Case 71
I am 53. I have 12 hours in. I am in good shape and I really want to fly. Had my student physical today. I put down the kidney stone I had in **1980** - no recurrences. The doc said it could be a deal-breaker. I went to my urologist - hadn't seen him since '80 - thought he would be retired or dead. Records were trashed years ago.
The local hospital might have the old records, but I'm not holding my breath. The examining doc will offer to the FAA that I'm OK. I could get an IVP radioscopic exam to prove I don't have any stones, but that's gonna cost a few hundred and a shot of radiation. Aside from having my scruples removed and my head examined for being too honest and not consulting this NG about the exam beforehand, what are my odds that the exam doc's OK will fly for this particular medical history item?
-Anonymous and slightly paranoid student.
Comment:
Shouldn't be a problem you just need another IVP or Scan that shows you are stone free. I had the same problem. Luckily I had a scan that was a few months old showing I was stone free. Got my 3rd class med on the spot.
If your AME is not sure and thinks it is disqualifying have him call the FAA and/or get an AME that knows what he is doing.
Scott
Comment
I'm having to deal with this right now. Since I have a history of stones the FAA issues me a medical from OK City every year and requests the results of a KUB or IVP annually before they issue the medical. Now let me give you a little advice that I had to learn the hard way. DON'T give them any more than what they ask for. I made the mistake of letting my AME and another Flight Surgeon talk me into getting a CT scan on a newly acquired scan machine. Now anybody that knows anything about CT scan machines knows that their resolution is many times better than an IVP or even conventional X-Ray. But you see the FAA didn't ask for a CT scan, if you get my drift.
Turns out the CT scan picked up a very minute particle that the radiologist "THOUGHT" "MIGHT BE" a calcium particle in the non-problem kidney which would not have shown up in an IVP and also which may have already been there or a long time. This finding then caused my AME to hold up my medical until the FAA can look at the paperwork. While he doesn't think there will be a problem getting the medical, he doesn't want to take a chance on being slapped by the FAA. Now it will take 4 to 6 weeks (probably 8 with the holidays) to get the medical. If I had known this I would have first of all not agreed to the CT scan and I would have renewed the medical a couple of months early to avoid the gap. To answer your question the easiest and cheapest thing is a KUB. If that's all they ask for that's all they'd get from me. Good Luck.
PDQ
Comment
Don`t know the FAA logic on this, but as a radiologist, I can assure you that you do not need to be subjected to an IVP and the risks associated with intravenous contrast injection. An ultrasound is safer and can be used to eliminate within reason, the presence of kidney stones. The problem is the FAA logic might not find this sufficient. If you want to go whole hog, a CT scan of the kidneys (without contrast) would be the way to go
Case 70
First post to the group. Thanks to all who've been posting, as I've used this group as a major component to my education regimen.
I started my PPL training last September out of Deer Valley Airport in Phoenix, AZ (DVT). It's a great place to learn in that it's a Class-D field, with two runways, and is fairly busy. There are two schools at DVT, so there's a lot of training activity along with the regular flow of GA and the occasional corporate jet. DVT is also adjacent to the Phoenix Class-B airspace. To add a little more spice to the mix, there's a sail plane and ultralight field off to the west and Luke AFB as well.
Things were progessing well last fall, but my medical examiner decided he'd have to send my application to the FAA for approval due to an episode with kidney stones a few years ago. Needless to say, this slowed down my training quite a bit. My instructor felt I was pretty much ready to solo at about 18 hours. While waiting for the medical, we continued the dual training for a few more hours until it became impractical to continue. Up until yesterday, my last time in the airplane was January 4 this year.
I've learned a couple of things since - the FAA is slow to manage your paperwork. If you are a new student, go get your medical exam ASAP. That way, if there's any problem, you can work to resolve it with the FAA before your solo time comes along. I had signed up with AOPA early on in my training. They have a service whereby they help chase your paperwork through the FAA. I hadn't heard anything from the FAA more than a month after my application was sent to them. Reading lots of articles in the press about their backlog didn't make me feel any better! Within days of asking AOPA to assist, I received a response from the FAA on my paperwork. CFIs - encourage new students to get their medical exam right away. If there is any problem, they'll have time to get it taken care of. Join AOPA - the services available on their web site alone are worth the membership price. The help I got with my paperwork at the FAA was worth it as well.
I've wanted to fly all my life. My dad and grandfather flew crop dusters long before I came along. So far, out of six kids, I'm the only one who's taken this thing up and I'm 39 years old. I would think that some folks might give up facing the frustration one can experience in working through their medical clearance with the FAA. But then, I am a stubborn man! I knew that my health is excellent and my doctor assures me that I am no more likely to develop further problems with kidney stones than anyone else so long as I do a few simple things (like drinking enough water each day, etc.). I was always sure I'd get my clearance eventually. The time involved is more frustrating and discouraging than you can imagine.
Just over a week ago, I returned from a week-long vacation in Mexico to find my medical certification in the mail! I was walking about two feet off the ground the entire day! I called my training facility last Monday and let them know I'd like to get back at it. My CFI had retired in my absence, so I had to get paired up with a new CFI. No problem, I figure it's good to get another perspective during my training anyway. I really liked my old instructor though. He was a retired high school teacher and had been flying for over 25 years. I gave him a call to let him know that I was back at it and to thank him for his instruction last fall.
Yesterday, I showed up bright and early for my 7:00 AM appointment to hit the skies with my new CFI, understandably anxious to get back in the plane. Unfortunately, my CFI had just called in sick. I asked if another instructor was available and that I'd hang around all day if need be until one was. I'd been hitting the books pretty hard the whole week and as Saturday got closer and closer, I was more and more excited with each passing hour. I was not going to be turned away! Fortunately, there was a CFI available who's student hadn't shown up for his lesson (too bad for him!).
We got ourselves a plane, ironically enough it was the same one I flew in January the last time I went up. Westwind Aviation has just over 20 172s available, mostly new models which I prefer to fly. However, I like to get in an older one once in a while to get the experience with the appearance of the older instruments and the carb heat. There always seems to be something placarded also. Better to deal with those suprises in training rather than later when you don't have CFI around to make you more comfortable about having only one comm radio versus the two you're used to, etc. Yesterday's plane was an older 172N-180. The extra horsepower is always nice, especially on take off.
The entire time I was working to get my medical, I found it hard to continue with my academics. I didn't know how long the whole process would take and there was always the lingering possibility that the final answer would be no. I felt pretty rusty. The whole week I was hitting my training materials pretty hard. However, once I got up to that plane for the preflight, it all seemed to come back. Other than somewhat bumpy landings, I actually felt like I had flown the plane better than I ever had previously. I had the instructor take me out to the practice area to do some manuevers before heading back to DVT for some touch and go's. During all the maneuvering, I doubt I was ever more than 15 feet off on my altitude. I was worrying about my turn coordination since that had been a constant battle for me previously, but that went well also. I worked as a voice interceptor when I was in the USAF back in the 80's, so my radio work was fine. That was something I was comfortable with right from the start. I also made sure I had the scanner on all week prior to my flight just so I could get used to the sound of the traffic at DVT again. The school is emphasizing a more controlled landing method, which was different from what I'd learned previously. That's my excuse for the rough landings! ;) My old CFI would have me glide in on idle once I felt I could reach the runway. The new method has me coming in with power and that's throwing me off a bit. But it's always good to learn different ways to do things.
I think in some respects my seven month hiatis was good for me, strangely enough. As I've spent time over the past week rerunning the earier lessons in my Cessna CD-ROM training kit, the quizzes all seem so simple. When I did them the first time, I'd miss an answer here and there. Each week during the training, there was a lot of new material so I didn't have so much time to just sit and think about what I'd learned the week before. I'm also picking up bits and pieces that I missed the first time through the material. I would actually advise anyone who has that training kit (or any kit) to go through it again about six months after you get your license. There's more in there to learn once you know what's required for your practical and written tests.
The CFI I went out with said that my previous instructor had simply done an excellent job. I've since decided I need to send a card to my old CFI thanking him again for drilling this stuff into me so well! I was worried that I'd have to back-track quite a bit before I would be able to solo. However, after yesterday's experience, I think I'll be ready to do my check ride after another couple of hours. THEN, I can start going up on my own and start working with my CFI on the cross country experience! Hopefully, you'll all see my "First Solo" post in the next few weeks. Regards,
Jeff
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