Airline Pilot medical and OSA

[deltadave]

Lastly, "IMHO", since the MWT results can be influenced as well, MWTs (as well as drug toxicology) should be performed annually and randomly for all pilots and truck drivers. The existing system is stupid. It allows undiagnosed OSA to go unchecked.

[deltadave]

A Sleep Lab in every Control Tower and Chicken Coop!

[JohnO]

Lastly, "IMHO", since the MWT results can be influenced as well, MWTs (as well as drug toxicology) should be performed annually and randomly for all pilots and truck drivers. The existing system is stupid. It allows undiagnosed OSA to go unchecked.

And for the FAA, this might happen. There have been a few cases in the last decade of years where pilots have missed their destination, because they were asleep.

http://seattletimes.com/html/travel/200 ... eep24.html

In this case, one was diagnosed with OSA.

[Heavylids]

I was discussing this with a commercial piolt friend of mine who doesn;t have OSA. he said that pilots in general have the "don't tell" attitude if they are diagnosed with OSA. I gues it can be a career ender.

[WingNut]

Don't tell is fine for a minor issue. I had a colleague who didn't tell his DAME he was being treated for cancer, chemotherapy etc. When he died, his insurance company refused to pay his life insurance to his estate (wife and kids) for non-disclosure.

[FastFission]

I'm a private pilot, so I've been looking at this myself. From what I've been able to find out, there are two MWT tests. The one you're referring to is apparently a test for narcolepsy, where the idea is to try to nap.

For the FAA, the protocol is similar, but you're actually trying to stay awake during the 40 minute tests. From what I've read, the MWT is optional and should only be required if the AME is not satisifed with the treating physician reports.

Once you've jumped through all the hoops on the initial special issuance medical, I believe you only have to provide the treating doctor's report for subsequent medicals.

Good Luck (I'm certainly hoping for some...)

You do not want to take the MWT (Maintenance of Wakefulness Test) unless your into Zen calmness. You end up in a dark room in a bed and not go to sleep for hours while you can't do anything.

This is not so. In between naps, there are few limitations:

A light breakfast is recommended at least 1 h before the first nap trial, and a light lunch is recommended immediately after the second (noontime) nap trial. Smoking should be stopped at least 30 min before test initiation. In addition, stimulating activities should be stopped 15 min before each nap. The use of caffeine, tobacco, or other medications should be discussed and decided on before the test day. Exposure to bright sunlight is discouraged on the testing day.

The nap attempts are only 40 minutes long with a total of 4 during the day, spaced at 2 hour intervals (although apparently FAA will also allow 20 minute protocols, but you need to find a rogue lab to do that).

The nap attempt may also be terminated if you fall asleep, so theoretically you might only need to spend about 6 minutes in nap attempts.

Course, a MWT Score like that would certainly result in a new career.

[deltadave]

I'm a private pilot, so I've been looking at this myself. From what I've been able to find out, there are two MWT tests. The one you're referring to is apparently a test for narcolepsy, where the idea is to try to nap.

Negative. The test for narcolepsy is called an MSLT.

And again, while there indeed are two MWTs, the MWT20 is rogue.

[deltadave]

I was discussing this with a commercial piolt friend of mine who doesn;t have OSA. he said that pilots in general have the "don't tell" attitude if they are diagnosed with OSA. I gues it can be a career ender.

Plus, since you say "diagnosed", then a physician is in the game, and he will likely report it because he is not going to risk letting that be a "career ender" for him.

[deltadave]

And for the FAA, this might happen. There have been a few cases in the last decade of years where pilots have missed their destination, because they were asleep.

Yeah, well it's the truck drivers that worry me.

Hey Gumbo! Remember Stratford 1983?

[SleepyToo2]

I was discussing this with a commercial piolt friend of mine who doesn;t have OSA. he said that pilots in general have the "don't tell" attitude if they are diagnosed with OSA. I gues it can be a career ender.

So is a crash after the pilot fell asleep.

[FastFission]

Thanks for the correction. It's pretty confusing trying to figure all this out. I'm really hoping that, with all the data from the machine, that they won't require the MWT.

I'm a private pilot, so I've been looking at this myself. From what I've been able to find out, there are two MWT tests. The one you're referring to is apparently a test for narcolepsy, where the idea is to try to nap.

Negative. The test for narcolepsy is called an MSLT.

And again, while there indeed are two MWTs, the MWT20 is rogue.

[deltadave]

I was discussing this with a commercial piolt friend of mine who doesn;t have OSA. he said that pilots in general have the "don't tell" attitude if they are diagnosed with OSA. I gues it can be a career ender.

So is a crash after the pilot fell asleep.

Which can be a "career ender" for a lot of people.