ALPA/AMAS vs. Specialist AME
 

Greetings all --

1. Work for a certain Ft. Worth, TX based ALPA-represented regional airline.

2. Struck with a ruptured brain aneurysm very early this year, requiring brain surgery.

3. Made a complete recovery in 7 weeks -- no lasting effects/deficits. Off all meds for the last 3 months.

4. Began work with ALPA Aeromedical/AMAS 2 days after my surgery, and have been working with them, and sending them all requested images, reports, narratives, you name it -- for the last 4 months.

5. Upon the advice of AMAS, I contacted my mainline partner's (also Ft. Worth, TX based) medical office - a nurse named Marsha R. for anyone familiar - for information on setting up a COG test.

The nurse (very trusted amongst the mainline pilots from what I gather) dropped a complete bombshell on me. She suggested ditching ALPA/AMAS altogether and going with an AME located in Tulsa, OK that specializes in neurology. His name is Dr. J. Hastings, and he is in fact a ''senior neurological consultant to the FAA.''

The nurse insists this AME can help me get my medical back faster (perhaps way faster) than AMAS could, and that he'd be a much bigger advocate than AMAS would be. His services are not free -- I was told to expect $300 or so.

AMAS is telling me expect an FAA ruling of 2 years with no medical certificate, even though my recovery went about as perfectly as it could have gone (thank God). With all the hiring that's to be going on here soon, that could be devastating to my career.

I'm not so much lookin to pose a ''what would you do'' kind of question to anyone who reads this -- I'm just looking for advice and input -- especially from anyone that has sought the help and services of Dr. Hastings.

After working with AMAS for this long and sending them stacks of reports, CDs, etc. it's a little frightening to think about wiping all that out and starting from scratch with someone else.

All I've read/heard is how great AMAS is.

Thoughts? Any help would be appreciated.

you r union and thus have your case handled by whom they pick. Any AME can handle this - but yes they charge a fee. AMAS is very good. 'AMAS is telling me expect an FAA ruling of 2 years with no medical certificate' They r correct. Go enjoy a 2 year sabbatical, do mission work and/ or re-aquaint yourself with loved ones.

Thanks but there is nothing here to 'enjoy.' I'm going to be on the street by July. Ineligible for hire at the Majors without 1st class. This is a nightmare. Need to get that Medical back ASAP........

Talk to the doc in Tulsa. Ask specifically just how he can beat the two year "standard" Dr. Fowler alludes to. I've also worked with this fellow ... Bruce B Chien CFIA-I-MEI-ATP - Home ... although not on a "brain" issue. He's knowledgeable on difficult certifications, though. If what either (or both) say makes sense, make the change. Otherwise stay the course. I am sorry for your trouble, but I'm sure you're at least thankful to have survived. :)

Bro, some observations

You are lucky to be alive, based on my understanding of your post.

With that said, it appears that the chance of getting a medical (ALPA, etc) is more in the "yes column" than the "no column"

There is nothing to enjoy ? This is a nightmare ? God (or whatever force or supreme being you choose to believe in) gave you the GIFT of life. ENJOY LIFE. This is not a nightmare situation. The worst day standing on two feet is better than the best day six feet under.

I respectfully believe a "reset" of priorities in is order. I would focus on hugging your loved ones, breathing that Texas air, and hit Bone Daddys on William Tate.;)

Enjoy life bro

Obviously my post was in reply to lbfowlerjrmd's post -- and perhaps came out a bit wrong. It's just that when he said 'enjoy the time off' I don't think he realized that I'm facing the end of my sick time with no real leads yet on what I'm going to do beyond that. I'm going to be on the street in the not too distant future unless something changes.

I faced a long-ish upgrade time at my regional (7 yrs from DOH to first flight in the left seat), and lived with my parents until I was 29 -- yep 29 just to save up a 'furlough cushion' should the need ever arise.

My total hospital bill was in the $320K range, and while my 'generous' insurance company is paying most of that -- they are still leaving me with a debt that will essentially wipe out my entire life's savings. That 'furlough fund' is about to go up in smoke.

I didn't study aviation in college, but unfortunately my major was a semi-useless one unless you actually did internships for them (which I didn't -- just didn't have the time, to be honest), so finding work in the media/journalism field is bleak, at best.

I certainly don't want anyone to feel sorry for me. I did spend a lot of time in the hospital reading about aneurysms, the lasting effects they have on most people's lives, and how many lives they take - percentage-wise.

It seemed (thankfully) I was never in any serious danger throughout all this, as after the rupture I was still walking and talking -- albeit with a headache from hell and puking all over the place. Thankfully, I didn't waste any time (I had a room full of trainers at the gym telling me to just go home, they were all convinced I was coming down with the flu) and got myself to an ER ASAP, and was in surgery 12 hours after the onset of symptoms.

I'm very unfortunate that this happened at all (and that it's happening NOW), but I do realize that, all things considered, I'm extremely fortunate to have bounced back the way I did. Yes, I got a real preview of what it's like to be crippled. The first two weeks after surgery I could barely stand, let alone walk, and needed the help of two people just to get out of bed.

I see my parents no less than once a week. I just came back from Austria a week ago, visiting my family there. I have a terminally ill aunt that I may have seen for the last time. I'm certainly not ignoring my family.

For those of you who have not experienced something like this (I mean the situation more so much than the actual condition), you do spend a lot of time being thankful that the outcome was good. Eventually, though, that stops being enough and you do have to face the reality of the crap coming down on you. Losing your job, bills deep into into the five figures, a hiring wave you've been waiting forever for that you're going to miss out on, etc.

I have dreams all the time that life is normal, I'm going to work and signing in for a trip. Then I wake up and immediately remember the situation that I'm in -- every single day.

I don't know where you guys are in your careers -- major, regional, fractional, etc. -- but I did the best I could trying to keep my record clean so that I could make it to a major someday. I'm 33 yrs old, and have waited a while. I know I'm not the only one. It's a very depressing thing to realize that everything you've worked so hard towards -- the 15hr days, the countless 4am wakeups, the grumpy Captains, the manipulative schedulers, etc. everything you've endured towards reaching your goal -- is all in serious jeopardy. It sucks. It hurts. I'm sure you guys realize it's not simple as I just sit out 2 years, and then get on with a major. After 2yrs I'll have problems not being current, will need long-term training again even if going to previous equipment. This could turn into a setback of several years, not just 2.

Sorry for the rant, but the point of the thread is that it is possible to get your medical back sooner after an aneurysm. 6 months (very rare), 1 year (rare), or 2 years (the norm). I just want to do everything I can to help ensure I'm taking all the steps to get mine back in the least amount of time possible.

Oh, yeah, my carrier is based in TX. I'm based in (and live in) New York.

You know, for the last 4 months I've been doing just that. But there a comes a time (now), where I do have to address all the repercussions of this situation. That's where things get daunting, depressing, and very intimidating.


FWIW, I'm sort of leaning towards sticking it out with AMAS, only because I've gone so far with them. I've probably spent a good $100 just on sending them stuff from the hospital. I'm semi-inclined to believe it's a bit late in the game to start exploring other alternatives. They're just about ready to send my stuff in to the FAA.

Also, thanks for your input. I didn't mean to jump on you in my previous post. I didn't know that any AME can take this on. All I've had are people telling me ''work with AMAS -- worth every penny.'' Only now am I learning that there are alernatives -- though it might be a bit late in the game for that. Nothing's final at this point.

When I said ''nothing to enjoy'' I meant that this isn't going to be a paid vacation. I stop getting a paycheck in about 6 weeks and I still have no idea what I'm going to do for income. That's all I meant by that comment.

Thanks a bunch -- and I have also sent Dr. Chien an email. Trying to do as much fact gathering as I can, here.

Good points, wish you a continued recovery and good luck !