Originally Posted by
rvr1800
Don't forget to add skin cancer screening for all fair skinned pilots. Ever had a tattoo or piercing? Better add proof you're hepatitis free. What about chicken pox? Well we all know the shingles virus is inside you right. Well you better demonstrate that you don't have shingles. Ever take Advil for a headache? Probably brain tumor.
Originally Posted by
rvr1800
BS. How do you know? Maybe he's adapted to this type of sleep and feels fine. He's passed all his check rides. Maybe won't live as long as the rest of us but seriously we're going to also threaten his career? I'm am vehemently against this big brother type medical exam. Billy32's tongue in cheek response illustrates where this is headed if we allow this nonsense to continue.
Sleep apnea is clearly a fatigue issue. May not make you bust a checkride but you might fall asleep or make a huge screwup after a long day (or night).
I think they need a reasonable screening mechanism, whatever that might be, but just letting OSA slide by is probably not the right answer. They wouldn't let any of that other stuff you mentioned slide if they had reason to suspect. And maybe establish a grace period give folks the opportunity to make sure they don't have OSA.