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Grounded (after 42 years)! What Would You Miss?

T

terrykohler

Well Known Member
This past week, in preparation for foot surgery, I had to take a complete physical, including stress test. Physical - good. Blood work - good. Stress test - good. No, wait, you need to come in.
Next thing I know, I'm scheduled for a same day cath. Semi-coherent on the table, I hear the cardiologist say "Give me a stent, size xxx".
Shamefully, the first thing crossing my mind wasn't my wife, my family, or my business - it was the airplane. How long will I be down? What do I need to do (not for me, but for the FAA)?
I quickly learned that I'm grounded for a minimum of 6 months (automatic with just about any cardio issue). At that point, more testing and lots of paperwork to the FAA will determine my future.
In the meantime, I'm moving to add fellow RVers and best friends Ted Gauthier and Dave Pohl, as well as my brother Mike, as named insured for N323TP - they've all got time with her already, and I'm good in the right seat.
What will I miss?
Long cross country flights with my wife to visit our daughters and their families in Texas and California, as well as trips to the family camp on the shores of Lake Superior. Perhaps just as much, I know I'll miss the occasional descent into the crud for a precision approach - there's something really satisfying about breaking out a few hundred feet above the ground with the approach lights leading you in. I'm also going to miss the occasional/frequent 15-20 minute solo "therapy" flights that Doug Reeves always talks about.
As far as rehab, I'm highly motivated. Not even thinking about an end to many years in the air. In the meantime, What Would You Miss?

Terry, CFI
RV9A N323TP
 
Been there done that!

Good news is that I am on my 4th year with a SI medical. It takes a while to get thru the process and each year is a pain in the rear but it is worth it!

Sounds like you have a good pool of qualified buddies that can help you out. That will help a ton!

I was in the middle of the final stages of my RV7 build when I was laying on that table. Like you, the first thing I thought of was that I would never get to fly my project. I figured that was history. Glad I was wrong!
 
Sort of interesting that this gets posted today, of all days. I'm kind of having a personal fitness wake-up call right now, and this just helps to drive it home...somehow I'd never really thought of it in terms of flying, but it would kind of suck to finish this plane in a couple years but find myself with health problems keeping me from enjoying it.

My story is far less dramatic. It started sort of benignly...I woke up sometime in the middle of Monday night and found the other side of the bed empty. I added some recon time to a bathroom trip and found Josie sleeping on a couch in another room. The next morning, I learned that my snoring had become loud enough to actually drive her out of the room because she couldn't sleep.

We talked about it some more this morning before I left for work. (she did actually stay in the bed all night this time) Somewhere along the way, she casually mentioned the strange noises I made, and that sometimes I'd stop snoring for a few seconds, only to abruptly fire back up again. Oh ****. I've seen this before in my brother.

Sleep apnea.

In that moment, everything came together for me...feeling low-energy at work all day. Difficulty concentrating at work sometimes. Coming home from work and feeling tired enough to take a nap.

I've been in that "I really should work on losing some weight" mode for a few months now...just never actually have done anything about it. Time for that to change.

Terry, here's hoping you get yourself back in the air soon. I hope you don't mind me piggybacking off your story with another health problem tale.
 
Pilot incapacitation

Terry - my hope and prayer is for your speedy recovery.

I, too, have an SI medical (not for a heart related issue), despite the fact that my treating physician thinks "I'm healthy as a horse."

Since the purported purpose of the medical exam is to prevent "sudden" pilot incapacitation", yesterday for my own amusement, I researched the FAA database for accidents where the probable cause was "pilot incapacitation."

From 2000 - 2009 there were fifteen accidents listed, however one was miscategorized. The other 14 were all fatals. Thankfully only two of the flights had passengers. None of the accidents resulted in injuries to individuals on the ground.

3 of the 14 were pilot choices: flying after a heart bypass w/o a medical; fatigue; extremely high dose of sedatives.

Of the remaining 11, 10 were heart attacks and one was undetected brain cancer. In most cases, the FAA was unable to determine if the incident pilot succumbed to the heart attack or the ground impact. It does seem that heart attacks are the primary concern.

Looking through another FAA database, there were ~ 220M general aviation flight hours accrued in the same time period. If the average flight is 2.2 hours (to make the math easy), then there were 100M general aviation flights from 2000 -2009.

Is "sudden incapacitation" really a problem? It occurred approximately 1 out of every 9.1M flights based on the above crude calculations. In any one year your chances of being struck by lightning are about 40x greater.

There are two ways to look at this:

1. AMEs are doing an incredible job screening out "at risk" pilots.
2. There is no problem.

Larry Tompkins
N544WB -6A
W52 Battle Ground, WA
 
I hear ya, Terry; I had emergency surgery to replace my mitral valve 3 months ago. I don't remember this (Versed is one powerful memory eraser) but apparently when I woke up and was coherent enough to understand that I had just had open heart surgery, the first thing I did was to trace "F" "L" "Y" "?" on her hand (still on the ventilator, so I couldn't talk). Clearly we were sick people long before our hearts started giving trouble!

Hopefully my RCAF flight instructor son will get his paperwork done for his civilian license pretty quick so I can get back in the air; his normal flying position is right hand on the stick and left on the throttle, so he is a natural for the right seat.

I've tried really hard not to focus on what I would miss if I can't get my medical back. I'd rather concentrate on doing what I can do requalify for now. Having said that, if I'm not successful, I will go out on a high; my last year of flying was my best in the 25 years I've been aviating. I got to do formation training with Snowbirds and Hornet drivers, got to learn how to do a few aeros, got to experience the pride of getting "shown how it's done" in formation flight by my newly-winged son, and most of all had a year of flying my RV6A, the coolest, most exciting and challenging plane I've ever had the privilege of strapping into!
 
I hang out with a bunch of guys who have lost thier medicals and no longer are able to fly as PIC. The thing that would be missed most, in my opinion, is the getting together with friends and telling airplane stories and lies. All of these guys are able to jump in any number of aircraft and fly right seat as there are lots of us who will take any one of them up for rides. But for some reason, they seem very content to attend meetings, hang out at the airport and go to lunch. The people are what make flying the best after you've flown for 30 or 40 years.
 
Not the end!

Terry,

I am also on a cardiac SI. As Brantel noted, it is a pain, but far better than the alternative - kinda like getting old in general. :rolleyes:
You can even instruct without your medical, as long as you don't have to be PIC.
You will soon become friends with Dr. Pinnell who will help you get back in the air.
 
Interim Activities...

terrykohler said:
...As far as rehab, I'm highly motivated. Not even thinking about an end to many years in the air. In the meantime, What Would You Miss?

Terry, CFI
RV9A N323TP
Click to expand...

Terry,

During your transition between the insertion of a stent and the receipt of your Special Issuance medical certificate, your 42 years of aviation experience has much to offer in the form of mentorship to others. Some programs come to mind:

• EAA or Van’s builders groups
• Eagle Nest projects
• Volunteer teaching a ground school
• Getting involved with the Navy League http://www.navyleague.org aviation cadet program
• Working with local colleges or university ROTC programs assisting cadets headed for pilot training. Contact me on this one if interested.
• Getting involved with the Virtual Flight Academy, http://www.virtual-flight-academy.org/home. This is a program that has been under development since 1995. It would be a great activity for any of over-the-hill aviators.
• Commemorative Air Force Activities, http://www.commemorativeairforce.org: Preservation of WWII aircraft, history, and education for the general public.

I too am somewhat in a similar situation as you although for different reasons. My surgery is scheduled for next week. I’ve been aviating since 1966. These past few years I have been aviating less and “BS-ing” more. I am enjoying the mentorship role…almost as much as flying.

Wishing you a speedy return to the left seat.

Best Regards,

Knowledge transfer in progress administered by Warren Thomas of the CAF, Air Group One, San Diego.

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Ever been ramp checked for a medical, I haven't.?:rolleyes:


Seriously though, fly as often as you care to with a PIC and best of luck on the special issuance. I hear AOPA can be a lot of help with those.

Best of luck
 
Here's another perspective...

I don't intend to throw water on the party, and I do agree with everything that has been said. I'm on a medical SI myself for mitral valve replacement in 2009. As someone else said, "...it is a pain, but far better than the alternative..."

My very good friend, who shall be nameless, was diagnosed with Clarkson's Syndrome. about 5 years ago. He was my flight instructor. He built and flew an RV-9A about 250 hours. He was one of us. He was told that 90% of people diagnosed with his condition died within three years. He had to re-learn to walk after undergoing a fasciotomy.

We tried to talk him into building an RV-12 and go the LSA route. Well after flying IFR all over the country for years, he just couldn't see himself flying LSA. He felt lucky to be alive. So he sold his RV-9A and bought a Corvette. Not that he'd never owned one before, but he wanted one, had the cash, and loved it. Then he bought a Harley and renewed his interest in motorcycling. He sold the Corvette and he and his wife bought a condo in Florida where they spend the winters.

He's not in the best of health. He's been told by the doctors that they are baffled at how well he's doing. He's not totally healthy. He does have reactions to his medicines, and has to visit the specialist in the big city every month. He has aches and pains that no one but his wife and close friends know about.

He considers aviation as one chapter of his life that is now complete. He's closed that chapter and has moved on. It's not the end of his life.

He also is very regular in visiting older members of our church who can't get out anymore. He and his wife do many charitable things that other folks don't know about.

He seems determined to enjoy every day as if it's his last. And you know what? That's all any of us have.

Just another answer to the original poster when he asked, "What would you miss?"
 
Perspectives...

rv7boy said:
He seems determined to enjoy every day as if it's his last. And you know what? That's all any of us have. What would you miss?
Click to expand...

Relatively speaking...

When you walk out the door not knowing if it's your last sortie...

When you are truly able to make a difference...

When a Marine on the radio says "Thanks, you saved our a...'s tonight"

Flying the absolute coolest airplane on the planet..

The people, the sacrifices...

Serving...

Bottom line? 42 years? Move on, get involved with something bigger than you and count your blessings...

V/R
Smokey
www.fly-4-life.com


PS: https://support.woundedwarriorproje...urce=B100106&gclid=CLuE3rLzpLUCFQsGnQodtHkABA
 
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Six months, That's a lot of time to get another 9 flying! :) Keep getting better!
Keith
 
Sleep apnea

N546RV said:
Somewhere along the way, she casually mentioned the strange noises I made, and that sometimes I'd stop snoring for a few seconds, only to abruptly fire back up again. Oh ****. I've seen this before in my brother.

Sleep apnea.
Click to expand...

Philip....sent you a PM. Lots of sleep apnea guys on VAF.
 
I have been in your boots, for 4 different reasons now, with the latest two incidents happening just weeks after I had obtained my SI medical, and the last one occurring just 3 weeks ago.

My advice is to first, stay legal. Sure, no one has ever been ramp checked for a medical, but the FAA boys ARE out and about and all it takes is one....

You can still fly with an instructor, and log some dual. Perhaps it's a brush up on things you haven't done in a long time, but every lesson is worth something.

You can still fly from the left seat as long as you have another pilot in the right seat who is willing to be your PIC. The time can't be logged, but it keeps you in the game.

You can look into a different type of flying such as gliders. No medical required for that.

You can look into LSA. Yes, it is different, but everyone I've ever talked to says a J3 Cub opens up a whole new world. That is the avenue I'm thinking about. Also hoping the EAA / AOPA exemption request goes through this year. If it does, it will be great as I (you too) won't even have to change airplanes. Sure we'll self assess ourselves, but I trust my doctors who have performed over 4200 prostate surgeries or over 7000 stent placements to know a lot more than some doc sitting in a government office pushing papers.

AOPA's medical services office is a great help. I once didn't get my SI back from them in time, called AOPA, and by 5:00 that night I had it e-mailed to me. They work wonders. It may cost a few bucks to join their Pilot Protection Program, but it's well worth it.
 
cheer up Terry-2 years ago in the same situation, my cardiologist said "triple bypass"! But after 6 months I had my medical back, with a 6 year authorization. Flying more than ever, Bahamas, Oshkosh,etc.
 
There are two bad things that can happen to a pilot, and one of the two *will* happen to each of us:

1. You will walk out to your airplane knowing that it's the last time you will fly.
2. You will walk out to your airplane *not* knowing that it's the last time you will fly.

Make the most of every flight.
 
Physical

I am preparing to go for a Third Class Medical. I have had surgery for lung cancer. I hope I have all the paper work , a stack of it. Has anyone been there and done this before.
Gerry
VAF 172
Repeat Builder
 
Stent

Terry,What ever you do Don't stop taking the Plavix for at least one year,you should drop your ASA to 81mg.I would recommend an electric razor.You got a lot of flying years ahead of you,consider this your last wake up call.eat right,sleep right,exercise every day.Get on top of your blood numbers,six months go by fast.AOPA is a big help.You might consider postponing the foot surgery till your off the Plavix. What else...oh yea OLD AGE IS NOT FOR SISSY'S.:D
 
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