X-Virus-Scanned: clean according to Sophos on Logan.com Return-Path: Sender: To: lml@lancaironline.net Date: Mon, 18 Nov 2013 11:00:57 -0500 Message-ID: X-Original-Return-Path: Received: from omr-d05.mx.aol.com ([205.188.109.202] verified) by logan.com (CommuniGate Pro SMTP 6.0.7) with ESMTPS id 6604005 for lml@lancaironline.net; Mon, 18 Nov 2013 10:34:09 -0500 Received-SPF: pass receiver=logan.com; client-ip=205.188.109.202; envelope-from=vtailjeff@aol.com Received: from mtaomg-da02.r1000.mx.aol.com (mtaomg-da02.r1000.mx.aol.com [172.29.51.138]) by omr-d05.mx.aol.com (Outbound Mail Relay) with ESMTP id 49AF4700406A2 for ; Mon, 18 Nov 2013 10:33:35 -0500 (EST) Received: from core-mnd005c.r1000.mail.aol.com (core-mnd005.r1000.mail.aol.com [172.29.107.17]) by mtaomg-da02.r1000.mx.aol.com (OMAG/Core Interface) with ESMTP id 0FC6CE000088 for ; Mon, 18 Nov 2013 10:33:35 -0500 (EST) References: X-Original-To: lml@lancaironline.net Subject: Re: [LML] Sleep apnea In-Reply-To: X-MB-Message-Source: WebUI MIME-Version: 1.0 From: vtailjeff@aol.com X-MB-Message-Type: User Content-Type: multipart/alternative; boundary="--------MB_8D0B28AAD5B7146_1C8C_797CD_webmailstg-m05.sysops.aol.com" X-Mailer: AOL Webmail 38203-STANDARD Received: from 12.110.229.82 by webmailstg-m05.sysops.aol.com (64.12.225.56) with HTTP (WebMailUI); Mon, 18 Nov 2013 10:33:34 -0500 X-Original-Message-Id: <8D0B28AAC937D1E-1C8C-24B4F@webmailstg-m05.sysops.aol.com> X-Originating-IP: [12.110.229.82] X-Original-Date: Mon, 18 Nov 2013 10:33:34 -0500 (EST) x-aol-global-disposition: G x-aol-sid: 3039ac1d338a528a334f091a This is a multi-part message in MIME format. ----------MB_8D0B28AAD5B7146_1C8C_797CD_webmailstg-m05.sysops.aol.com Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" But should this be extended to third class medicals? Jeff -----Original Message----- From: R Douglas Owen To: lml Sent: Mon, Nov 18, 2013 7:55 am Subject: [LML] Sleep apnea 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=20 IV-P turbine builder and pilot. During the evaluation of patients with sleep apnea, I have encountered peop= le=20 who have arousals (mini wake up episodes) as often as 30 to 60 times per ho= ur.=20 This could mean that the average length of restful restorative sleep amount= s to=20 one or two minutes at a time throughout the night. This condition is genera= lly=20 associated with low oxygen levels in the body. As aviators, we do know the = ill=20 effects of hypoxia on the body systems. These individuals typically awake= n=20 with marked fatigue; often feeling just as tired when they wake up as when = they=20 went to bed. Morbid obesity [BMI (body mass index - a mathematical ratio of weight vs he= ight) =20 > 40 - not just those of us who need to lose a few pounds] has a strong=20 correlation with sleep problems.=20 As a passenger on the flights that I am not able to take my Lancair, I woul= d=20 like to hope that the pilot is at his best, having had more than a 1 minute= =20 stretch of sleep throughout the night. Typically I do not have the option t= o=20 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. Thoug= h not=20 all morbidly obese people have sleep apnea, obesity is a significant risk f= actor=20 - particularly for the morbidly obese with a BMI > 40. It does not seem=20 unreasonable to me to apply some screening process to consider evaluation f= or=20 pilots who may be at risk. It is my understanding that this rule was presented after a commercial crew= (the=20 captain did have a diagnosis of sleep apnea that was not treated, the first= =20 officer just was tired, but without sleep apnea) BOTH went to sleep and ove= rflew=20 the destination by 25 miles before they happened to wake up. Though none of us appreciate the government poking its nose into our busin= ess,=20 in my opinion it is very logical to assess the morbidly obese pilot for a= =20 condition that may well be very critical to the safety of all aboard the=20 aircraft.=20 Doug Owen Sent from my iPad -- For archives and unsub http://mail.lancaironline.net:81/lists/lml/List.html =20 ----------MB_8D0B28AAD5B7146_1C8C_797CD_webmailstg-m05.sysops.aol.com Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable Content-Type: text/html; charset="us-ascii" But should this be extended= to third class medicals?

Jeff


-----= Original Message-----
From: R Douglas Owen <visfishdo@yahoo.com>
To: lml <lml@lancaironline.net>
Sent: Mon, Nov 18, 2013 7:55 am
Subject: [LML] Sleep apnea

I have a comment regarding the recent FA=
A rule regarding sleep apnea.=20

I am a senior aviation medical examiner, a board certified family doc, and =
a=20
IV-P turbine builder and pilot.

During the evaluation of patients with sleep apnea, I have encountered peop=
le=20
who have arousals (mini wake up episodes) as often as 30 to 60 times per ho=
ur.=20
This could mean that the average length of restful restorative sleep amount=
s to=20
one or two minutes at a time throughout the night. This condition is genera=
lly=20
associated with low oxygen levels in the body. As aviators, we do know the =
ill=20
effects of hypoxia on the body systems.   These individuals typically awake=
n=20
with marked fatigue; often feeling just as tired when they wake up as when =
they=20
went to bed.

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

As a passenger on the flights that I am not able to take my Lancair, I woul=
d=20
like to hope that the pilot is at his best, having had more than a 1 minute=
=20
stretch of sleep throughout the night. Typically I do not have the option t=
o=20
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. Thoug=
h not=20
all morbidly obese people have sleep apnea, obesity is a significant risk f=
actor=20
- particularly for the morbidly obese with a BMI > 40. It does not seem=
=20
unreasonable to me to apply some screening process to consider evaluation f=
or=20
pilots who may be  at risk.

It is my understanding that this rule was presented after a commercial crew=
 (the=20
captain did have a diagnosis of sleep apnea that was not treated, the first=
=20
officer just was tired, but without sleep apnea) BOTH went to sleep and ove=
rflew=20
the destination by 25 miles  before they happened to wake up.

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

Doug Owen
Sent from my iPad
--
For archives and unsub http://mail.lancaironline.net:81/lists/lml/L=
ist.html
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