Originally Posted by Starscream

Greetings all --

1. Work for a certain Ft. Worth, TX based ALPA-represented regional airline.

2. Struck with a ruptured brain aneurysm very early this year, requiring brain surgery.

3. Made a complete recovery in 7 weeks -- no lasting effects/deficits. Off all meds for the last 3 months.

4. Began work with ALPA Aeromedical/AMAS 2 days after my surgery, and have been working with them, and sending them all requested images, reports, narratives, you name it -- for the last 4 months.

5. Upon the advice of AMAS, I contacted my mainline partner's (also Ft. Worth, TX based) medical office - a nurse named Marsha R. for anyone familiar - for information on setting up a COG test.

The nurse (very trusted amongst the mainline pilots from what I gather) dropped a complete bombshell on me. She suggested ditching ALPA/AMAS altogether and going with an AME located in Tulsa, OK that specializes in neurology. His name is Dr. J. Hastings, and he is in fact a ''senior neurological consultant to the FAA.''

The nurse insists this AME can help me get my medical back faster (perhaps way faster) than AMAS could, and that he'd be a much bigger advocate than AMAS would be. His services are not free -- I was told to expect $300 or so.

AMAS is telling me expect an FAA ruling of 2 years with no medical certificate, even though my recovery went about as perfectly as it could have gone (thank God). With all the hiring that's to be going on here soon, that could be devastating to my career.

I'm not so much lookin to pose a ''what would you do'' kind of question to anyone who reads this -- I'm just looking for advice and input -- especially from anyone that has sought the help and services of Dr. Hastings.

After working with AMAS for this long and sending them stacks of reports, CDs, etc. it's a little frightening to think about wiping all that out and starting from scratch with someone else.

All I've read/heard is how great AMAS is.

Thoughts? Any help would be appreciated.

Originally Posted by Starscream

Thanks but there is nothing here to 'enjoy.' I'm going to be on the street by July. Ineligible for hire at the Majors without 1st class. This is a nightmare. Need to get that Medical back ASAP........