Retiring…Mil Apnea to FAA?

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08-28-2022, 10:33 AM

SkiBum95

Gets Weekends Off

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Retiring…Mil Apnea to FAA?

Broad question, I’m finishing my active duty retirement time and am already 50% seniority at a major airline. I’m thinking about going in and getting checked for apnea on the mil side before I retire. If I do, and it comes back positive, how does that transfer to my AME/current FAA Class 1?

08-28-2022, 04:48 PM

rickair7777

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Quote:

Originally Posted by SkiBum95

You'll be grounded. Then you'll have to do whatever protocols the FAA needs (sleep study IIRC?), and will probably need to use a portable CPAP on airline overnights. Maybe it's just a paperwork drill, depending on what the mil does. But if the mil just documents it, then you'll be jumping through some FAA hoops. Months worth I'd guess.

If you need to, then you need to. But I probably wouldn't go fishing for a VA % that's going to cost you way more on the airline side than the VA will pay.

08-28-2022, 05:05 PM

Excargodog

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Joined APC: Jan 2018

Posts: 11,501

Quote:

Originally Posted by SkiBum95

here is the 26 page FAA guidelines for the AMEs WILLING to go through the effort of dealing with these cases. Otherwise they just defer you to Oklahoma City and you fall into the event horizon of the FAA black hole there.

https://www.faa.gov/about/office_org...0materials.pdf

08-28-2022, 05:33 PM

tnkrdrvr

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Joined APC: Jan 2018

Posts: 1,683

Quote:

Originally Posted by SkiBum95

Strongly recommend you talk to your AME first about the way forward of you are diagnosed with sleep apnea. Lots of guys have convinced the FAA that they have it and can manage it, but it’s a process that you need to be smart on before it cuts off your income. Unless, you have really good loss of medical coverage. Than enjoy!

08-29-2022, 07:21 PM

SkiBum95

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Posts: 109

Thanks for the input. I’ll check w my AME before I talk to the mil.

08-29-2022, 07:48 PM

rickair7777

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Joined APC: Jan 2006

Position: Engines Turn Or People Swim

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Quote:

Originally Posted by SkiBum95

Thanks for the input. I’ll check w my AME before I talk to the mil.

Depends on the AME. Kind of like getting legal advice from a cop... might be used against you later.

Some AMEs (popular with discerning airline pilots) have an off the record policy and will give you excellent advice and officially "forget" about the conversation.