ADHD query for a LAPL

@Airborne_Again it was a series of tests following a visit to my GP and saying that my father had just been to hospital for surgery. It was thanks to those tests and subsequent surgery that saved my life.
One week before I had renewed my Class 2 medical with my usual AME. He did all the normal tests including the ECG and signed me off as perfectly fit.
@Peter you are not quite correct about the French ULM medical. When you apply for your licence you either need a class2 medical or a note from your doctor saying you are fit to fly.
After that you need nothing. It relies on an honour system whereby you decide whether or not you are fit to fly. If you don’t feel too good you don’t fly and you go to see your doctor if necessary.
My argument would be that the ULM has had this self declaration for quite some time now, and a large proportion of the ULM population are in the “troisième age” category (ie over 60/65).
Also many went into ULM because they could not get a class2 medical for one reason or another. There are similar self declaration medicals or less restrictive medicals in other countries. I have yet to see any evidence that there is a greater number pilot incapacity accidents among these pilots than with those holding class2 or even Class 1 medicals through an AME.
In fact logic tells me that it should be quite the opposite. A person having suffered a medical intervention such as a heart surgery or eye surgery is more likely to take care of their health perhaps with more regular check ups more exercise, better diet. This is especially the case for people who want to continue to fly IMO.
For me the additional benefit of an AME visit is that a pilot is forced to have some sort of medical check up on a regular basis. But it should IMO just be a check up. If the AME identifies that something might be wrong it should be a recommendation to visit your gp.
It should not be an AME dictating you need this or that test, especially when a specialist has already declared the ailment as cured, even if that is via a medication or an apparatus.
The only proviso being that the medication should not carry side effects that could impair your ability to fly.

In fact logic tells me that it should be quite the opposite. A person having suffered a medical intervention such as a heart surgery or eye surgery is more likely to take care of their health perhaps with more regular check ups more exercise, better diet. This is especially the case for people who want to continue to fly IMO.

I agree 100%.

And I still think an AME is not likely to find anything which an apparently healthy person, normal weight, who does some level of (asymptomatic) exercise would not be aware of. There are heart conditions which can show up on an ECG but would not show up in exercise, but they are rare.

A lot of AMEs are existing or former GPs, and any GP (who is not stupid – some are stupid, or just ignorant) can take one look at who walks in through the door and get the general idea pretty accurately. Many GP waiting rooms look like a scene from Mad Max. And if a GP tells the patient “you need to eat LESS, and then 99% of your problems will go away” he will be filling in a patient complaint form pretty soon. So out come the medications.

People should be much more pro-active on health, diet, etc, but most aren’t, and this applies to pilots too because they only represent the community. Just walk down the street and look… But we’ve done this before, and I’ve been hammered here for saying this. The extent of the denial is evident if you read that thread.

gallois wrote:

it was a series of tests following a visit to my GP and saying that my father had just been to hospital for surgery. It was thanks to those tests and subsequent surgery that saved my life.

I’m not saying that the AME does a better job of finding medical issues than a GP would. It more that (at least at my age) I visit the AME much more frequently that I would visit a GP for a checkup.

Toby wrote:

To be fair if they end up getting merged, as long as it doesn’t impact the ability to fly in the UK certified A/C then realistically im happy with that

But yea I’ll keep pushing with the LAPL so far, and see how we go.

Sad thing is my eyes got 6/9 in my good eye, and Class 2 needs 6/7.5. Both my eyes together work out at 6/6 – if I got that 6/7.5 (my optician said I did but optomertrist said 6/9) I could be on a class 2.

Tempted to appeal as the optomertrist said both my eyes together are graded at 6/6.. He suggested I should. Anyone got any experience on that?

Hi Toby,

I would definitely look at the Class 2 requirements once again as it is 6/12 in each eye separately (with or without correction) and 6/9 binocularly, any AME will know this and should test you to these standards.

https://www.caa.co.uk/aeromedical-examiners/medical-standards/pilots/conditions/visual/visual-system-guidance-material-gm/

(2) For a class 2 medical certificate:
(i) Distant visual acuity, with or without correction, shall be 6/12 (0,5) or better in each eye separately and visual acuity with both eyes shall be 6/9 (0,7) or better.
(ii) Notwithstanding point (b)(2)(i), applicants with substandard vision in one eye or monocularity may be assessed as fit, in consultation with the medical assessor of the licensing authority and subject to a satisfactory ophthalmological evaluation.

Kind regards,

Richard