A little back story so you have an idea of were I am coming from:

Like most of you my dreams of flying started early. When I bought my first car the first thing I did was drive to the near-by little airfield and have a CFI take me up. A day I will never forget. By the time I was starting college (jr college with plans to tranfer to ER) a few months later - I had about 12hrs logged and was close to doing my first solo. Moved for school, in that first semester I got sick. I didn't know it for another ten years - but that was the start of a long, horrendous journey and fight with the medical community to finally be diagnosed and cured from a 'rare' disease - Cushing's Disease. Amongst the symptoms is sudden and drastic weight gains, deteriorating bones and muscle, severe fatique, etc. Not a fun experience.

Unfortunately...it took my dreams away. I was too sick to work and go to school, so I ended up dropping out, finding a decent office job, and just going on with life. I am now 31, married, homeowner, office manager for an engineering firm. No kids.

That dream is still there and now that I am 9 months post-op and recovering pretty rapidly (all things considered) I am eager to see if picking up where I left off is a feasable idea. When considering my options for surgery, the removal of my adrenals - the first thing I did was check to see if I can still get a first class medical. Looks like I can but I am not 100% sure. I know some pilots do, but i am not sure if it is something that was present from the start of their career or something that happened later.

So, if I were to pursue this - I am thinking the best route might be to finish my degree at Embry Riddle's online program and get the BS in Business...and then my flight training at a small flight training program at the small airport near home. I believe the appx. total cost for the training was 25k for PP, Inst, ME and comercial. ER school online dregree would be about 6k per year for about 2-3 yrs. I have appx. 50 credits...if they are still good.


So my question.....

1. Would this be a feasible plan training/education wise?

2. Is it worth the effort given my age and previous medical issue? Would I even have a chance with the airlines or even bizjet careers given these issues?

I just don't want to look back in 20 years and regret not even trying. But then again, I dont want to waste my time on something that has no possibility of happening.

Thanks!

Rachel

 

Hi, welcome to APC.

A few thoughts...

I don't know much about cushing's syndrome (a friend it has it) but it does seem to make life hard. Aviation deamnds a lot od stamina, mainly due to poor working conditions, long hours, and time zone shifts when you get into flying jets.

My first thought would that if you are still afflicted, it would probably be a bad idea. This is based on what I know of my friend's situation, yours might be different of course.

Sounds like you had surgery? Assuming that resolves your problems it should be feasible from a stamina perspective. Will you need any meds on a permanent basis? The FAA is pretty lenient with most things.

You should probably talk to someone (non-FAA) who specializes in aviation medicine cosnulting. Virtual flight surgeons is pretty popular, and there are other outfits. Get you ducks all in a row BEFORE you talk to an AME (FAA doc).

Possible issues from a career perspective...

Stamina: You can judge this for yourself.

1st Class Medical: You pretty much need this, if you only have a 2C most good jobs will be closed to you.

Special Issuance: If your condition allows a 1C medical but requires a "Special Issuance" medical, that is not a good thing. That may limit your options with some employers, especially airlines.

Airline Medical exams: Some, but not all, airlines do their own medical exams. they will ask a lot of questions and may deny employment based on your medical history even if you have a 1C medical. I don't agree with this, and think it's not quite legal, but was common in the past. I think fewer airlines will do these exams in the future.

My suggestion would be to...

1. Get some professional advice on your condition with respect to aviation medical certification.

2. Get a 1C medical.

3. Go get a PPL. Fly around some and enjoy yourself. Only after you have done that, should you consider a career.

Also, avoid ERAU there are usually better options. there is plenty of info about that school here on APC, check it out. Also see what other folks have to say about flight training, there are many different options and different opinions. I would suggest a small, local school (and keep your day job).

 

The other thing is, DONT give up your current job. Keep your current job and fly when your schedule permits. May not be accomplished as fast but keep the income flowing. As rick said, get your unrestricted 1st class medical and continue working on your PPL. Enjoy being a private pilot a bit while you work on your instrument rating and commercial time building (this could take some time). Keep your current job so you can pay as you go and not go into debt since airline jobs wont pay enough to pay the debt back (Fact).

Once you get your commercial and Multi, you are going to have to find some way to build hours. Right now, the only real way is CFIing which means you'll need to go for you CFI. At this point you might be able to pick up a descent CFI gig that has okay pay, and maybe benefits if you get full time. Keep in mind, even if you do this route and the airlines are hiring, you will need an ATP to get hired (which means 1500 hours and 500 XC). You might be lucky to get on with a 135 operation but again, those usually require 1200 hours and 500 XC.

If you are looking to fly biz-jets, then you will need some considerable time at the airlines to get into the left seat. Most biz-jet places like a couple thousand total hours and around a thousand hours of PIC turbine time, usually in type (which begs the question, where does one get those hours in the first place).

If all this (And all others will post) doesn't make you run away and scream, welcome aboard! The only reason you'd put up with all that is if you REALLY want to fly, which is the only reason to go into this industry.

Either way, congratulations on surviving your ordeal. 10 years is a long time and I am glad you get to move on with your life. I won't lie, only time I heard of that disease was from watching House...

 

Rachel,

"then my flight training at a small flight training program at the small airport near home. I believe the appx. total cost for the training was 25k for PP, Inst, ME and comercial"

My local university flight training program quoted me at 60 to 85K to get through the Commercial Multi-engine instrument. Prices have gone up considerably in the last ten years.

It is a massive investment for the hope of a crummy return.

Skyhigh

 

Something to consider, if you are happy with your life, flying for "fun" and maybe even staying in the private/training/corporate side you would only need a 2nd class medical or even just a 3rd if you enjoy instructing. I only need a 2nd class, and I'd say I have a great job. Don't think that flying anything "big" makes a person happy and content.

Sideways of all this, definately seek out a medical professional to help you out. Join AOPA(.org) and get in touch with their medical department. They have helped numerous folks getting their medicals issued

You can also look up your local AME(Airmen Medical Examiner) through the faa website. Call them, tell them the situation, and see where it goes.

I'm shooting from the hip here as I've never had any issues that would require this type of searching. Good Luck, hope it works out

 

Thanks for the feedback everyone.

I know the chances of this happening are slim to none at this point - I just didn't want to give up too easily...

As for the medical.....I underwent 2 surgeries... the first was brain surgery at MD Anderson to remove the tumor from my pituitary. That failed....and couldn't go in again as the odds of a cure on a 2nd try where nil, so I opted for the alternative, to remove my adrenals. Having no adrenals means that I am dependant on a very small amount of steroid (2.5mg of predinose a day.)

I did look into a site that list different medical issues and whether or not they have had success getting pilots a 1c with this issue. I guess having no adrenals means I have Addison's Disease - which was listed, and said that they have had several hundred cases of this desease either being able to keep/or get a 1c. I can see this being of little issue for a pilot that has been doing this a while, but a newbie starting out- it might be an issue.

As for stamina - since my cure it is 90% better. I still have my off days, but it is much better than living with Cushing's, which was a death sentence. I have lost 3/4 of the weight gained from it so far....my BP and BG are better than ever....lowish actually. My bones and muscles have healed enough that I have started jogging again in the past few weeks. I would say in the next six months I should be as good as new.

Snipper - thanks - I can't tell you how many times people have said that...."oh, I saw that on House!" I was part of a study being done on this and they asked me what I thought was important to get the word out so people don't suffer with this disease for so long. I said - 1) docs need to be more aware of this and understand that it is way more common than they believe, requires a lot more tests to rule in or out, 2)and to get the word out to people....if I had known about it sooner, I would have brought it up to doctors sooner - even though they HATE that!

And I agree on getting my PPL and going from there....that is the goal.

as for prices....I was paying $45 an hour back in '97-98 I am sure it is at least double that now just to rent the plane.

I don't plan to quite this job, and I don't want to go into debt for it either. I really does seem impossible, and I still want to go for it...but at the same time I don't want to be broke and bitter over it later.

As for finishing my degree through ER - I am looking at their online program....which is WAYYYYY WAYYYYY cheaper than the traditional campus, I think - I need to call them.

And I am looking into scholarships for women returning to school, women pilots from the WIA and 99's....over 30 going back to school, go back after medical issues...stuff like that. The 99's have a 5k scholarship for women to further their flight training after you get your PPL.....that would help if I actaully got it. But, yes...PPL first...then go from there.

 

Rachel,

Some pretty good threads in this forum to review in case you have not already, especially:

http://thetruthabouttheprofession.weebly.com/

Your story definitely puts aviation and life into perspective, thanks personally for the recalibration, and best of luck on your journey, wherever that may take you.

-jc23

 

1- go to AME, get alien thoroughly checked
2- keep current job
3- see if current job could use an airplane- if yes go to 4, if no fly for fun.
4- fly and get ratings(won't need degree)
5- fly for your company.

 

It's the "glamor" job that people will do at any cost / price. Which is why we have WAY too many pilots, with the resulting extremely poor pay and working conditions overall.

At least you recognize the potential outcome now. And none of this even addresses your health issues.

 

Thank you for the advice on this. I called AOPA, spoke with the medical advisor and she said having had Cushing's does not inhibit one from getting a first class. Having Addison's Disease (no adrenals) doesn't either. Being on prednisone could be if it is a high dose. She asked how much am I on and I said 2.5mg. Oh you're good! The limit is over 20mg.

So....First Class with my issues is definately doable!!

I've lost another 6 pounds this week. Funny how all those years of stavation and working my a$$ off all I got was sicker and fatter and all doctors could tell me was I was fat and lazy. I do my research, throw it in their face...end up flying to LA to see the Chief of Endocrinology to get this diagnosed...2 surgeries later...it is melting off without effort, and all of my symptoms are gone. Sorry, just still really bitter with about a dozen different doctors who all blew me off.


I spoke with hubby about the cost, the risk of never making any decent money at this. It really didn't matter....he knew this has been my dream my whole life.

He is a realtor, things have been rough the last three years, but in the last few months have seemed to be picking up. We can live on my income alone, so he is fine using all of his earning's to pay this off as I go. So, If 40-50K is the normal amount for p61 school, I shouldn't have a problem paying it off it 18 months. And of course, hopefully get a few scholarships along the way.

I want to wait until after new years to be one year post op and hopefully all of my labs will be perfect (they are good now but some I would like to have better so there will be no issues, my insulin was still a bit high, but dropping) and to show that I am a year out with no adrenals and have gone that long with no issues from it....(having no adrenals is bad news if you get sick - your body can't make cortisol to fight the infection, so you can go down hard if you are not diligent and keep enough cortisol in your system)

So, PPL in a few months and then go from there. It feels so good to have this back after years of losing hope that I would ever be able to do this.

Thanks for all the advice and words of encouragement.