J Van Vliet

How do airlines handle a First Officer with a medical issue(s) in their first/“probation” year? I assume there is some type of
equal opportunity protection but I’ve also read and heard one needs to be a chameleon in their first year.

Myfingershurt

Was it a known issue before they got hired? Does it preclude them from holding a first class medical?

rickair7777

Other than perhaps bottom-feeder regionals, a legit medical dequal (ie not able to hold an FAA 2C) should not result in termination, discipline, or harassment. They'll have a process, including STD/SDI, and may require you to take FMLA. STD or FMLA would involve verification of the medical situation, so they'll know it's legit.

Your probation period may be extended so that you actually complete one year total probation after your return. You may also need to pass annual recurrent to get off probation, depends on the airline.

Gone Flying

Someone I know at DL had an issue that caused him to not be able to hold a class1 medical while on probation. Put him on STD/LTD just like any other pilot.

I really doubt any airline (except maybe gojet) is going to go after a pilot due to a medical issue, definitely some legal quagmires there.

why I mentioned gojet
https://law.justia.com/cases/federal...021-04-29.html

J Van Vliet

I could have been more specific in the first post. I will be retiring from the military this year and applying to work in the 121 world. I have a friend who just started at a Legacy who is Indoc complete and awaiting a training start date, meanwhile, he is knocking out VA medical appointments while still on terminal leave. His situation and my impending VA process got me wondering what would happen to someone already on property with a 121 who subsequently experienced an unforeseen medical issue which presented during the required VA medical appointments. A cursory review of the Pilot Health forums shows that AFib and Sleep Apnea are some common issues that can be corrected medically but require more FAA paperwork and maybe some time away from flying. If I read it correctly some of those pilots continue to fly awaiting a Special Issuance or receive a Special Issuance and are then back to flying. I wasn't sure how something like that might affect a first year pilot.

The question was answered and thank you for the replies. It appears as long as it's not a dirtbag company, one can return to work when able, but with the potential for an extended probationary period. I thought the probationary period was more of a monitor of performance and behavior over the first year with a company, but I didn't know if issues, like correctable medical problems would be grounds for dismissal in the first year. Thanks again for the replies and explanations.

CX500T

I lost my medical for a couple months while on probation at Delta. I had just run out of sick leave when I got it back so never hit STD.

Chief pilot office only asked updates occasionally.

FWIW, my medical was lost because the FAA dragged tail on approving a fairly easy SI.



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Excargodog

FWIW. A newly diagnosed atrial fibrillation issue might be time consuming.

rickair7777

Afib could be very easy to correct, paperwork might take longer.

OSA might be more hoops and expense, plus you could be stuck hauling around a CPAP that sends digital compliance monitoring to the FAA. Whatever the VA pays for that wouldn't be worth the trouble to me.

CX500T

OSA was the easiest SI ever.

My cardiac SI took two years to get through the FAA , but I was flying fir the Navy at the time so I had some delays getting them what they wanted.

That was the only SI where the FAA was more of a pain than the Navy for the equivalent NAMI waiver.

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CX500T

Getting my OSA treated was life changing. In a good way. Like I feel 15 years younger.

Untreated OSA is bad juju.

Yes, hauling the bag is a pain at times and I look like a FA with extra stuff, but I sleep so much better and went from being on a half dozen meds to 1, and it was a fair part of how I went from 300 to 210 pounds too.

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