Packrat

This is the best advice on the thread. An individual AME could unintentionally steer you wrong. The FAA is reevaluating the sleep apnea regs as we speak after last year's debacle.

USMCFDX

I know of one guy at FedEx that brings his CPAP with him on trips.

Pavedickey

I'm going to make a few assumptions here. First you are either a non-rated officer or enlisted based on the flight time and not mentioning a grounding for SA by a flight surgeon and subsequent waiver. Unfortunately the proverbial cat is out of the bag since you've done a sleep study. Since SA can give you up to 50% disability, there is no reason not to claim it. If you apply for a FAA medical certificate and do not report the sleep study and its results, there will be some serious legal ramifications from the FAA once they find out about it...and they will. SA is becoming a big deal with the FAA right now so you don't want to hide a diagnosis. Your best bet is to get with an AME (AOPA is a great start too) and begin the process to get the waiver from the FAA. It's not a major process, but you have to fully disclose this or it could get ugly.

Pavedickey

Reposted from your other thread:
I'm going to make a few assumptions here. First you are either a non-rated officer or enlisted based on the flight time and not mentioning a grounding for SA by a flight surgeon and subsequent waiver. Unfortunately the proverbial cat is out of the bag since you've done a sleep study. Since SA can give you up to 50% disability, there is no reason not to claim it. If you apply for a FAA medical certificate and do not report the sleep study and its results, there will be some serious legal ramifications from the FAA once they find out about it...and they will. SA is becoming a big deal with the FAA right now so you don't want to hide a diagnosis. Your best bet is to get with an AME (AOPA is a great start too) and begin the process to get the waiver from the FAA. It's not a major process, but you have to fully disclose this or it could get ugly.

tom11011

I wouldn't follow the last few advices personally.

First you don't even have a diagnosis so don't go reporting something that doesn't exist to the FAA. Don't be stupid here.

Go see your private primary care doc and discuss it, he would likely refer you to have the test done again. See the results first.

Then, figure out what to do about it with the FAA and your airmen medical doctor.

Pavedickey

Go ahead then, roll the bones. You did a sleep study, most likely paid for by Tricare, it and the results are most likely in your official DoD medical records meaning it has a diagnosis, however slight. Good luck.

lbfowlerjrmd

if VA accepts your claim it is reportable ... faa though is in a data collection phase of this and other 'disabilities'

MongoEP3

I'm active duty Navy. I was diagnosed with OSA about five years ago, and prescribed a CPAP. I was granted a waiver by Navy medicine, but was leary of the process with the FAA. Not wanting to retire and not be immediately able to pass a 1st class medical, I went ahead and sought out a 1st class medical two years out. From the time of my medical, it took about three months to recieve my 1st class medical from the FAA. I had to provide my most recent sleep study , a download from my ccpap, and a letter from my doctor. Only restriction is that it will expire in all classes in one year (no 3rd class). Bottom line, I'm glad I went through the trouble now while I have a pay check. Talking to the FAA, next year I will need to send in the download and letter from the doc and all should be good.

Best of luck!

gr8vu

I have a sleep test next week for my VA process. I purposely pushed the test post retirement. I have two family members with CPAP machines and have same symptoms. I have already spoke with ALPA med. Can share more as the situation unfolds. Bottomline from ALPA...if I get any diagnosis (mild, moderate, or severe) then I need to call and let my carrier know and stop flying. ALPA will then roll in and work with me to get the paperwork done. ALPA says depending on severity the process can take 2-3 months depending on treatment options recommended. It has gotten easier the past few years but there is still bureaucracy to get through. On the FAA sides it falls under the special issuance process (versus waiver for military flying). New rules take affect for AMEs in March so that they are more involved in identifying pilots with this condition.

sfitz

Thank you to everyone for the info. I'm a Flight Officer (back seater) so I fly but don't fly the airplane. I do have a job flight instructing though and need that job to pay some bills and build my time to the Regionals.

I think I'm going to delay on filing it now so I can continue to flight instruct and do some more research. They told me I have "mild" apnea and did not require a CPAP or surgery.

Thanks again for all the input!