SpreadEagle

November 22, 2013FAA’S POLICY STATEMENT ON SLEEP APNEA: UPDATEYesterday’s*FastRead*(November 21, 2013) notified the membership that ALPA was aware of the FAA’s new policy on obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and that we were engaging the FAA and industry on this matter. ALPA has maintained a steady dialogue with FAA and industry stakeholders. As a result of our follow up with the FAA’s leadership, we were informed today that the*proposed*policy statement on OSA is just that and no more;*no decision has been made by the FAA to implement the OSA policy statement. ALPA has requested that the FAA send out a bulletin to their Aviation Medical Examiners (AMEs) as soon as possible to affirm the fact that no policy change has taken place. We continue to collaborate with FAA and other industry stakeholders who share our concerns with the OSA statement.Despite the FAA’s stance, it has come to ALPA’s attention that some AMEs may be proceeding with new body mass-related sleep apnea screening protocols and may proactively seek to determine whether a pilot suffers from OSA as part of a medical certification exam.Any ALPA member who is told that they must have a mandatory sleep apnea assessment in accordance with the FAA’s policy statement should report it to ALPA’s Aeromedical Office at*1-866-237-6633.To learn about OSA, its effects, treatments and more, visit the*U.S. Department of Health & Human Services website. ALPA will provide additional information about the status of our OSA efforts as it becomes available.

sevenforseven

I about choked on my pizza..

alaskadrifter

Tobias Funke - Wingman - YouTube

FlyingKat

No surprised. Figured something like this would happen as soon as the lobbyists for the alphabet groups and the airlines got cranking. This was the scene in the FAA administrators office as soon as this was announced:

The sh**ts gonna hit the fan - Airplane - YouTube

johnso29

And they absolutely should. There is zero basis for requiring every airman to be tested for OSA. Especially without seeing the effects of part 117 first.

MusicPilot

http://www.faa.gov/other_visit/aviat...dia/201304.pdf

They're going after the restless leg syndrome pilots next.

Bzzt

There is a definite basis to assume a fatty has a sleeping disorder. People are fighting this because the unions don't want to lose dues. I really hope some legislation goes through to combat the obese pilots.

johnso29

Notice I didn't say there wasn't a basis to test fat pilots for sleep apnea. I said there is zero basis for having EVERY airman tested for sleep apnea.

A guy with a BMI of 40 or greater should probably be tested. But to announce that you'll continue to drop the cutoff and eventually test every airman is over reach.

JohnnyG

40 is HUGE.

SiShane

Title of this post is hilarious!