A lot of readers have questions, so I thought I’d tackle some of those in this column.
Q: I have a special issuance for a stent I had five years ago. It was for a single vessel coronary artery disease. For all of those years I received a letter from the FAA telling me to do the same medical work-ups. I usually get the letter a few months after my last check up. I go to my AME every two years for my third class medical.
I don’t need to see my AME until next year. Since I did not receive a request for the medical work-ups, is it still needed?
A: The short answer is yes. It’s been my experience that the request for a medical work-up infrequently doesn’t come or arrives late. The proper procedure would be to do the same as the last request.
Q: I’m a 26-year-old manager of a successful local home building business.
It’s my first job after graduating from Oklahoma State University with a degree in business administration. Many years ago, during my freshman year, I was driving home from a dance with my fraternity brothers. I had consumed several beers and was charged with a DWI.
I did some community service and paid a fine. I certainly learned an important lesson. It will never happen again. The judge and my attorney said if it didn’t happen again in the next four years, the charges would be expunged from my record and they were. Now that I’m going to take flight lessons and need to get a medical, do I need to put that DWI on the form since it was expunged?
A: Yes, it needs to be noted. The AME can explain the circumstances on the back of the form under Item 60. He can also pass you without contacting the FAA.
You have learned an important life lesson and I’m sure it won’t happen again. By the way, any other alcohol-related events will be disastrous.
Dr. Guy Baldwin is a family physician and Senior Aviation Medical Examiner in Tulsa, Okla. A member of the EAA Aeromedical Council, he is a CFII-MEI with more than 4,000 hours. He has an Airline Transport Rating and is certified to fly seaplanes, gliders, and helicopters. He also flies in airshows and aerobatic contests in his favorite aircraft, the Extra 300. He also owns a Harvard T-6 and a Cessna 210.