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Date: Mon, 18 Nov 2013 11:01:17 -0500
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From: John Barrett <2thman1@gmail.com>
Subject: Re: [LML] Sleep apnea

Ok, I get it that if two commercial pilots or one or any carrying a load of p=
assengers would have unreasonable risk factors if they are nodding off to sl=
eep during their flights.  Maybe this needs to be an ATP rating requirement.=
 However, can you honestly say someone with this condition is more dangerous=
 to the public than the sleep apnea'd driver of a car on a busy two lane str=
eet with or without passengers? =20

I think the answer is a resounding no and would think that we should address=
 the bigger problem before we tackle the little one.


John Barrett
N31VP

Sent from my iPad


> On Nov 18, 2013, at 5:45 AM, R Douglas Owen <visfishdo@yahoo.com> wrote:
>=20
> I have a comment regarding the recent FAA rule regarding sleep apnea.=20
>=20
> I am a senior aviation medical examiner, a board certified family doc, and=
 a IV-P turbine builder and pilot.
>=20
> During the evaluation of patients with sleep apnea, I have encountered peo=
ple who have arousals (mini wake up episodes) as often as 30 to 60 times per=
 hour. This could mean that the average length of restful restorative sleep a=
mounts 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.
>=20
> Morbid obesity [BMI (body mass index - a mathematical ratio of weight vs h=
eight)  > 40 - not just those of us who need to lose a few pounds] has a str=
ong correlation with sleep problems.=20
>=20
> As a passenger on the flights that I am not able to take my Lancair, I wou=
ld like to hope that the pilot is at his best, having had more than a 1 minu=
te stretch of sleep throughout the night. Typically I do not have the option=
 to check out the pilot and choose to stay behind if I wanted to.
>=20
> The FAA primary mandate is to try to assure the safety of the public. Thou=
gh not all morbidly obese people have sleep apnea, obesity is a significant r=
isk factor - particularly for the morbidly obese with a BMI > 40. It does no=
t seem unreasonable to me to apply some screening process to consider evalua=
tion for pilots who may be  at risk.
>=20
> It is my understanding that this rule was presented after a commercial cre=
w (the captain did have a diagnosis of sleep apnea that was not treated, the=
 first officer just was tired, but without sleep apnea) BOTH went to sleep a=
nd overflew the destination by 25 miles  before they happened to wake up.
>=20
> Though none of us appreciate the government poking its nose  into our busi=
ness, in my opinion it is very logical to assess the morbidly obese pilot fo=
r a condition that may well be very critical to the safety of all aboard the=
 aircraft.=20
>=20
> Doug Owen
> Sent from my iPad
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