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Date: Mon, 18 Nov 2013 08:45:25 -0500
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Subject: Sleep apnea
From: R Douglas Owen <visfishdo@yahoo.com>
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I have a comment regarding the recent FAA rule regarding sleep apnea.=20

I am a senior aviation medical examiner, a board certified family doc, and a=
 IV-P turbine builder and pilot.

During the evaluation of patients with sleep apnea, I have encountered peopl=
e who have arousals (mini wake up episodes) as often as 30 to 60 times per h=
our. This could mean that the average length of restful restorative sleep am=
ounts to one or two minutes at a time throughout the night. This condition i=
s generally associated with low oxygen levels in the body. As aviators, we d=
o know the ill effects of hypoxia on the body systems.   These individuals t=
ypically awaken with marked fatigue; often feeling just as tired when they w=
ake up as when they went to bed.

Morbid obesity [BMI (body mass index - a mathematical ratio of weight vs hei=
ght)  > 40 - not just those of us who need to lose a few pounds] has a stron=
g correlation with sleep problems.=20

As a passenger on the flights that I am not able to take my Lancair, I would=
 like to hope that the pilot is at his best, having had more than a 1 minute=
 stretch of sleep throughout the night. Typically I do not have the option t=
o check out the pilot and choose to stay behind if I wanted to.

The FAA primary mandate is to try to assure the safety of the public. Though=
 not all morbidly obese people have sleep apnea, obesity is a significant ri=
sk factor - particularly for the morbidly obese with a BMI > 40. It does not=
 seem unreasonable to me to apply some screening process to consider evaluat=
ion for pilots who may be  at risk.

It is my understanding that this rule was presented after a commercial crew (=
the captain did have a diagnosis of sleep apnea that was not treated, the fi=
rst officer just was tired, but without sleep apnea) BOTH went to sleep and o=
verflew the destination by 25 miles  before they happened to wake up.

Though none of us appreciate the government poking its nose  into our busine=
ss, in my opinion it is very logical to assess the morbidly obese pilot for a=
 condition that may well be very critical to the safety of all aboard the ai=
rcraft.=20

Doug Owen
Sent from my iPad=