BMI of >> 40

Seggy said:
ALPA sent this out. They have a FastRead System which is basically a blast email chain for things like this. You will probably added to that list shortly I am sure.

You may have spoken to John Taylor, who in fact is the National Aeromedical Chair and a XJT Pilot. There was a big conference call today with the ALPA Pilot Assistance Committee (I am the Vice Chair of the Pilot Assistance Committee) which encompasses the Aeromedical Committee (with four other Committees), a ton of staff members in the know, and the ALPA Aeromedical Service. John Taylor couldn't make the call, but there are a lot of moving pieces with this and false information out there so don't fault him if he said something different yesterday as there are conflicting aspects of what the FAA has and hasn't put out. John does fantastic work.

Today, we were briefed on exactly what is going on with this proposed policy and then the above FastRead was sent out.
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Yes, that was who I talked to. I didn't mention name or what discussed as not sure if anyone really knows what is going on at the moment, this is the learning phase..
 
ATN_Pilot said:
Sure is nice when the Council gets a voicemail saying we don't have any information and were caught completely by surprise, only to see this email go out to the general membership just 18 hours later without the Council getting any updates in between.

I think I may buy der fuhrer an Emirates airplane model for Christmas. I can't think of anything else that would be a bigger FU.
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Hahahahahhahaha, oh boy.....

He will probably get you Chamber of Commerce Aviation Expo Tickets.
 
This is great news. The FAA is getting ready to allow us to sleep in the cockpit. They just don't want you to die while you're sleeping.
 
I think I'm going to have to request a submersion test or use of calipers for body fat percentage calculation as the BMI charts can be insane for some body types. I'm 5'8", 195lb with a 32 inch waist and the upper body to bench 240 (not bad for my age). One chart I looked at had my BMI at 29-30. The same charts indicates 25 for a weight of 165lbs. In high school, my body fat % was <10% at 165lbs.

Will doctors be allowed to substitute body fat % for BMI?
 
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Pilot Fighter said:
I think I'm going to have to request a submersion test or use of calipers for body fat percentage calculation as the BMI charts can be insane for some body types. I'm 5'8", 195lb with a 32 inch waist and the upper body to bench 240 (not bad for my age). One chart I looked at had my BMI at 29-30. The same charts indicates 25 for a weight of 165lbs. In high school, my body fat % was <10% at 165lbs.

Will doctors be allowed to substitute body fat % for BMI?
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Keep in mind, this stuff hasn't been made policy yet. Hopefully someone with a few more brain cells will take over the FAS position next year and this will all fall by the wayside.

I was also educated on the fact that if you do exceed the BMI threshold (whatever that number will be) even though you have to go do the sleep study before the AME will grant you your new medical, you can fly with your current medical. If you think you may exceed that BMI number, it may be best to do your medical a month or so early, IF all this nonsense comes to fruition.
 
Dugie8 said:
I was also educated on the fact that if you do exceed the BMI threshold (whatever that number will be) even though you have to go do the sleep study before the AME will grant you your new medical, you can fly with your current medical.
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This is incorrect.

Where did you hear that?
 
Seggy said:
Where did they learn that?
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The "other site".

My bad attitude led to a smack down (that I deserved, this whole thing has me royally pissed off). I was informed that "delaying the issuance" of your medical means you can still fly on your current one as long as that reason for the delay wasn't a grounding item. IE, your medical is delayed because of your BMI not because you have OSA.

It all my be a moot point anyway.
 
Dugie8 said:
The "other site".

My bad attitude led to a smack down (that I deserved, this whole thing has me royally pissed off). I was informed that "delaying the issuance" of your medical means you can still fly on your current one as long as that reason for the delay wasn't a grounding item. IE, your medical is delayed because of your BMI not because you have OSA.

It all my be a moot point anyway.
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Ok, I am following what you are saying (I think).

Yes, this may be a moot point.
 
Seggy said:
Ok, I am following what you are saying (I think).

Yes, this may be a moot point.
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It's got me a little confused too. It smells like a witch hunt (I don't know why). Just like no EKGs before 35 and then yearly at 40, the statistical likelyhood of someone having OSA AND it contributing to an incident/accident seem so small.

But, whatever. I'll translate the anger into force on the bar and go use my fat ass to pick up something heavy.
 
When the AME submits the medical exam, the old medical is no longer valid. AME's are required to submit the medical within 14 days of the date os the exam.

Regarding loopholes, the only one I know is a DUI with a BAC of less than 0.15. Anything over that and the medical is deferred to OKC.
 
I will agree BMI is far from the best way to look at health, it is just way too simple of a calculation which is probably when the government is doing it. Maybe when you get into the mid 30s over 40 range it works but when you are talking about people in the low 30s high 20s being called overweight or unhealthy that just is not true. My BMI would be between 28-30. At 30 I am obese? At 6'0ft 205, active person, with a resting heart rate of 60, normal blood work and pressure, no doctor has told me I am near the obese category.
 
Flymia said:
I will agree BMI is far from the best way to look at health, it is just way too simple of a calculation which is probably when the government is doing it. Maybe when you get into the mid 30s over 40 range it works but when you are talking about people in the low 30s high 20s being called overweight or unhealthy that just is not true. My BMI would be between 28-30. At 30 I am obese? At 6'0ft 205, active person, with a resting heart rate of 60, normal blood work and pressure, no doctor has told me I am near the obese category.
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If you have a muscular build, the BMI chart is useless. I lift with some body-builders and those guys have 5-7% body fat and those guys would all have BMI's over 30.
 
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