Class 1 Medical, asthma and tachycardia
 

Hi everyone! This is my first thread here, I hope it won't lead to a depressing result...

I've got an appointment for a JAR Class 1 Initial in 10 days exactly, and I was wondering if anyone could answer the two questions that haunt me when I think about this thing. I've read all there is to read on the JAR web site, and read a lot of stuff here, but I'm not sure what to think of all of it. That's why I'm asking directly.

1- I suffer from mild asthma. I'm allergic to cats and feathers, and don't have an outstanding lung capacity while making physical efforts. If I'm very tired I'll have very mild problems breathing, that will immeadietly dissapear with a small intake of Ventolin. I'm now nearly 23, and my last attack that lead me to the hospital (in fact the last one at all) happened when I was 7, so 16 years ago. Will this end up being a problem?

2- My heart will, from time to time, go nuts, pounding like a madman for about 1 minute and this will make me feel a bit weak. I've been diagnosed with mild tachycardia, and this will only happen if I'm very tired AND very hot AND very stressed. It's happened about 4 or 5 times in the past 3 years. Will the doctors see this on the day of the medical, and will it end up being a problem?

Other than that, I'm in pretty good form, my eye sight is perfect and my hearing also. I'm 1m89 and weigh about 75 Kgs...

Thanks in advance for any answers, any, as long as you think it may help :ok:

But this is exactly what flying is!

.....and, quite correctly, that is the view the medics will take.

Why do so many people with a history of these kind of problems want to put themselves into the position of potentially being unwell in the air?

When I mean hot, it's being in the south of France in the middle of the day, at temperatures around 40°C, tired would mean after a mean hangover, and stressed would be emotional and sudden. Somehow, I don't think all of this would happen in a cockpit, especially the 40° and the hangover part...

Doesn't everyone get like this ?

Try a search on asthma, chill out and go for your medical.

I can assure you, Monsieur BP, that I've experienced tired and stressed and 40C in the cockpit on many occasions!
... and I wouldn't have wanted to add "a bit weak" and "very mild problems breathing" to my troubles at the time.

Gingernut takes a different view so follow his advice, which is usually good.
But for your own safety and for everyone else's, please give your full history at your medical.

Of course I'll give my full medical history, I'm not stupid/naive enough to not do so. Nevertheless, the breathing has nothing to do with it (apparently there are many asthmatic pilots, even with Ventolin allowed, which won't even be my case, as I said my asthma is VERY mild), and many times I've been in pitiful states and my heart didn't do anything. So the conditions I've given are arbitrary and may even have no direct link. The doctor I saw today said that it could possibly be linked also with my horrible eating habits.

Anyway, I imagine that if my heart really does have a problem, the medical test will point it out...

Then since you know all about it, you don't need any further input.

Let us know the outcome. Good luck.

Yeh, sorry to appear flippant, of course, tell the truth at your medical, the docs there will be able to tease out what they consider to be relevant (they're pretty good at that).

Remember to chill, and keep us updated.

There is absolutely no point in with holding information or disguising symptoms from the AME. The problem being that 'should' you get through "this time" you then make plans to set off on your chosen career path only to find years down the road that it is taken from you because of something that has cropped up in your medical!!! One career and lots of your time wasted.

Bets you tell them everything NOW and let them advise you. They really aren't out to ruin your day, many of them are there to help. At the end of the day it's all about your health first and everything else second eh?

It's not really about my health, but more about EVERYONE's security... Don't worry, I've had this in mind since the beginning...

Asthma
 

i had light asthma when i was 11 and i grew out of it.
I am now 15 with no need for treatment for the illness.
i was reading this on the CAA site:
"and have no current or previous illness which might interfere with the safe exercise of the privileges..."
Would it affect my Class 1 medical when/if i go for it?
Thanks

If it doesn't affect you now, then no. Keep reasonably fit and that usually manages it just fine. I have mild asthmatic tendencies which was picked up by my aviation doctor.

It's not a problem and I rarely use the puffer.

To whom it may concern : for the Korean KCAB and Japanese JCAB, asthma is a no no.

I guess that applies to the Taiwanese aviation medical board too. Anybody has any insights?

Asthma and getting an airline job
 

Hi,

I am 33 and moving onto my second career and aiming to fly for the airlines. I had childhood asthma and failed the peak flow test in the class 1. The doctors seems to think after 6 weeks on an inhailor I will be fine and pass the test. I do not normally use an inhailor and have not need to since a kid.

I will have a class 1 medical and offically on the record as having asthma and my record will state I use an inhailor daily which is allowed for class 1 as long as you have not had an attack in 5 years.

What do the airlines ask about your medical, do they just see that you have a class 1 cert and not ask any more or do they want to know if you are on any medication and therefore I have to declare I have asthma. In a job situation for Cityjet, Aer Arann, Air Contractors for example I will be up against others for the job and I am the only one that has asthma then I expect I would be knocked off the list as asthma sounds like a complication an airline does not need.

Be great to hear what the airlines actually need to know about you medically and what I have to decare or can I avoid bringing the asthma up at all. I aiming to work for the regionals.

Thanks for the help.

Whats the minimum requirement on the Class 1 peakflow test? I only ask because I had asthma as a child but when I moved to Milton keynes recently my new doc gave me a peakflow test and seemed surprised I managed to do so well on it after I told him I had asthma.

asthma
 

You can pass the peak flow test that the standard doctor has which is just blow in the tube but for the class 1 they have a machine connected to a computer which is very percise. I passed it all except for the exhale which should I have low level asthma. I haven't used an inhailor for 20 years and thought I had grown out of it. Anyway you can be on an inhailor and get a class 1 as long as you can meet the peak flow test and have not have an attack within 5 years.

I have to take the inhailor for 6 weeks and then go back and do the test which the doc expects will be fine.

I developed asthma last year - convenient timing when I wanted to start a career in aviation.

I did the honest things and declared to the CAA that I was using a daily inhaler and they asked me to do the excercise test - which I failed. This involves you running around the building at Gatwick for 5 minutes or whatever until you are out of breath. They then repeat the peak flow.

After consulting with my doctor we increased my medication and the next time I did the test I passed so it is possible to pass it.

My theory is as follows - this is all my own personal thinking and not backed my medical opinion - so make of it what you will !!

Asthma is a constriction of the airways. This can be caused by many things. One of the things that makes an episode worse for sufferes is that when the symptoms start they start breathing faster - this irritates the airways more and hence makes the episode worse.

I could be totally wrong but I think that this is why the CAA make you run around. Now, I think if you are fit and excercise regulary then your body needs less air for a given amount of excercise. Therefore you dont irritate your airways as much running around Aviation House!

Getting back on subject, you can have asthma and be a pilot and have *certain* types of inhaler providing you can pass the excercise test if you are given one.

My advice is to be prepared.

This is going to become more common in future years as more and more people are developing forms of asthma.

I have had asthma since year dot, and found out the hard way that it is incompatible with the military and even a VGS gliding medical.

However I wrote to the CAA and was asked to forward a GP letter and Recent Spirograph (lung fucntion graph) and was told it was acceptable so £422 later for the initial I was/am the proud owner of a JAA Class 1 without any restrictions. I didn't even have to do any running test.

I only use Seretide 50 once a day now which is very effective for me.

OK so Yes it is possible but

1. I prepared by going to the gym and doing lots of cardio, gently at first though.

2. I now run 4 miles about 3 times a week and boy can I feel the difference!

So swim, cycle or run or whatever that gets your lungs working. Don't need to go mad but certainly train them!!

Practice peak flow techniques on a PF meter - they're maybe a couple of quid on prescription.

Go to your doctors and get a spirograph done on a regular basis to see the improvement.

I was classed as having the worst asthma as a kid and was in hospital often with all the most potent meds but prepare and you shouldn't have a problem.

PM me if you want more information.

Peak Flow Readings?
 

Can anyone please give me a rough guide to what peak flow readings should be to pass the class 1 medical.I am 24, and of slim build?? Any help would be very appreciated.