Finally the FAA medical chief targets Fat Pilots & Controllers (Bravo To the US for this move)

[Exiled Martian]

Pilots and controllers who may be obese will have an extra hoop to jump for their medical certification to ensure they don't have obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Federal Air Surgeon Dr. Fred Tilton has notified (PDF) Air Medical Examiners (AMEs) that they will soon be required to measure the body mass index (BMI) of all pilots and controllers during their medicals. Anyone with a BMI of 40 or more (up to 25 is normal) and with a neck circumference of 17 inches or more will automatically have to be evaluated for OSA by a doctor who is a "board certified sleep specialist." Anyone who has OSA has to get it treated successfully before he or she can fly again because OSA is a disqualifying condition. And, chances are, if their BMI is that high (five feet eight inches and 260 pounds) and their neck is that thick they do have OSA, according to Tilton. "OSA is almost universal" in those individuals, Tilton tells the AMEs.

Hmm... so yea I get it....people want to be overweight, then that's their choice. I have nothing against that. With that said, I can see where the FAA is coming with this. Those who are overweight are at a higher risk of Sleep apnea, and those with sleep apnea flying a jetliner 35,000 feet up in the air are a danger to the passengers.

Now in all pilots' defense, has this been an issue in the past, or is this a brand new thing the FAA is suddenly wanting to enforce with no record or history of this being an issue? Either way I applaud this new piece of legislation.... being fat equates to hoarding alot oxygen which can be rather scarce at altitude in thin air....and this could ofcourse (in an emergency) lead to rapid incapacitaton of Captain pork chops & the flabby first officer....rendering the flight into a frenzied nose dive & KABOOM situation!

LINK

 

[Serious]

interesting....

 

[Hiphoplives4eva]

Liberals will be upset about this....

 

[Serious]

Liberals will be upset about this....

How so? I thought liberals were in favor of more regulation.


I thought it's well known fact that pilots fall asleep during flights and what not. @superunknown23

 

[superunknown23]

How so? I thought liberals were in favor of more regulation.


I thought it's well known fact that pilots fall asleep during flights and what not. @superunknown23

They're surrounded with so much technology in the cockpit now, some of them get lazy.

 

[newarkhiphop]

Interesting, worked at a airport for many years didn't see many overweight pilots