Aces High Bulletin Board
General Forums => The O' Club => Topic started by: Dowding (Work) on October 21, 2002, 03:40:21 AM
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Anyone know? One thing that really got me down about being diagnosed epileptic was the prospect of never learning how to fly - it really always has been something I wanted to do. Oh, that and not getting a place at RAF Cranwell to be trained as an RAF officer because they found I was epileptic. Oh, and losing my drivers license for a year because I had a seizure. Oh, and having a seizure two weeks before I took my degree finals and turning in the worst performance in my academic career (thank god they took it into account). Hey... going off topic in my own thread there. :D
So, does anyone know if epileptics are allowed to fly? I'm on medication, and the seizures I've had have been few and far between. 18 months since I started taking medication and no reoccurance.
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sorry about your condition , but no i don't know what the rules are on that, seems that if your meds controled it , it would be ok
44MAG
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Only as stick stirring 190 pile-its :D
Sorry couldn't resist. (if it helps I'm grounded coz I've got non-binocular vision).
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lol :D
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Originally posted by Vulcan
Only as stick stirring 190 pile-its :D
Sorry couldn't resist. (if it helps I'm grounded coz I've got non-binocular vision).
Huh? what's that?
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Hmm..probably not...maybe on the new National License, when it gets up and running (Or is it already?), as you will only need the same medical as a race-driver.
Go here for more information..best bet might be to contact the CAA
http://www.caa.co.uk/srg/med/default.asp
Daff
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I've wondered why you have been an bellybutton in my last few threads dowding. Now I realize its because your life is so limited.
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I've wondered why you have been an bellybutton in my last few threads dowding. Now I realize its because your life is so limited.
Heh. I must have really touched a nerve in your over-sensitive ego, eh fdiron?
In case you didn't know, epilepsy is a life-threatening disability and I don't particularly enjoy being made fun of because I'm unfortunate to have it. But I'll never let it get me down because I know there are those out there less fortunate than myself...
...such as those with no sense of humour.
Daff - thanks for the info, mate. I'll check it out. Maybe there's hope for me yet. :)
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dont know what the regs are in the U.K. but in the states it goes like this
Sec. 67.109 - Neurologic.
Neurologic standards for a first-class airman medical certificate are:
(a) No established medical history or clinical diagnosis of any of the following:
(1) Epilepsy;
(2) A disturbance of consciousness without satisfactory medical explanation of the cause; or
(3) A transient loss of control of nervous system function(s) without satisfactory medical explanation of the cause.
(b) No other seizure disorder, disturbance of consciousness, or neurologic condition that the Federal Air Surgeon, based on the case history and appropriate, qualified medical judgment relating to the condition involved, finds --
(1) Makes the person unable to safely perform the duties or exercise the privileges of the airman certificate applied for or held; or
(2) May reasonably be expected, for the maximum duration of the airman medical certificate applied for or held, to make the person unable to perform those duties or exercise those privileges.
those pretty much apply all the way thru a 3rd class ticket.
I feel for you, diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes, controlled with a couple of pills and still my ticket was pulled.
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I've wondered why you have been an bellybutton in my last few threads dowding. Now I realize its because your life is so limited.
That's a sad and pathetic comment.
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Originally posted by Nashwan
That's a sad and pathetic comment.
Man, Fd I gotta agree with Nashwan here....someone pee on your cornflakes today or something?
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http://www.caa.co.uk/docs/49/Epilepsy_protocol.pdf
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Thanks. :)
That info doesn't look encouraging. I got my DVLA license back after they considered my case, and allow me to drive with my medication. But I'd have to withdraw it and wait a year before they'd let me fly.
Ah well.
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Iron that wasn't too cool.
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Dowding, are you willing to bet your life that you won't have a seizure while flying? That's what you are talking about here.
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http://flightphysical.com/
bet it's not allowed, sounds dangrous
What funked said ... sounds like you'd be betting your life.
Hope you can fly if you want to; It's your life after all.
GoodLuck :)
but think I'd think long and hard even if they do allow it, but thats me.
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I sympathize with your ailment, but do you think its safe to yourself, or those you may smack into if you have an episode while pilot in command?
A friend of mine is epileptic...she had it under control for several years with meds, but now she is having them again. I think she is fairing well on new meds but its still too early to tell.
I wish there were a better answer for you.
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as is now well know, in the US anyone can take flying lessons - i cant see any logical reason they shouldn't let epileptix fly dual control bird w/ an instructor...but they sure gave Bader a rough time in your neck of the woods - maybe they learned from their mistake
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Sure, I realise that, guys - and sometimes when I'm doing 80 down the motorway I think very hard about it. A sobering thought, but I've been cleared to drive medically, in case you thought I was driving illegally. I had to give up my car for a year, and sometimes it was tempting just to pick up my keys and drive. But any temptation disappeared when I thought of the consequences if I had a seizure, killed someone and survived. I couldn't have lived with myself.
Guess it's just a pipe-dream. Anyway, in 20 years time, computer sims will be so good, I won't need a pilot's license. :)
I'm just extremely jealous of you guys who get to fly. :D
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Hmmm... you're cleared to drive but not fly...
Seems inconsistent to me.
Not that I'd fly with you at the stick... that would be silly. :)
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Even if they allow you to fly, I would strongly advise against flying alone without another qualified pilot. In AH, when blacked out, you can quickly hit the X key to level out, but in real life, this isn't do. You may feel fine about taking your life into your own hands, but you'll also be taking others' too. How would you feel if you had a fit and crashed ito a school plaground, killing many children, but survived yourself?
You know epilepsy far better than most here. Evalute the effect of the loss of control that you experience during a fit. Then imagine having that fit at the worst possible moment.
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I guess it comes down to risk to the public. With an A/C I could do more damage? A packed motorway at rush hour, at high speed would be a disaster as well.
If you saw the way I drive, sandman, I think that would be a wise decision. ;)
I could say something tasteless about k/d ratios and AH... but I won't. :D
qts - like I said before, they won't allow me. But should I give up my driver's license for that same reason? I wonder sometimes.
Having a fit is the weirdest thing in the world. I've only had 3, and the first one I put down to tiredness due to over-work (even though I was a student, weird). But the 15 minutes of amnesia afterwards is really strange - in that time I couldn't tell you my name or what I was meant to be doing. I even had to ask my friend in the next room in the hall who found me, if we had exams. It was two weeks before finals started! Makes me laugh looking back on it, pretty scary at the time. Although talking with a lisp for 3 weeks due to having nearly bitten it off was pretty comical. ;)
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Oooh blinky lights...
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non-stereoscopic vision.
IE, I have to get chicks to turn side on to see how big their boobs really are.
Ands really hard judging when to leap onto the sheep.
And when I'm tailgating you at 140km/h on the motor, its coz I really don't know how far away I am (saving that one for the judge!).
Originally posted by Dingbat
Huh? what's that?
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I can visualize throttleing down on final approach, looking through the slowing propeller into a setting sun and seeing that repeated flashing of the prop which could trigger a seizure.
One other thing that strikes me about epilepsy, is how easy it is to help someone who is having a seizure, but many people don't realize it.
You can quickly and easily save a person's life simply by tilting their head back to open their airway.
I once saw a group of about 20 college students standing around in a parking lot watching an epileptic die during a seizure. His face was liver and his lips were blue. Apparently none of them knew enough to give this kid an airway. I bent over and tilted his head back - Bingo, he got his air and his color back. I don't think the students even realized that they had just witnessed me save a kid's life.