Hey Guys,

Turns out I need to have coronary bypass surgery (More about that below). Looking for honest advice on the time-frame and pain in the ass factor for getting back in the plane. Looks like the surgery will be late this month. Can I realistically think I will by flying this summer, or should I start looking for a cheap Champ now to fly until I get my medical back?

Here is my heads up for everyone. I am in my mid 50's, active, not overweight and pretty fit for a guy my age. I own a rafting company/outfitting business and am on the water, or in the woods much of the time. History of high cholesterol & blood pressure which over the last several years my Doctor & I have managed well and gotten both to good levels with a combination of diet and medication. While hunting this November carrying a pack and hiking up a pretty good mountain, I felt a bit of tightness in my chest - thought it was my chest muscles tightening up from the pack. No shortness of breath, no pain, just that slight tightness. That happened a couple more times throughout the fall and I basically dismissed it.It was very subtle. Went out for late muzzleloader and as I was heading up another Mt. (Again with a pack)felt the same thing and put that in the memory bank. When I got the same symptoms later hiking up the hill behind my house to shovel snow off my daughter's camper, the same thing. Zero other indication of anything wrong. Long story short, went to the Dr. and after some tests, turns out I have a 90% blockage of one of my coronary artery's which they are unable to stent. I guess my point is that this was very subtle and if I had ignored it the outcome may have been very different. Not preaching, just sharing.

Pete

Man, that's some hard news Pete. I would be more inclined to say you are looking at years rather than months... AOPA med services is a fantastic resource. If you are not a member, the price is worth their counsel alone.

Good luck brother!

Yes, absolutely, call AOPA Medical Services. If you’re not a member, join, it’ll be worth it. Those folks will give you a plan to follow to successfully complete and document a special issuance. The process can be a bit daunting without some guidance along the way, and these folks know the FAAs requirements inside and out.

Good luck on the procedure, and good on you for going to the doc to find the problem.

MTV

Is a special issuance still required with the new medical rules?

edit: Posted too soon. Found the answer 2 minutes later
https://www.faa.gov/licenses_certificat ... basic_med/

There's a guy here in CO that specializes in getting guys the medical back. I would think there might be a similar specialist bask east some where...

AEROPOD wrote:There's a guy here in CO that specializes in getting guys the medical back. I would think there might be a similar specialist bask east some where...

Yes, I would definitely find a "user friendly" AME when you're ready to start the process. I'd do some poking around on the internet first, and look for "Senior AME" in your area. Senior AMEs have somewhat more authority than "regular" AMEs and they've usually been around long enough to know the ins and outs of these deals without having to refer or defer to OKC.

MTV

Someone wiser can correct me if I'm wrong, but the key to retaining sport pilot privileges, or even basic med, is to NOT be denied on a class 3 medical application.

So you're having the surgery, and that will for sure require a future special issuance. However in the meantime after your application is deferred, I think it also means you cannot exercise sport pilot privileges.

Do you need a proper class 3? Will even the basic med require your regular physician to defer to OKC?

There's a scenario where you don't get to continue flying at all if you're denied the medical. Strategy is important.

Hey Guys,

Thanks for the responses. I also got a PM from a member that went through the same thing a couple of years ago and will reach out to him for sure. I have talked to the folks at AOPA a couple of times. Currently I am on basic med, for no other reason than it saved me $100 and a 1 1/2 hr drive to a AME. Looks like a minimum of 6 months after the surgery IF everything goes well and the FAA isn't backlogged from the shutdown, but most likely will be longer than that.I am planning on just getting my 3rd class back at some point. According to the AOPA if I have not been denied a medical, which I have not, I can fly light sport as long as I have a current drivers license and do a self assessment. Any other info or first hand experience would be appreciated. Zane, if it's OK with you I would be happy to do a first hand commentary as I work through this process. Luckily my wife loves Cubs & Champs, although I did get the "we can't afford to have two airplanes" talk.I have time to work on that too...

Pete

Hey Zane,

Forgot this part. I 100% understand what you are saying and it looks like timing of getting the special issuance will be important.

Pete

pburns wrote:Hey Zane,

Forgot this part. I 100% understand what you are saying and it looks like timing of getting the special issuance will be important.

Pete

Yeah, good luck man. Curious to hear how the process goes.

Good thing you did not have a MI, only chest tightness. I am on SI for PC, and have been for 8 years. I did have to wait a while on my first re-issuance, as the FAA was shut down with a Obama Gummint slow down. When the FAA went back to work they were processing the Air Line Pilots meds first, to get those guys back flying and employed. The 3rd class was on the bottom of the list. How about a second opinion on your blockage, maybe it can be repaired at Mayo, Cleveland or Anderson. Mayo Clinic has a large Aero Medical department, with many Senior AME’s, they have a hot line to the FAA, maybe worth a second opinion. Hint: If you submit your medical for your SI, submit to the Regional Flight Surgeon (faster) and not the FAA in Oak City. Once you submit to the FAA, you can’t submit to the RFS. I use Mayo Clinic for my health care and live in Denver. Once you go to Mayo, you won’t go anywhere else. Just to visit the Mayo Campus is a “Bucket List” thing to do, they offer tours. Probably have 35-40 heart surgeons on staff, 3000 Doc’s total. Sorry to Ramble...but Mayo pioneered the early heart by-pass surgery technology about 1958, as I remember from reading. The original heart by-pass machine is displayed in the Mayo Museum. Ok..off my soap box, back to You-Tubing tail draggers....DAve B.

Zzz wrote:Someone wiser can correct me if I'm wrong, but the key to retaining sport pilot privileges, or even basic med, is to NOT be denied on a class 3 medical application.

So you're having the surgery, and that will for sure require a future special issuance. However in the meantime after your application is deferred, I think it also means you cannot exercise sport pilot privileges.

Do you need a proper class 3? Will even the basic med require your regular physician to defer to OKC?

There's a scenario where you don't get to continue flying at all if you're denied the medical. Strategy is important.

For sport pilot, just let the current medical expire. Therefore, you were not denied, nor were you deferred. Medical, while not valid due to grounding medical condition, was not denied or revoked.....critical point.

If you want to renew medical (and lots of folks who’ve gone through this procedure have), talk to AOPA medical for tests that’ll be required, get those all done when they’re valid for FAA use, and when all squares filled, go to a SENIOR AME for your physical. Preferably one who is willing to sit down BEFORE you start the application process on line, to make certain that you’ve filled all the squares. THEN and only then, start the application process.

Basic med requires that you complete a special issuance for the procedure you’re up for, so may as well get a medical certificate.

MTV

You can hold both a FAA medical as well as a Basic med at the same time. I advocate to everyone to get a Basic along with their regular med just in case.

Thanks guys,

I will let you know how everything turns out. I meet with the surgeon on the 22nd.

Pete