X-Virus-Scanned: clean according to Sophos on Logan.com Return-Path: Sender: To: lml@lancaironline.net Date: Mon, 18 Nov 2013 15:43:12 -0500 Message-ID: X-Original-Return-Path: Received: from fmailhost04.isp.att.net ([204.127.217.104] verified) by logan.com (CommuniGate Pro SMTP 6.0.7) with ESMTP id 6604293 for lml@lancaironline.net; Mon, 18 Nov 2013 12:43:12 -0500 Received-SPF: none receiver=logan.com; client-ip=204.127.217.104; envelope-from=bbradburry@bellsouth.net Received: from desktop (adsl-98-85-145-16.mco.bellsouth.net[98.85.145.16]) by isp.att.net (frfwmhc04) with SMTP id <20131118174235H0400ap2p0e>; Mon, 18 Nov 2013 17:42:35 +0000 X-Originating-IP: [98.85.145.16] From: "Bill Bradburry" X-Original-To: "'Lancair Mailing List'" References: In-Reply-To: Subject: RE: [LML] Re: Sleep apnea X-Original-Date: Mon, 18 Nov 2013 12:42:36 -0500 X-Original-Message-ID: <53B7B3006016406589EB695BDC7E0CF7@Desktop> MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: multipart/alternative; boundary="----=_NextPart_000_0059_01CEE45B.A8E74A10" X-Mailer: Microsoft Office Outlook 11 Thread-Index: Ac7kd2GZNDqhLlWITvO3URCKf5GkugADgGuw X-MimeOLE: Produced By Microsoft MimeOLE V6.0.6002.18463 This is a multi-part message in MIME format. ------=_NextPart_000_0059_01CEE45B.A8E74A10 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit It would be interesting to watch a person of BMI >40 try to get into my Legacy! _____ From: Lancair Mailing List [mailto:lml@lancaironline.net] On Behalf Of vtailjeff@aol.com Sent: Monday, November 18, 2013 11:01 AM To: lml@lancaironline.net Subject: [LML] Re: Sleep apnea 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. 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 people 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 amounts to one or two minutes at a time throughout the night. This condition is generally associated with low oxygen levels in the body. As aviators, we do know the ill effects of hypoxia on the body systems. These individuals typically awaken with marked fatigue; often feeling just as tired when they wake up as when they went to bed. Morbid obesity [BMI (body mass index - a mathematical ratio of weight vs height) > 40 - not just those of us who need to lose a few pounds] has a strong correlation with sleep problems. 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 to 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 risk factor - particularly for the morbidly obese with a BMI > 40. It does not seem unreasonable to me to apply some screening process to consider evaluation 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 first officer just was tired, but without sleep apnea) BOTH went to sleep and overflew the destination by 25 miles before they happened to wake up. Though none of us appreciate the government poking its nose into our business, 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 aircraft. Doug Owen Sent from my iPad -- For archives and unsub http://mail.lancaironline.net:81/lists/lml/List.html ------=_NextPart_000_0059_01CEE45B.A8E74A10 Content-Type: text/html; charset="us-ascii" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable

It would be interesting to watch a = person of BMI >40 try to get into my Legacy!

 

From: = Lancair Mailing List = [mailto:lml@lancaironline.net] On Behalf Of vtailjeff@aol.com
Sent: Monday, November = 18, 2013 11:01 AM
To: = lml@lancaironline.net
Subject: [LML] Re: Sleep = apnea

 

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 FAA rule regarding sleep apnea. =

 
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 people =

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 amounts to =

one or two minutes at a time =
throughout the night. This condition is generally =

associated with low oxygen levels =
in the body. As aviators, we do know the ill =

effects of hypoxia on the body =
systems.   These individuals typically awaken =

with marked fatigue; often =
feeling just as tired when they wake up as when they =

went to =
bed.
 
Morbid obesity [BMI (body mass =
index - a mathematical ratio of weight vs height)  =

> 40 - not just those of us =
who need to lose a few pounds] has a strong =

correlation with sleep problems. =

 
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 to =

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 risk factor =

- particularly for the morbidly =
obese with a BMI > 40. It does not seem =

unreasonable to me to apply some =
screening process to consider evaluation 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 first =

officer just was tired, but =
without sleep apnea) BOTH went to sleep and overflew =

the destination by 25 miles  =
before they happened to wake up.
 
Though none of us appreciate the =
government poking its nose  into our business, =

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 =

aircraft. =

 
Doug =
Owen
Sent from my =
iPad
--
For archives and unsub http://mail.lancaironline.net:81/lists/lml/List.html
------=_NextPart_000_0059_01CEE45B.A8E74A10--