Medical first flights of the Cessna 170A/210 and other junk

[Metal Master]

Good Morning, 170 Fans.
The 170 has been grounded for the last year and 8 months getting the new to it TCM IO-360 installed as well as have I also been grounded.
I have been without a medical now since February 2014. I had had weight Loss surgery in September 2013. I have been a Type One Diabetic since I was 22 years old in 1975. That is one of the reasons I flew Gliders. I have owned three different gliders in the past. I could self-certify my medical condition. I had a Private Pilot glider rating with a Motor glider endorsement. I have been an Aircraft Mechanic now for 45 years and flown every conceivable type of aircraft from helicopter, fighter jets, single and multi engine turbo prop and commercial aircraft such as the Boeing 767 just not as pilot in command. When the FAA Started allowing Insulin dependent Diabetics to get a medical on Dec 26th 1996, I already had 10 hours in the Citabria because I was building a Marquart charger Bi-plane and was going to fly the thing in-spite of not having a medical and so I needed a tail wheel endorsement. In any event I had my medical before that became necessary. I did not need the endorsement as much as I needed tail wheel time.
In September 2013 I had bariatric weight loss surgery. Prior to my weight loss surgery I had to have a sleep study performed before the weight loss surgeon would perform the surgery. I was diagnosed with mild to severe sleep apnea. After I recovered from the surgery I had a 3rd class medical in 2014 which was to expire in February 2015. I had all of the required paper work submitted in November 2014 which should have given the FAA plenty of time to review it and get my medical back to me by February of the following year 2015. It took them several months longer to review the paper work and my medical lapsed. As has happened about 1/2 the time since I first got my medical in 1997. In march 2015 the FAA started considering that a diagnoses of sleep apnea is an automatic grounding condition and as I already had the previous diagnosis the FAA noted from the earlier medical records regarding my weight loss surgery and so I received a denial for my 3rd class on the bases of the earlier diagnoses even though I had had a subsequent 3rd class.
The only way I could remedy the situation was to have another sleep study performed and either have a diagnosis that I no longer had sleep apnea or start using a CPAP machine. I had lost 80 lbs. My new diagnoses showed that I now had Mild Sleep apnea the previous diagnoses being Mild to Severe. In either case I could not get a medical. I could not tolerate the CPAP machine, it actually made my sleep worse than if I were not using it. So I went to see an ear nose throat specialist to see if there was anything that could be done. On June 5th 2015 I had surgery for a deviated septum. And then after recovering from that surgery had yet another sleep study performed and now I could tolerate the CPAP machine.
I had to show a minimum of 30 days use of the machine demonstrating a minimum of 75% of the sleep periods showing at least 6 hours of use per night. I was able to provide all of that information in early November 2015 the required date for the issuance of a medical in February of this year 2016. However the FAA was not timely getting that done and so in mid-February I received a denial notice requesting more Sleep study data and A1c glycosylated blood sugar information to cover the period between my submissions in November 2015 and the date of the FAA’s review. Don’t get me started. Oh well I guess I already have. I provided that information as I already had it. They have had the information for over four weeks.
I just received notice yesterday that the FAA has written a letter allowing the AME to issue a 3rd class medical. And so now I will be able to fly my new Super Cessna 170/210 solo. However as I am now out of Bi annual and I work for Boeing Test and Evaluation and have numerous Flight instructors at my disposal. The ongoing Flight Test Data flights will continue in the 170A/210 dual pilot and I will get my Bi annual done in the course of the ensuing flights.
Well that’s my story,
All for the love of flight- my passion- my default- I really like my 170A
Jim

[n3833v]

I am so glad you have overcome the difficulties to be able to fly again. I only had the medical delay for a few months after eye surgery until the paperwork was approved. I know it is like the free flying eagle to be able to soar again.

John

[Bruce Fenstermacher]

Jim, I've been dealing with the FAA medical branch since heart attack and bypass 15 years ago. The branch is a mess. And rather than fix it they say proudly, it's better than it ever was. Are you kidding me. You and I are better medical shape than we probably ever have been. And I see my doctors twice a year no matter the FAA and my AME is also my GP. No consideration for that. People who only see an AME every other year and don't report exactly everything have medicals.

Keep jumping through the hoops.

[gfeher]

Jim, congratulations on your medical and your plane. Like everyone else, I've really enjoyed reading your posts and learned a lot.

Don't get me started on sleep apnea and the FAA. Over the years, at my annual physicals with my primary, when he would ask if I had any issues, I would say that I would wake up a lot at night. So a few years ago, he sent me for a sleep study and I was diagnosed with mild sleep apnea. I never had any daytime symptoms of it. I wasn't falling asleep or tired during the day. Once I was up, I was up until I went to bed at night. I've always been that way. In any event, I was given a CPAP machine and used it on and off, and it helped. I did sleep better when I used it. Then sleep apnea became an issue with the FAA. So last year I was denied my 3rd class because of sleep apnea. I had to submit my sleep study report, printouts showing that I use the CPAP at least 75% of the time for at least 6 hrs per use, a doctor's report saying that I don't have any symptoms when I use the CPAP, and a form signed by me certifying that I use the CPAP. I was then given a special issuance conditioned on submitting a doctor's report, CPAP usage report and the signed certification every year. Just great. So at the end of last year, I decided to get my primary to refer me to an ear, nose and throat specialist. The ENT doctor immediately diagnosed me with a deviated septum, like you Jim. Apparently they are very common. He said that something like 40% of all people have a deviated septum, either from birth or that naturally developed over time. I thought you had to break your nose to get one. So in January this year, I had the operation to correct it, with great results. I don't need the CPAP any more. Problem is that my medical is conditioned on using it. I've spoken to the medical folks at AOPA pilot services, and they doubt that the Feds will lift the special issuance requirements without another sleep study. Problem is, it took forever to set one up the last time and get the results, they are expensive (you spend all night wired up and being monitored by a nurse/technician), and I doubt my insurance will cover one just to get an FAA requirement lifted. (By the way, the medical folks at AOPA are very knowledgeable and helpful. They know all about this issue and told me exactly what to submit. They are a great resource.) The take away from all of this is DO NOT get a sleep study or a diagnosis of sleep apnea WITHOUT FIRST thinking very long and hard about it. Once it's out there, you are stuck. Also, before you get a sleep study, I would see an ear, nose and throat doctor first. My ENT doctor diagnosed my deviated septum in about 5 minutes. If I would have seen him first before the sleep study, I would have had the operation to correct the deviated septum without any sleep study or diagnosis of sleep apnea, and life would have been great. I'd be at the same place I am now without the FAA nonsense. Here's what gripes me the most about this issue: I don't remember if I read it in an article or my AME or the AOPA medical person mentioned it to me. But, apparently, sleep apnea became an issue with the FAA because some truckers on long hauls were falling asleep. But there's never been an instance of sleep apnea causing a problem with a pilot. Typical -- a solution to a non-problem. Sorry for venting.

[blueldr]

It seems that every time a new leader of the FAA starts his or her new job, they always say they're going to fix the system that delays everything.
They don't seem to be able to accept that a full "IN BOX" is job security.

FAA ----- The carbuncle on the ass of aviation progress,

[Metal Master]

Jim, I've been dealing with the FAA medical branch since heart attack and bypass 15 years ago. The branch is a mess. And rather than fix it they say proudly, it's better than it ever was. Are you kidding me. You and I are better medical shape than we probably ever have been. And I see my doctors twice a year no matter the FAA and my AME is also my GP. No consideration for that. People who only see an AME every other year and don't report exactly everything have medicals.

Keep jumping through the hoops.

I am now by requirements of my FAA PI letter annually required to have my eyes examined and have the doctor fill out a suspect for Glaucoma report, get a report from my the same eye doctor that I have no negative diabetic retinapthy, Sometimes I have to see two doctors to accomplish this. Make four quarterly visits to my endocrinologist for my diabetes with reports of my A1c, get a yearly report from my weight loss surgeon. Who no longer works for the clinic I had the surgery done by and no one there knows who I am. Get a report from my Sleep doctor and fill out the required forms. I have had this information sent into the FAA on time by the requested date and they most often never get it done on time and my medical lapses for any where from one to three months which is why I always try to keep all of this stuff in the winter months but the FAA keeps moving it forward because they are late and then ask for more information because of the lateness of there approval. And Now Boeing is having a health coach call me up and pri into my health issues to keep my insurance premiums lower. However I can not complain as I am medically retired from the US Army and have full medical benefits from that as well my Blue cross Blue shield insurance through Boeing. So I generally have no medical expenses. But the FAA is driving up the Costs to the insurance company's. How many doctors am I seeing Unnecessarily I can not keep up!
And yes I am in better health now than than before all of this ___ started happening. I think they are just trying to wear me down.
My wife asked one day before the last rejection letter arrived if I was going to go off the deep end if it came back negative. I told her absolutely not that it was important enough to me to not let them off the hook and that I would just keep putting one foot in front of the other just like I do with everything else.
Jim
Jim

[nippaero]

Glad to hear a positive story about somebody fighting back at the system and winning. Sadly too many people give up.

[Metal Master]

I went to see the AME last night with my newly issued authorization letter from the FAA allowing the AME to issue My third class medical. I started getting a little congestion in my lungs over the weekend starting on Saturday afternoon and I was afraid the upper respiratory infection I am starting to get would make my blood pressure go up. So I checked my blood pressure several times over the day and it came in at a normal being at the worst 126/61 the best 119/60. So of course after driving through heavy city freeway traffic for 35 minutes and arriving at the AME's office 30 minutes early to make sure I had time to relax. He got me right in and the stress made my Blood pressure be elevated to 137/something. I do not remember the lower number, not to bad but elevated. After hearing the numbers from my machine the AME commented that obviously I have got this under control and went with my numbers. We had a great office visit. And I now have a brand new shiny medical, it only took 15 months since my last medical expired to work through the issues. And here is the Beauty shot.

170/210 at speed passing the Seneca at 145 miles per hour!

[Hineywheel Bill]

I'm told that in the good old days folks didn't always report all medications taken and conditions that they may have had.

I'm guessing that with electronic medical records all the rage nowadays, that's not as good an idea as it used to be?

[170C]

Congrats on getting your medical. Maybe we won't have to worry about it next year.

145 mph---must have been in the YELLOW. Guess that is just a fly in the ointment. More hp= much more performance=much better climb and faster, but that yellow arc is still there as it came from Wichita. Must be fun though to be able to get to that speed in cruise

[ghostflyer]

Where is the vapour trails off the wing. I also looked for the compression wave also .great photo with the mountain in the back ground. So what height were you at for the photo.

[Metal Master]

Where is the vapour trails off the wing. I also looked for the compression wave also .great photo with the mountain in the back ground. So what height were you at for the photo.

We were about 4000 Ft descending to 3500 ft the Seneca was slowed down to about 100 Miles per hour and we came from behind. The Seneca was on autopilot. Were descending to pass off of the Senecas left wing. Once we passed the Seneca we were in picture mode to take photos of the Seneca. This Seneca is the same airplane that I set up to take pictures of the Boeing 307 against Mt. Rainier after it was rebuilt from the dunk in Elliot bay near Seattle. Another story.
The vapor trails are silent but deadly and come from some part of the pilot owners anatomy. They are also invisible.
Jim

Trying to pass the Seneca

[n3833v]

The Senate has passed the FAA Re authorization bill that has our medical and other goodies included. One step closer. Check AOPA site for info.

John

[DaveF]

Looks great, Jim. Congratulations on getting into the air!

[Metal Master]

I just got my 3rd class medical Special issuance for Diabetes sent to me By the FAA in the mail last night October 25th 2016. It did not lapse at all this time around. It was due to expire on the 31st of October. It is only good until April 30th 2017 "6 months again. Which means if I want to fly next summer I have to do one more Special issuance before July and Third class medical reform kicks in. Or Just forget it and not fly for 90 day decisions, decisions, decision? I think I will not worry about it for now! And just Fly.
Jim