Message-ID: <36609ADC.25F2@ibm.net>
Date: Sat, 28 Nov 1998 18:52:44 -0600
From: Snowbird <snbird@ibm.net>
Reply-To: snbird@ibm.net
X-Mailer: Mozilla 3.0 (Win95; I)
MIME-Version: 1.0
Newsgroups: rec.aviation.student
Subject: Re: Asthma and Class III Medical
References: <19981127184153.10835.00001454@ng-ca1.aol.com> <R0H72.1110$0_.3990@newsfeed.slurp.net>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit
NNTP-Posting-Host: 32.100.136.202
X-Trace: 29 Nov 1998 01:27:10 GMT, 32.100.136.202
Organization: IBM.NET
Lines: 35
X-Notice: Items posted that violate the IBM.NET Acceptable Use Policy
X-Notice: should be reported to postmaster@ibm.net
X-Complaints-To: postmaster@ibm.net
Path: news.jprc.com!newsfeed.sgi.net!feeder.qis.net!news-peer.gip.net!news.gsl.net!gip.net!newsm2.ibm.net!ibm.net!news1.ibm.net!32.100.136.202
Xref: news.jprc.com rec.aviation.student:40467

Rod MacLean wrote:

>    I just looked up 'asthma' in an FAA medical guide.
>    The short answer to your question is "maybe".

The short answer to the question is "no, asthma is not
disqualifying provided it is well controlled".  No 'maybe'
about it--if the asthma isn't well controlled, there are
so many new good asthma medications in the last two years
get ye to a specialist and get it controlled.

"Mild seasonal" asthma is not even grounds for deferral of
the medical.  Just don't fly when you can't breathe.

Asthma which requires regular medication for control (as
does mine, I take daily medication) will require deferral of 
the medical (sending it to the main FAA medical branch in Oklahoma
City), along with a letter from the treating physician and possibly 
(if requested) pulmonary function test results.  The ME has no choice,
he has to defer you, but it's not a big deal and the medical should
be routinely approved.

The next medical is no problem "no change in condition since
previous medical" and it sails right through no deferral no 
muss no fuss.

I strongly recommend AOPA's medical specialists (worth the
membership fee for this alone IMO); they will send you copies
of the FAA medical examiner's guidelines.  Armed with this,
your regular doctor can draft a letter which provides exactly
the info the FAA wants and no more (the key to avoiding delays).

Snowbird@been.there.done.that


