Basejumper.com - archive

So, not that anyone cares, but I guess some might be able to relate.
After 21 months of working at becoming medically re-certified, and getting an A+ on all neurological exams (as requested by FAA) [sans spelling bee], I am stopped by the bureaucratic administrative law of the feds.
I got a letter yesterday from the FAA. the feds denied my Medical certificate. Title 14 Section 67 (67.109,67.209, 67.309)



so, now onto 67.409.

So, basically, I have to find that fat lady, and make that bitch sing like she never has before.

I'd think there would be "satisfactory medical explanation of the cause."

what, are they afraid of a spontaneous re-occurence?

man, -I- am worried about spontaneous re-occurrence
Helmets are happy.

but really, my Lawyer and Doctor both think this is 100% bureaucratic, and that no actual medical personnel even looked at the records. the decision was made by a non-medical personnel that saw a way to deny it. (TBI)

damn, dude. that blows. nothing worse than being guilty until proven innocent.

good luck dude!

the easiest way to keep the public safe from airmen, is, well, to keep the airmen on the ground.

Marine Corps denied my aviation slot for a 'hearing deficiency' in my left ear. The team that denied me cleared another person as ready for flight, and I shit you not, she talks...to herself...ALL the time

And thats how the world works

Her 'friends' name is Susan btw, she actually has a name for it

Mmmm... fun with the FAA. Have you contacted AOPA for help? All of my pilot buddies who have lost their medicals and gotten them back found the AOPA as effective as anybody at pushing the FAA around. They recently helped Larry Pennington (DZO @ Suffolk, VA) get his medical back after having a heart attack while in flight as PIC.

I have UAL union connections, so AOPA is the backup. i have been working on this actively since may '07 so this is just another blow. Not a total surprise, but I was as close to being a real person again as I have been in a long time until the official denial.

Great...

Serious bummer. Have you tried to enlist the help of the AOPA at all?

yeah, I actually have one up on them, but they are a backup. there is a well respected crew of Doctors and Lawyers helping me/on my side. this is just a paperwork race.

"Hi we're from the FAA and we're here to help"

"it is in your best interest to cooperate in every way possible. Please give us all your logbooks and documents pertaining to aircraft flight in the last four years, nothing bad will happen, we promise"


they are not even pilots. maybe if they were pilots it would be easier.

Hey, if it'll make you feel any better, I will take you to Watchmen on Monday.

thanks sis. that was a good movie. i expected a D+ and got an A-.

now, if anyone is still paying attention. Epic denial. 5-year minimum wait for cerebral hemmoraging. there is no hope, no light, what do you do when your at the bottom with no light at the end and no way out? dig or run?

Road trip!!!!!!!!!! Trust him Bluto, he's a doctor...

5 years.
Trip around the world, rigging and TM at dz's.
Build your own house.
Build your own yacht and go around the world in it.
Build wingsuits, build rigs, build canopies, you've got the know how.
Anything as long as you wait it out properly, don't give up and start smoking crack or something like that.
$ 0.02 (ZIM)

Excellent advice!

ADVICE I COULD HAVE USED YESTERDAY!!!!!

so... dig?

I think sailing sounds great, actually.

Why not go flying somewhere else, where they do not give you such problems with the medical? After all, the gorgeous FAA prohibited Bob Hoover himself from flying, so he went on flying somewhere else with an Australian licence. You could pass the five years in another country, gain more hours, and do what you love - flying.

In five years you come back to the US, if you want to. That is not to say it is easy to leave your homecountry, but I would think about that possibility - enquire medicals and licences somewhere else...

any ideas? I glanced into Africa, but saw on some websites that it is even more competitive there for local pilots, not good for me.

Now that you say it.
A friend of mine had a major BASE accident, the kind where they found her in a tree with the part of her leg below the knee hanging by a piece of flesh. They were picking up pieces of bone around her, that's how bad it was. She was insured and got a massive pay out. The medical fees and rehab were covered and with the rest, when she could walk again she got her commercial choppers license. She works up the coast and I havn't heard from her in a while, but I could get hold of her again. Where there's a will there's a way.
Another person who would know about flying and requirements here is Wwarped.

my bodily injuries were not the problem.

Regardless of the "why" you are grounded. I think he is encouraging you to seek new adventures, continue to live life to the fullest until you can fly again.

"If life hands you lemons, make lemonade".

I agree with Tizzy & POC.

and dare I say... like Ghetto!
busted arm and all, the dude is off in the dunes of the Namib desert.

you can beat your head against the bureaucratic wall, or take the long way around it. find a diversion that may NOT be aviation related. develop another skill set. have fun.

surely you have other interests?



that made no sense without the missing letter...

Take me sailing! I want to go around the world and eat oranges to prevent scurvy and learn how to fish and sail! And be PIRATES. PIRATES!

Ahem.

Yup.

Bah, it was just a suggestion, trying to show support in some way. 5 years really isn't that long and life doesn't have to stop because of a few pen pushers. If I was half as bright as your bro I'd be well off by now.

Well all these ideas are fun and all, but what was your initial intent, and current intent with flying? Did they revoke all of your ratings, or just your comm ticket? But on a more serious note, how does a pirate make out these days?

Come on, we all know they get lots of booty

Dude, glance again. The hostel I've been staying at has several pilots who are working on getting their 300 hours to jump through the bureaucratic hoops here. It seems like they're coming in droves, so there must be some kind of demand. After all, there are 2 1/2 dropzones here, lots of scenic flight/tour operators, and it takes forever to travel around by bus, so small charters must do pretty well.

Besides, cost of living here is practically free by American standards. I just had two Zebra steaks* for dinner the other day at a decent restaurant, with fries and a dumpling, all for US$7. The (generously poured) glass of wine was a pricey US$1.90, but its half that at the cheaper places

*Or some kind of exotic meat, but it was in German so I don't know exactly what it was. Maybe a funky antelope species. It was delicious.

PS. Oh yea, there appears to be a small but laid-back community of PG pilots here that you might actually get along with.

I was being serious. I think a good, productive way to make time go by is by traveling, and sailing is actually an incredibly viable option for my bro. It's just that he never takes me. Because I would be an albatross or something.

Just for the record, I don't show much support through a web forum because, well, I see my brother all the time, and I would think he wouldn't need any real support from me via the written word. Sorry if it sounded like I was making light of your suggestion! I wasn't. :D

And really, it's not even 5 years, because three have already passed. Bro, you just gotta shuffle through another two or so. Just come with me and Emily to Alaska and Hawaii!

Speaking of Africa and food, I wondered if anyone waited long enough after dinner as a child that their parents actually sent their food to the starving children in Africa?

OH yea, there are truckloads of half-eaten chicken legs and untouched vegetables arriving here every day. It's a booming industry... but it's putting all the local manufacturers of half-eaten chicken products out of business, feeding into the cycle of poverty. Sigh.

Priceless.

"If life gives you lemons, wing them back and add some lemons of your own"

Oh, I plan on it. I still have the sailboat (not paid off yet, but whatever) and I am leaving in November for another pacific adventure, considerably longer. but it is before storm season, so it might be weak.

I have several things on my list, and now i have the time. just not the money. (all i need for happiness, tiz)


My goal after a huge load of flight training was nothing unique at all. I just want to fly.

For anyone confused, all of my ratings are intact and valid, all ~900 hours still good, the problem is I do not have or am capable of getting ANY kind of medical certificate. this means I am limited to sailplane, lighter than air, light sport, and part 103.

Dude;

Pilot/skydiver/BASE jumper/paraglider...I think you should enlist in the Red Bull Air Force!

I would kill, literally, to do that. the sad thing is every one of you hosers wants to do that. It doesne't matter how much you bash the red bull guys because you are jealous, etc, etc. everyone of you wants to be one of the red bull air force. there is no way around that.

it's not like they are taking applications.

i think in a way you are right, but honestly... they just don't pay enough, so i'm not interested.

You know people who know people, start asking around and make some connections. You've got unique skills to offer.

Networking is how you get gigs like that.

Hi Matt,


Sorry, I cannot offer specific advice because I do not know the specifics of each country's medical. But I simply think you should have good chances elsewhere to get a medical as you say you are "fit" in a medical sense and do not carry the same "history" as you do in the US.

In Europe, for example, the JAR-FCL 3 discuss the medicals for pilots. Herein it says:
"6. Any head injury which has been severe enough to cause loss of consciousness or is associated with
penetrating brain injury must be assessed by the AMS and be seen by a consultant neurologist acceptable to the
AMS. There must be a full recovery and a low risk ([ ][within] the limits acceptable to the AMS) of epilepsy
before [ ][a fit assessment] is possible."

(in Appendix 11 to Subparts B and C
Neurological requirements
(See JAR–FCL 3.210 and 3.330) )

So, no fixed time table ("five years") given like you say they gave you in the US. Maybe it is worth talking to a doctor in Europe and see whether you could get a medical here. And if yes, start looking for a nice job.

other problems follow that, I would need a work visa for a different country, and those are only temporary.

but thank you for the info, a temp job as a jump pilot would be awesome.

If you can get an offer for a permanent or even semipermanent job, it should be no problem to get a work/residence permit. It's just a little extra paperwork and a pretty page in your passport. I am currently living in Norway on a residence/work permit, and it was no problem to get it.