CPAP Therapy

W

wilzup

Pre-Flight
Joined
Nov 1, 2014
Messages
78
Location
Atlanta
Display Name
Display name:
Eric D
All,
I have a quick question as it relates to my 3rd class and apnea.
I have been on a CPAP for about 6-7 yrs and understand that if I fit the physical description of an apnea sufferer, I need to either have a sleep study done or show proof I am under the care of a physician with CPAP therapy. My question is, my CPAP has been doing a great job for as long as I have had it and I have had no need to readdress it. How do I prove I have I use a CPAP and can I get my family physician to write a note(on letterhead) verifying it?

My 3 class is up in July.

Thanks,
Eric
 
wilzup said:
All,
I have a quick question as it relates to my 3rd class and apnea.
I have been on a CPAP for about 6-7 yrs and understand that if I fit the physical description of an apnea sufferer, I need to either have a sleep study done or show proof I am under the care of a physician with CPAP therapy. My question is, my CPAP has been doing a great job for as long as I have had it and I have had no need to readdress it. How do I prove I have I use a CPAP and can I get my family physician to write a note(on letterhead) verifying it?

My 3 class is up in July.

Thanks,
Eric
Click to expand...

2 things:

1) you will need a letter from your treating physician saying you are compliant with therapy and that you exhibit no excessive daytime sleepiness. It's a fairly simple status report that you will have to get on an annual basis. If your family physician is your treating physician, then ask him to write it. If you get a routine annual physical, you can get it done then and time your FAA AME meeting accordingly.

2) you will need a printed report from your CPAP that shows compliance (>6 hrs per day and > 80% of nights), over at least a 30 day period. NOTE: I am not 100% sure about those values.

and both these documents should be less than 90 days old.

If your CPAP is not capable of recording (and some older models are not), then you should start shopping for a new one.

If your class 3 is up in July, and you've been on CPAP for 6-7 years, did you not report having OSA on a previous visit?
 
Here is the FAA info for the AME:

http://www.faa.gov/about/office_org...ices/aam/ame/guide/dec_cons/disease_prot/osa/

The PDFs have more of the checklists in them.


edit:

This doc:

http://www.faa.gov/about/office_org/headquarters_offices/avs/offices/aam/ame/guide/media/AASI.pdf

explains what should be on the status report.

It also says the compliance report should be:

>>>
A copy of the cumulative annual PAP device report which shows actual time used (rather than a report typically generated for insurance providers which only shows if use is greater or less than 4 hours). Target goal should show use for at least 75% of sleep periods and an average minimum of 6 hours use per sleep period.
<<<
 
Last edited:
So what weight/height guideline does your AME go by to determine if one needs to get a sleep study?
 
Last edited:
Old Thread: Hello . There have been no replies in this thread for 365 days.
Content in this thread may no longer be relevant.
Perhaps it would be better to start a new thread instead.
Back
Top