Failed EEG
 

Why was the EEG done?

I think it was routine in 1994??

why not . . . . . . . . . . ?
 

This is the bit I find difficult to understand - if a specialist can be as specific as that ( "says I will never have . . . . . ." ) why on earth is he unwilling to commit that opinion to paper ? I don't know in which country this case is mainly occurring now, but in my view that situation is certainly worth pressing and challenging a bit more !

All of the previous posted statements are probably true to some extent.
EEG's certainly were a routine part of SOME (not all) initial class 1 medicals in the 1990's. There were not enough facilities to do it on all candidates, so it was done more or less randomly. Obviously on any candidate where there was a neurological indication, but thereafter almost randomly on something like every tenth candidate to arrive at the Belgrano. But, just like the ill-fated Chest X-Ray a decade previously, the pick-up of abnormalities was abysmally small, thereby not really justifying the great expense of continuing to do the test at all. The EEG as part of the initial JAR class 1 was therefore eventually ditched - I'm not 100% sure of when, but 2005 seems about right !

The problem for our original poster here, though, is that once an entry like an "abnormal EEG" is on one's records, it's very difficult indeed to shake it off ! Furthermore, with the coming of the Europe-wide JAA system, information such as this can be shared between regulatory authorities more or less at the click of a mouse !

Back to the very beginning, then. IF a neurology specialist is quite sure that this person's EEG shows nothing which is a threat to aviation safety then he really must be persuaded to have the courage of his convictions, and commit that opinion to paper. Apparently, in some places decisions on difficult clinical cases such as this are made on a case-by-case, individual-by-individual basis. Maybe if that kind of view were taken in this case our poster could be exonerated, and allowed to fly ?

Keep up the pressure - - - - - and good luck !

Everyone is capable of having a seizure, if stressed with enough stimuli.

I'd suggest that your neurologist examines his own terminology, perhaps he should be comparing "thresholds" for seizure.

I had an EEG for a Class1 in the late 70's. Mandatory then.

However, I am aware of a case in which someone I know had a very similar situation to the one you find yourself in. Everyone thought it was unfair and he sought the guidance of a neurologist one of friends knew. His view was that he would seek to discuss it with his counterpart and it was sorted fairly quickly.

Don't know if you could do that but in any event you must challenge it. Going higher if need be.

After all, if a consultant cannot stand by his view, what are any of his views worth?

EEG is mandatory in India for commercial licence.
Any abnormal EEG once reported remains abnormal and I don't think a neurologist can declare such a candidate fit.

EEG no longer required since 2005 (I remember around October for UK CAA) and the reason for that was that statistics showed that EEG has always been absolutely unuseful. In decades of analysis has never been found any connection between good and bad EEG vs neurologic desease after some years.
Captgummie, do your medical...look and see...if nobody ask you, go on...it's not your concern if EEG is not required anymore.

FB

Fullblast, the guy is still going to have to answer this question, #20 on your JAA application:

"Have you ever had an aviation medical certificate denied, suspended or revoked by any licensing authority? If yes, discuss with AME"

The form can be downloaded at the caa.co.uk website

quite correct . . . . . . . . .
 

That's quite true. Also bear in mind that nowadays authorities communicate with each other so easily, and information about individuals is shared so easily, as I pointed out a bit earlier in the thread.

However
is definitely NOT right. Certainly in the UK ( I can't speak for regimes whose standards are markedly different from ours ) decisions and apparent blots on the record like this one CAN be reversed, if persuasive enough evidence is produced.

Going back to the very first post - do NOT try to do the medical in UK while lying about the EEG ! But DO get in touch with the CAA Med Dept, explain the whole of this history again, and request that the whole thing be reassessed. Would certainly involve seeing a neurology specialist, might include having another EEG carried out. If you can provide the name and address of the neurologist who is not willing to commit pen to paper in your support, they MIGHT even write to him and formally request a report !

Let's face it, in your present position you have nothing to lose, and everything possibly to gain ! Go for it !

Thank you for the reply and I will certainly follow your advice.
BTW, I'm from Belgium.

Still need an EEG in India.

Welsh-warrior
 

Its madness.

I do regular Class 2 JAA Medicals and renewal Class 1 for the CAA.
A year or so ago one of my Class 2s decided to go to the CAA at Gatwick for an initial class 1 medical. He failed.

There was an abnormality on his EEG overlying his left Temporal Lobe.
He had no history ie no trauma, no fits, no meningitis etc etc. but he failed the EEG.

After much worry his dad (who also gets his Class 2 Medical from me) paid for a CT Scan as the CAA said they would reconsider if this was normal.
The Ct Scan was entirely normal and cost £600.

The day after his Dad paid the local hospital's bill, the UK's CAA wrote to his son saying that they had discontinued EEGs as a Class 1 screening test and so would he please find enclosed his Class 1 Medical Certificate!!

The Dad was bemused as whether to be delighted about the Class 1 Med Cert or cross about the £600!

Nuts! Come to the UK for your Medical!

Epilepsy is a clinical diagnosis, not an EEG diagnosis. Certain EEG abnormalities are closely associated with epilepsy, but do not make the diagnosis. Conversely, a normal EEG does not guarantee that someone will not suffer from epilepsy (hence the removal of the requirement for the huge number of normal EEGs carried out).

All the CAA can do is weigh up the available information to come up with a calculation of risk. The acceptable risk depends on what type of licince you hold, and what type of operations you intend to carry out.

greetings . . . . . . ! !
 

Completely agree with that, as has been said before.

Welcome to the forum ! Hope names do not get mixed up too much !

Oops. Hadn't noticed your name. I'm sure nobody will get confused.

So, AME&xxx's, am I correct that every ATP under JAA or CAA jurisdiction up till recently underwent a routine EEG?

Coming from the FAA viewpoint, that just astounds me! Who interpeted them?

nearly right . . . . . . . . !
 

Well, not quite ALL. As I explained in #5 above :

As far as I know most of the interpretation would have been done by the CAA's own in-house neurologists, of whom there are usually three.