rickair7777

Whatever you might say about the FAA, they are not weighing guilt or innocence in medical decisions and processes, they are just looking at the medical issue and risk. Whether or not it's your fault that you had a brain aneurysm or got a DUI is not relevant to the certification issue.

That said, I do have a hard spot with HIMs being available only to those with addiction issues vice just bad judgement. In the event of any questions being raised about alcohol, the first words out of your mouth should be "I think I have a problem..."

SonicFlyer

I think you are lucky to be alive.

Starscream

I always saw it as unlucky that it happened at all. Over the last 5 years I’ve had people suggest how I should ‘feel’ about the whole ordeal, but none of them went through what I went though. I was down to making preparations for homelessness.

And it’s all because an FAA consultant had to overrule another consultant’s recommendation for certification. Missed a ton of hiring at the majors and ended up broke. Sorry if I will forever be bitter about that experience. 5 years later and I still have the occasional nightmare about the ordeal.

SonicFlyer

Ruptured brain aneurysms are fatal in about 40% of cases. Of those who survive, about 66% suffer some permanent neurological deficit. Approximately 15% of patients with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) die before reaching the hospital.

SOURCE:
https://www.bafound.org/about-brain-...ics-and-facts/


I had a very close family member die about 20 years early because of one. Never had a chance to say goodbye, just collapsed and that was that.


In no way am I underplaying your plight, but things could have been worse, much worse.

Starscream

Intimately familiar with the stats, thanks, and so sorry for your loss.

Still feel the way I do. This was a very emotionally and psychologically devastating time in my life. Woke up feeling like a failure most days that I just could not get a job in the real world and could only watch helplessly as the funds bled away. Maybe if I had been in a different line of work I could see it another way. . You and I will just always see it differently, I guess.

And my apologies for causing this thread drift. That all said, I do agree that anyone who has lost control should have a path back — whether it be the 0.15+ DUI or even getting in the cockpit under the influence. Very tough, though, that’s it got to be such and awfully expensive (and time consuming) road back.

Bahamasflyer

Why didn't your airline's LTD plan cover you in your situation?? Isn't it cases like yours that its most designed to protect?

You have every right to still be angry over it

phfly505

They will never understand the frustration of dealing with the medical complications until they go through it themselves. I had multiple mis diagnosis that required further tests and so on. In the end I lost my home, savings and retirement in order to pay for everything. I'd love to go into details, however I'm at the end of path at 2.6 years and I don't want to make any waves..

2992set

Hope some of you guys can help me out here.

currently going thru the HIMs process. had to resign from a new job since i was on IOE when this issue surfaced and couldn't renew my medical, I had to resign (They don't allow medical leaves while in training)..no DUI, just issues from the past came back to bite me...

It seems 2 years if the average time to get back in the air..so ****ty...

Does anyone have info on "Aftercare".. my AMEs nurse said its basically a combo of group and individual sessions about 3-4 times a month...and right now I got stepped down from IOP to regular out patient which is once a week..and I'm about to be done with that. My confusion is whats the difference between aftercare and regular outpatient since both is basically once a week group/individual sessions.

any insight thru this process would be much appreciated. not flying is horrible - i wouldn't wish this upon anyone