Jaded N Cynical

Oh.....it's only the beginning. I'm sure healthy long-haul truck drivers will be next.

In 2008, the preliminary national crash facts were as follows: 123,918 large trucks and 13,263 buses involved in non-fatal crashes
49,084 large trucks and 7,123 buses involved in injury crashes
73,047 injuries in crashes involving large trucks and 16,760 injuries in crashes involving buses
74,834 large trucks and 6,140 buses involved in tow-away crashes
2,609 large trucks and 11 buses involved in hazmat (HM) placard crashes



But hey......let's start with those rich airline pilots first because there have been zero accidents attributed to OSA.

galaxy flyer

Actually, they and train drivers have been evaluated for OSA for some time due to fatigue related accidents.

GF

E2CMaster

Really?

I have a Class A CDL with Hazmat, Tank, Double/Triple, etc.

Not once been tested for OSA.

Never even mentioned.

forgot to bid

I'm shooting from the hip but I think that's where this whole thing got shot down by Congress. It was to be imposed by the DOT on pilots, truckers, etc, without going through the normal rulemaking process. Congress shot that down and Obama signed an HR that required the rulemaking process to be followed but it was oriented around truck driving. I am not certain of what has transpired for truckers but it's now evidently back for pilots.

As it pertains to pilots I believe AOPA led the charge against it. I would have to keyword search to see if ALPA said anything.

When it came to truckers they said at $2200 multiplied by the number of truckers that would have to be tested that the cost would be $1B. To some that's a cost. To others that's pure revenue.

forgot to bid

^^^^^ This.

First Officer Fatty will be the first tested for OSA. He will be sent off for a sleep study, if he is found clear of OSA then First Officer Fatty keeps his medical and keeps on flying.

Captain Cross Fit will eventually be told he needs to be tested for OSA despite never having issues with fatigue while flying. He will be sent off for a sleep study and when found to have OSA, due to one of a plethora of non weight related OSA causes, he will lose his medical.

First Officer Fatty keeps flying and eating airport food while Captain Cross Fit is free to work out more, eat right, and wait to complete FAA approved treatment and burn through his sick time and disability. Because this had nothing to do with BMI and being fit but rather it has everything to do with having OSA.

That's how I read the literature put out by the FAA. Which I still don't understand what I am supposed to do, I am taller than the tallest height on the FAA approved BMI chart. I guess I am exempt since this is the FAA and the big picture < paperwork.




Yes I mentioned Cross Fit. I know the #1 rule about Cross Fit is you ALWAYS talk about Cross Fit. So I kept the rule.

gloopy

Not to mention those surgeries are incredibly invasive and massively ineffective. Pilot shortage force multiplied by a run on the sick banks and a huge spike in disability getting paid all the way to age 65.000000000 to snore (or not) at home. Bring it fools.

Andy

I did a bit more digging on the FAA's diagnosis criteria. 5 AHIs per hour. That's considered mild apnea, but yes, it's likely that a very high percentage of pilots will be 'diagnosed' with OSA.

The science behind OSA is shaky at best; most reports you read will admit something along the lines of 'we can't prove anything, but we think it's a terrible affliction' or similar verbiage. This is simply a moneymaker for 'medical' vultures.

Viper446

Do I have OSA? How the heck would I know? I do know as a cargo pilot flying a schedule that is from 10pm until 5am most nights is hard. If you come back from an International trip, it can take a day or two to get back in cycle with your sleep schedule. So what is rested? I know I sleep better at home than on the road, unless I have company. That's a joke. There are times of the day when I get tired, usually around 5pm my time. and that's circadian rhythm, a natural cycle when your body gets sleepy. But to try to impose a sleep apnea restriction and a sleep study is total BS.

My guess is that the next study, test, will be against the super skinny triathlon guys. I hope no one has a low heart beat or low blood pressure, you may be susceptible to scrutiny.

Facebitten

I thought ALPA was fighting this. What happened?

CBreezy

I think anyone with a kid younger than 5 in the home should lose his medical too. There is no way he can get enough sleep to be flying.