redbaron

Does anybody knows if colon cancer or polyps could get the first class medical revoked? FAR part 67 quote:

No other organic, functional, or structural disease, defect, or limitation 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.
(c) No medication or other treatment that the Federal Air Surgeon, based on the case history and appropriate, qualified medical judgment relating to the medication or other treatment 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.

I am not sure how to interpret this.

Twin Wasp

Polyps are fairly common and as long as they are benign, not an issue. Cancer is a different story. My understanding, you're not going to feel much like flying during the treatment. And I believe the FAA will want 6 months cancer free before they grant a medical.

hotelmode

Not 100% on topic, but along the same lines... if someone where unable to renew their medical, could they be a sim instructor? Do most airlines require their instructors to be qualified line pilots, or can they work without a medical?

aero550

Yes, a medical is not required to be a sim instructor. I was just told this by a non-medical holding sim instructor yesterday during recurrent.

I can't answer the airline instructor question.

rickair7777

Cancer is grounding until favorably resolved and after a waiting period. Polyps should not be grounding, but get them removed. Get some advice from an aviation medicine consultant. These guys are good, other folks can recommend other services: http://www.aviationmedicine.com/

You don't need a medical to do sim.

Airlines typically employ qualified line pilots, medically disqualified line pilots, and non-line instructors on the sim.

The qualified line guys are very expensive, but they keep the training program aligned with operational reality.

The grounded line pilots may get line pay, or they may get instructor pay only.

The non-line instructors are hired off the street and usually get paid less than the line guys. They usually prefer guys with time in type (often retired) but I have seen random low-time guys doing it also.

redbaron

Thank you all for answer to this delicate subject