> if there’s “no way in hell” you’d get a medical, maybe we should consider if being pilot-in-command of an airplane
The FAA medical exam was expanded to evaluate people for neck size/apnea. So for most overweight Americans, seeking a PPL or Sport, they're better off going LSA to avoid paying for a sleep study and risking a medical rejection, which will cause life-long FAA problems.
I would suggest that instructors should figure out if a student confuses flying an airplane with operating a boat. One is pure work, and the other is perceived as pure relaxation.
(Boating used to be equated with drinking beer, but I think it's illegal to operate a boat now while drinking, after some horrific accidents.)
I didn’t know about the neck and weight thing. This was almost 10 years ago though. The guys I talked to usually already had heart problems or were at high risk.
Looks like the FAA got concerned around 2013 and started getting official in 2015. The AME is supposed to do a mandatory BMI calculation, look at a table, record the result, and decide if you need "special processing."
So you (or your students) could check their BMI and get in shape before the exam, or just go the LSA route.
The FAA medical exam was expanded to evaluate people for neck size/apnea. So for most overweight Americans, seeking a PPL or Sport, they're better off going LSA to avoid paying for a sleep study and risking a medical rejection, which will cause life-long FAA problems.
I would suggest that instructors should figure out if a student confuses flying an airplane with operating a boat. One is pure work, and the other is perceived as pure relaxation.
(Boating used to be equated with drinking beer, but I think it's illegal to operate a boat now while drinking, after some horrific accidents.)