class 1 or 2? What about as an ATCO? Are my dreams in effect shattered?
Thanks a lot.
Update
I just wanted to update this so that anyone in a similar position in the near future can get an up to date opinion.
I called the CAA Medical Division who as it turns out are a nice bunch.
The Medical Officer on duty talked me through what my options were. As is the case for me right now, I am "temporarily unfit" and will be for 6 weeks after my respiratory consultant concludes that I am totaly recovered. (Which was about a week and a half after the incident to be honest!)
Once my certificate is re-instated I will be restricted to flying with a safety pilot.
If it was a Class One medical I had, I would be unfit for one year- after which I could re-apply for a Class One again.
Thanks everyone for your replies.
Last edited by 17thhour; 7th Mar 2010 at 01:58. Reason: Update
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I know that for ATCO's an spontaneous pneumothorax will temporarily void your medical certificate pending assesment by a respiratory physician. It's not necessarily a permanent disqualification but will depend on the opinion of the physician and review by an AME. I would assume that it's something similar for a class 1/2.
Your best bet would be to give the CAA medical group a call.
Your best bet would be to give the CAA medical group a call.
a little dated, but similar discussed here http://www.pprune.org/medical-health...class-1-a.html
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Yes it happened to me in my early 20's. My brother and uncle too. All tall and thin. All good since and Class 1 held as ATCO for 20+ years.
For those who've not experienced it. It hurts like hell with some breathlessness. Glad it never happened again. Mine fixed itself.
For those who've not experienced it. It hurts like hell with some breathlessness. Glad it never happened again. Mine fixed itself.
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Some years back, Hunter pilots would occasionally suffer a condition known as "Hunter's Lung" IIRC. It was caused by pulling high G levels whilst breathing 100% oxygen instead of Airmix and resulted in a partial collapse of a lung - the recovery was simply to relax the G and then cough (to re-inflate the lung). I'm fairly certain that no one ever suffered any subsequent ill-effects, even with numerous occurrences.
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27mm,
"Hunter Lung", acceleration atelectasis, or a number of other terms, are quite different to a pneumothorax, and do not have the same implications for long term fitness.
Cheers,
BM
"Hunter Lung", acceleration atelectasis, or a number of other terms, are quite different to a pneumothorax, and do not have the same implications for long term fitness.
Cheers,
BM
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Don't worry too much, a friend of mine is an FO for Flybe; he had two spontaneous pneumothorax. In the end he had to have an operation, either way AME was happy for him to return to flying as an airline pilot after a period of time (if memory serves 2 months after the operation).
If I remember i'll call him and ask him to respond to this thread.
Best wishes,
Tom.
If I remember i'll call him and ask him to respond to this thread.
Best wishes,
Tom.