Apnea Protocol

ytodd

ytodd

Pre-takeoff checklist
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Had my medical today with Dr. Bruce Chien and got introduced to the FAA Apnea protocol that Dr. B said went into effect March 1.

Basically a self reporting question form, BMI and an exam of your jaw and throat. Points for all... too many points = bad.

I passed :D
 
Sooo.....if your overweight, the FAA will now assume to have apnea? Sounds like a lawsuit to me.
 
All classes.

The new rules went into effect Monday (yesterday). AME is to do a screening on each airman. If you fail, you will have to get a sleep study in the next 90 days.
 
Unit74 said:
Sooo.....if your overweight, the FAA will now assume to have apnea? Sounds like a lawsuit to me.
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Overweight (via BMI) is only part of the criteria as Dr. Bruce explained it to me. There are points assigned to the questions, and the BMI and the exam. If you are "over" on points, then you go see a specialist to find out if you have apnea.
 
For those curious and still retain red board access, there is some discussion over there with Bruce doing his best to explain it to us masses.
 
I wonder if this is what AOPA counts as a "win."
 
ytodd said:
Overweight (via BMI) is only part of the criteria as Dr. Bruce explained it to me. There are points assigned to the questions, and the BMI and the exam. If you are "over" on points, then you go see a specialist to find out if you have apnea.
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I thought there was also a "surface area" component assigned to BMI as well...
 
BMI is over rated, doesn't take into account for lean body mass. You can have a lard butt with a BMI and you can have a gym rat with a high BMI.
 
simtech said:
BMI is over rated, doesn't take into account for lean body mass. You can have a lard butt with a BMI and you can have a gym rat with a high BMI.
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As someone that calculates BMI on every patient I see every day, the number of lard butts tremendously exceeds gym rats. About 100:1.
 
KLRDMD said:
As someone that calculates BMI on every patient I see every day, the number of lard butts tremendously exceeds gym rats. About 100:1.
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Yes I agree, but I still find it pointless. I'm that 1..So im a little biased.
 
Agree with simtech on this one. I'm 1 out of the 100 that will probably end up with this bull**** because I'm 6'5" and 275 lbs. So unless I decide to shed 40lbs of fat AND muscle...
 
Palmpilot said:
I wonder if this is what AOPA counts as a "win."
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At one point the FAA was requiring 'measure of wakefulness' testing for OSA. That's the next thing to waterboarding!!! :eek:

Under the new protocol you don't need to wait for SI. You go home with a medical certificate and then have 90 days to get with your family doc. Your family doc makes the call if you need testing.

If you need testing, then I'm pretty sure the take home test (~.3-.5 AMU) is sufficient, rather than the multi-thousand dollar motel room test.

So yes, this is a win for airmen.
 
Iceman21 said:
Agree with simtech on this one. I'm 1 out of the 100 that will probably end up with this bull**** because I'm 6'5" and 275 lbs. So unless I decide to shed 40lbs of fat AND muscle...
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I'm still learning about the protocol. But the BMI is just one element of the screening that the AME now has to do. It isn't the only criteria, there are other questions about your medical history that count towards the overall score. Once you reach a certain scoring threshold, you'll need a sleep study. I don't know how much leeway the AME has, but I'll guess that the AME has a pretty good idea as soon as he sees the airman walk through the door who's going to need a sleep study and who isn't.
 
simtech said:
BMI is over rated, doesn't take into account for lean body mass. You can have a lard butt with a BMI and you can have a gym rat with a high BMI.
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Agree. I'm about 12% body fat and "overweight" according to my doc's chart. There has got to be more than just the BMI number to base this additional screening on.
 
BMI is a witch hunt by the Feds. One question...do you get sleepy during the daytime? I sure hope so...I fly International Cargo mostly backside of the clock...if I DON'T get sleepy then I am in trouble.

As pilots, we cannot be asking for drivers license medicals and support or allow this apnea protocol to go through.


Where did BMI come from?

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=106268439
 
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Flying Viking said:
Agree. I'm about 12% body fat and "overweight" according to my doc's chart. There has got to be more than just the BMI number to base this additional screening on.
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No, it's not just the BMI. Below is what is being used for screening...

Here are the recommended AME actions.....and criterion.

Being high risk alone is not going to get you sent for a study....you also must exhibit the other stuff when answering those questions....else you'll end in block #4 of the link.
 
Palmpilot said:
I wonder if this is what AOPA counts as a "win."
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Compared to the FAA's original plan which would send a pilot straight to an expensive sleep study based solely on BMI, yes, I would consider this a significant improvement.
 
gkainz said:
if the autopilot is equipped with a very loud WAYPOINT arrival alarm, then no, you're good. :D
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How about a very loud wife who supervises the autopilot and everything else that goes on in the cockpit?
 
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