Sleep Apnea special issuance documentation?
 

This will be the first time I apply for a class 1 with a diagnoses of sleep apnea. I am looking for what the FAA is going to specifically ask for.

I understand the process. What I need to know is what documentation they will need from my doctor after my AME submits his part of the medical application. I am moving out of state in April and will be finding a new PHP at a new VA facility so I want to gather what documentation I need before I move as it may be months before I can get in to see new doctors.

Specifically when I get the letter from the FAA regarding a special issuance for sleep apnea what documentation will they be asking for? Is it just a letter from my sleep clinic doctor? Or is there a specific report they need?

https://www.faa.gov/about/office_org...ref_materials/

should answer all your questions.

Thanks! That covered most of what I was looking for. Have you been through the process. If so can you give me any idea of what to expect? At the moment the AME is suggesting there will be no interruption in my flying. I've got a sub 15 AHI before CPAP and now its around 2. So really mild OSA.

I just went through this and it was pretty painless. If you bring all the required paperwork to your AME they can issue your medical on the spot (assuming otherwise qualified) and forward the paperwork to FAA medical for review. FAA medical folks sent me a Special Issuance letter & new medical after their review (only a few weeks) but since I got one from the AME there was zero time without a medical.

The FAA wants the CPAP/APAP (machine(s) you use each day), the compliance therapy reports within the preceding 12 consecutive months. They're downloaded from your machine. Either through a LTE signal which will transmit to record them from the machine to a DME provider (as an example). Or, from the removable SD card in the machine's slot itself. These are obtained either through possibily your treating OSA sleep apnea doctor OR the DME provider can as well, log into whatever website is applicable to your case for these reports. These must be submitted once each year. Secondly, whoever is your sleep apnea treating physician, have him write a letter after your annual examination with his results, that you successfully tolerate CPAP treatment, and this is important for the FAA and MUST state NO DAYTIME Hypersomnolence OR NO DAYTIME SLEEPINESS present. Also, the FAA has a 3 answer mini form checklist to fill out and send this back in once a year. It just basically says that you say you're under successful CPAP treatment. Believe me when I say that I have been successfully navigating this SH** while learning EVERY nuance since about 17 yrs. ago being diagnosed with mild OSA sleep apnea. I was however, out of flying for roughly 4 weeks initially when I learned I was diagnosed with it. The good news is this. As long as your sleep apnea is controlled to the acceptable FAA AME Guide standards, it still is allowed to fly with. It has to be pretty severe before you're hard downed, really. Good luck! I'd be happy to provide you with anything else you might need. Including a world renown sleep apnea doctor, professor and chief. He has been super!

For those with CPAP, what machine are you using? I got a Resmed AirMini because it's very travel friendly, however I can't access data reports to print off. I got the machine from an online store (because the medical device provider I got referred to in town doesn't sell the Mini) that doesn't subscribe to the data service.

I can theoretically take a screenshots of the AirMini iphone app every day after I use it that shows the time, then create an excel spreadsheet. Not sure if the FAA would accept that. Anyone have tips for getting data reports off the Mini?

Thanks

Download the Sleepy Head app on your computer and it will allow you to read the SD card from your machine. Works awesome!

Also check out this guy's channel for great CPAP advice, he is a professional: https://www.youtube.com/c/Freecpapadvice/videos

There is no SD card in the Resmed AirMini

I have an 85%+ compliance with my CPAP and have been struggling to get my average hour usage to 6. It sits around the 4.5 range. Although there are times when i sleep 6+ hrs/night sometimes over 9. I currently have my CDL and have had it for quite a while. I havent had any major issues with driving or at work. I get 6+ hours of sleep/night just not continuous. This seems to be my only drawback of me getting my First class. I stay on top of my readings through my Dream Mapper app.

If i go to sleep too early, i toss and turn...if i go to sleep later then that obviously complicates the goal of 6+ hours. I already take 10mg of melatonin/night and do my best with all the dos/donts before sleeping.

Im just short of finding someone who works in the health dept of the FAA, befriend them, get on their good side, buy them a dog, cat, mini unicorn, and get it through that way lol. If not, guess Ill put down a loan for a home flight sim from Flightdeck Solutions and live the dream that way.

But seriously...is there anything, a loophole, a letter i can have my doctor write, a letter from my work...getting desperate here.

thanks!!

Here is exactly what the FAA expects to be provided:

https://www.faa.gov/about/office_org...s/sleep_apnea/