Menu Sign In Contact FAQ
Banner
Welcome to our forums

Medical horror stories

Today, I felt humiliated.

As someone who always struggled with weight, I live a healthy lifestyle and exercise regularly.

Today I tried a new AME. To my surprise, most of the tests were conducted by an “assistant” who decided to weigh me fully dressed.

As a result, my BMI went one point above 35. The consequence of that is that my medical can only be renewed if blood tests come good and I pass a flight test with a CAA examiner to prove that I can egress my own aeroplane.

Some will say, “but Fernando, you have to lose weight”. They are right, and I work hard for it. But I felt humiliated. I felt that because of the lack of professionalism of some, I have to do unnecessary tests and prove that I can move like a “normal” person.

I wonder if you also have your medical horror stories. One day we all will lose it… And I wonder if, by sharing our own medical stories, it could help us feel that we aren’t alone.

EGSU, United Kingdom

Sorry to hear, I gather your AME/Assistant should work more on how things are communicated

At some point, we had AME flying their own aircraft, these days you get box tickers

PS: you should be able to fly for 2 months and you can use GP for tests

https://www.caa.co.uk/media/pt5l3li3/obesity-fc.pdf
obesity_fc_pdf

To my surprise, most of the tests were conducted by an “assistant” who decided to weigh me fully dressed.

I would have insisted on going naked

Last Edited by Ibra at 21 Mar 20:35
Paris/Essex, France/UK, United Kingdom

Fernando wrote:

I wonder if you also have your medical horror stories.

Yes and it is exactly similar as yours. I used to have an AME who would treat me absolutely disrespectful and who almost made me leave aviation because my weight always has been near but below BMI 35. That guy also had it in for anyone a bit more hefty and would lecture me for time on end (which I had to pay for) and order all sorts of additional tests to fill his pocket. I almost gave up and turned in my license but was told by someone who had the same experience to change my AME while telling the FOCA why and they allowed it immediately.

I changed my AME as a consequence and never had the problem again. Not only did I grow back 2 cm (which rises the BMI of course) but his and my scale are consistent, while the former ones always showed my 3-4 kg heavier than my own scale.

I also know people who were sent, at their own cost, to a cardiac specialist who pronounced them fit to fly after a full day of tests.

I can only recommend to you that you change your AME as well as a consequence. For now you will have to comply with their demands, no two ways about it.

But I have to tell you the same thing I’ve been telling myself: Don’t go to any AME if you are close to 35. Rather wait and slim down until you are SURE that you will pass and INSIST to be weighed in your underwear, EVERY time. My personal “reserve” is 5 kgs under my red line BMI.

Last Edited by Mooney_Driver at 21 Mar 21:05
LSZH(work) LSZF (GA base), Switzerland

Ibra wrote:

I would have insisted on going naked

I did want to ask for it, to be honest. But the atmosphere was so unfriendly that I simply didn’t react.

EGSU, United Kingdom

In the medical flight test form produced by the CAA, at some point it’s stated “Please comment on the candidate’s ability to compensate for his/her disability”. Wow.

EGSU, United Kingdom

Mooney_Driver wrote:

But I have to tell you the same thing I’ve been telling myself: Don’t go to any AME if you are close to 35. Rather wait and slim down until you are SURE that you will pass and INSIST to be weighed in your underwear, EVERY time. My personal “reserve” is 5 kgs under my red line BMI.

This is a really good approach. To be honest, I didn’t even know about a limitation in BMI. I wonder how they do it in the US.

Thank you for sharing your story here. Much appreciated.

Yes, after this process, I’ll never be back to that AME. Or maybe I will but I will arrive there wearing only underwear :)

EGSU, United Kingdom

I wonder how they do it in the US.

They don’t. Just wander through any US airport and take a look at the airline pilots. There was talk a while back of requiring sleep apnoea tests for candidates with a BMI > 40 – but nothing came of it.

Yet another example of European gold plating.

LFMD, France

Fernando … I can guess who the AME was …. in your area?
Obnoxious little G..

United Kingdom

I’ve had some issues with heart palpitations and the AME that I confessed this to had little clue of the legislation surrounding a class 2 medical. He basically only dealt with 100% healthy people. So he put me through the wringer and only under a set of conditions was I declared fit – a yearly nuisance. When the renewal was due I went to KLM health services at Schiphol, more expensive but vastly more knowledgeable. The medical was a breeze, and all the special instructions were lifted. Many Dutch AME’s do this on the side next to their medical practise and lack the specific knowhow.

EHTE, Netherlands

Not only are you at the mercy of the AME, but the AME is at the mercy of the CAA.

Last year I had a medical condition that left me grounded for three months. Before I got the medical back, I had to do a cardiac stress test. The AME said that the CAA had asked him to do one as additional check before giving me back the medical. I checked the regs and there is no requirement for it in my case and anyway for a class 2 medical the decision rests with the AME – not the CAA. So it was €200 wasted and a bit of unnecessary worry on my part. (Because if you are subject to enough medical tests, eventually something bad will be found.)

ESKC (Uppsala/Sundbro), Sweden
36 Posts
Sign in to add your message

Back to Top