COVID19 vaccination invalidating medical?

[thinwing]

On 12/7/2020 at 5:29 PM, GeeBee said:

This was discussed in a previous thread. I received this from my AME

""Dear Airmen, We have just received notice from the FAA -in regards to Covid - 19 infections. 1) If you were hospitalized because of the virus - They need all medical records from your hospital, all doctors that consulted on your case. A letter from your treating doctor after discharge - a status letter in regards to your flying status, medications , prognosis and on going issues if any. So you will need to make an AME appointment for recheck and bring all the above information with you so we can get you back flying as soon as possible. 2) If you tested positive and required care at home - we need your private doctor records. Showing care, medication and your current status as to flying and over all health. Again an appointment with your AME for recheck and to get all your paperwork into the FAA ."

Now I contacted AOPA and they have been in contact with FAA Aeromedical. It seems this is a policy without documentation. I have been trying to run this down for months, and I keep getting "stonewalled" on it. I am considering a FOIA request to get clarification.

 

The obvious unintended consequence is the airman dependent on his class 1 or 2 cert who thinks he has covid ,will tough it out,NOT recieve professional treatment that would be reportable to FAA aeromedical...and hone care only and hope for the best...

[Seth]

It's now been approved for FAA Pilots and Controllers - 2 days grounded after the Phizer vaccine to ensure there are no negative/abnormal reactions and then you can fly again.

-Seth

[jaylw314]

1 hour ago, Seth said:

It's now been approved for FAA Pilots and Controllers - 2 days grounded after the Phizer vaccine to ensure there are no negative/abnormal reactions and then you can fly again.

-Seth

That was actually over the weekend, but yes, it suddenly got very quiet in here

[aviatoreb]

On 12/14/2020 at 12:24 PM, thinwing said:

The obvious unintended consequence is the airman dependent on his class 1 or 2 cert who thinks he has covid ,will tough it out,NOT recieve professional treatment that would be reportable to FAA aeromedical...and hone care only and hope for the best...

That's the entire problem with the system - I worry.  Name the disease or affliction and there will be some pilot somewhere avoiding the doctor.  Early signs of cancer?  Don't go to the doctor but pretend its nothing and it will just go away.  Heart attack.  No problem.  Dizziness, stomach, whatever.  I bet if someone did a statistical study, (just guessing) they would find that pilots are some of the most healthy people who never need to go to the doctor, until ... they aren't healthy at all.

[Seth]

Thread creep occurring but I completely agree.

I know a continental now United Captain who had two heart surgeries (one at 50 and one at 60) that would have otherwise led to heart attacks and death due to routine AME 1st class medicals.

I know another friend who is also just recently a commercial pilot in the 135 world as his second career in his 50s and the “keep ‘em flying” AME told him he had a serious issue with his heart and he had surgery a few weeks later that likely would have killed him. He’s back up flying with a clean bill or health.

it’s a fine line we dance with medicals.

I also know a regional captain who was grounded for about 9 months due to a tech not conducting his EKG properly and then going through all sorts of tests to get his medical back - he was perfectly fine the entire time.

-Seth

 

[mike_elliott]

1 hour ago, Seth said:

I also know a regional captain who was grounded for about 9 months due to a tech not conducting his EKG properly and then going through all sorts of tests to get his medical back - he was perfectly fine the entire time.

Thats operation warp speed for the FAA.