CAAC ATP

I understand the difficulty of commuting on a full flight, however I do take issue with such a blanket statement. Just because Regionals are having difficulty doesn't mean that "RJ" sized (70-90 seat mainline jets) are going to go away. We should be more concerned about capturing this flying than insulting it. That's partially what got us here in the first place.

Elvis90

It's not an insult. The fact is that regional jets have fewer seats, so I as a commuter have fewer options because they're always full. Likewise, a Comair pilot on a "Delta" flight operated by Comair bumps me out of the jumpseat as a Delta pilot on a "Delta" flight.

I prefer to fly American on my commute to MSP from DFW simply because I'm more likely to get a seat because they fly either MD-80's or 737's with lots of seats. If I try to fly on a Delta 64-seater, I usually can't get on.

If you work for say, SkyWest, wouldn't you prefer to tell the passengers that this is SkyWest flight XXXX?

Actually the E-175 is pretty comfortable, and so is the E-190. They should be flown by Delta pilots. Also, between major markets like DFW-MSP, I think that should be mainline. Now MSP-RAP (Rapid City), sure, it's a small market and smaller jets are appropriate.

acl65pilot

ALPA's Aeromed department does this sort of thing each and every day. The know the guys in DC and OKC and know exactly what is need to get it done. They do it with not just cancer, but a plethora of other medical diagnosis as well. I have always been very impressed with their ability to get us back in the cockpit.

Free Bird

They are excellent; however, ALPA contracts out the Aero medical stuff.

johnso29

No prob. Glad I could help.

DAL 88 Driver

Actually, that's not true. ALPA does not have an "Aeromed department." They contract it out to a company by the name of "Aviation Medicine Advisory Service." Here's a list of their clients: AMAS Clients

I had an issue last year and worked with them briefly. What I found out was that they know their stuff, can give you good advice on your situation, can help you get the documentation together for the FAA, and can send your documentation to the FAA to go into the cue with every other aviation medical case (private pilots, corporate pilots, airline pilots, etc.) in the country. They do not appear to have any pull whatsoever in terms of "knowing guys in DC and OKC" and being able to get anything done for you. In a nutshell, all they can provide is expertise and then submit your paperwork to the FAA in OKC to wait along with everyone else.

Delta has a doctor they retain for our pilots. This doctor is just as knowledgeable (if not more so) as the AMAS doctors. And he works directly with the FAA Southern Region Flight Surgeon and can often get things looked at within days or even hours (AMAS told me it would take 3 to 4 weeks just for my file to rise to the top of the cue in OKC). I was able to get back to flying much faster by going this route and I would be very hesitant in the future to use ALPA (AMAS) when Delta already provides a much more effective resource for us.

TheManager

I hate how you can type out a thoughtful response and then the message is lost as you were logged out.

So here it is quick.

Had a kidney stone 3 years ago. What a *****! Called ALPA aeromed. Yes, ALPA monetized that asset and sold them off and now contract back out their services. Thus, they are trying to do the same or more with less resources. They quoted 3 to 6 months after all testing done for the reissuance of my medical. In desperation, I called a friend in my CPO.

He told me to get in touch with Dr. Thomas Faulkner. His first ? "Have you submitted anything to the FAA yet?" Being that I had not, he said he could get my medical back in 48 hours.

I was skeptical. I should have been. He had it back in 46 mins. after submitting my test results.

He has since helped a friend who needed a demonstrated ability waiver get a medical in two weeks after he had been parked for 7 months and was told to expect an additional year.

Most of you might have met him if you were hired in the 90's or after. He gave many of the new hire physicals.

He has his own business. Medical Direction LLC.

404.862.8541

please feel free to pm if you have any questions

JobHopper

True, the Delta doc is very knowledgeable and has a great working relationship with the FAA. He is also an AME, whereas the AMAS docs are not, on purpose.

The difference? The Delta doctor, as an AME, is obligated to report any grounding codition to the FAA. If you call him to simply discuss something and mention a grounding conditon, that's it. The AMAS group, by purposely not being AMEs, provide doctor/patient privilege. They will not/cannot report anything to the FAA without your permission.

It's your medical; do what you will with it.

NERD

Elvis,

Back in 2010 I saw the capt. in question in NRT. Having flown with him back on the 727 I had followed his story/recovery via the wailing wall in MSP checkin. Anyhow, over many, many beers he gave me the whole story. Absolutly amazing and damn lucky. Because of him a year later I had the identical initial symptoms (which I never would have gone to the Dr. for ) I decided to go and get it checked out. Luckily for me there was no problem.

Surprise

I hear many of us say it like that regardless of "policy". But I wouldn't know anything about that for sure...