Sleep Apnea

[Guest CrewDawg1]

I have seen that sleep apnea is a DQ but does anyone know if it is waiverable. An instructor at my school wants to apply for a flight slot but has had sleep apnea. He says it has been cured and that he has the paperwork on it. Any help would be great. Thanks.

[Guest medik6]

crewdawd1-

There was a guy that washed back into my husbands class because he was diagnosed with sleep apnea during training. He had a surgery done and once he recovered from that it was waived and he picked up where he left off. Hope that info helps

[Coasta]

Flt Docs,

I have a relative who's been diagnosed with sleep apnea (sp?) and is very much interested in an aviation career. How does this affect his PQ, and if it disqualifies him, are there treatments/surgical procedures to restore his PQ?

Thnx

Coasta

[Guest P27:17]

Coasta,

Here's the AFI stuff...

A4.3.1.16. History of sleep apnea or other clinical sleep disorders, regardless of prior treatment.

I'm checking to see if it can be waived for IFC 1 applicants...it doesn't look good but we'll see.

Everything I've seen only talks about rated aircrew getting waivers.

[Guest doctidy]

He is going to have a hard time just getting in the military. We don't take people who need CPAP cause they are not deployable.

The Army is the only organization that deployed folks on a CPAP machine. They had enough problems with it that they are changing policy and not deploying folks w/ CPAP.

[Guest doctidy]

That is an option...used less now a days than the CPAP machine. Docs seem to be diagnosing sleep apnea at a lower threshold now a days...on accout of a discovered association between it an high blood pressure.

[Guest P27:17]

The answer I got from the certification and waiver folks (as Rage mentioned earlier about having a hard time just getting into the military) is that a diagnosis of sleep apnea is disqualifying for AF accession. That means flying and commission...sounds like you got lucky C130...as with everything worth having...you never know until you give it a shot.

[rbigred300]

Does anyone know what the latest guidance is for sleep apnea in the reserves and while on flying status?  If you are already in the reserves and diagnosed with sleep apnea and require a cpap machine...what is the normal outcome?  I have seen everything online from just getting a waiver to you are not worldwide deployable and therefore go to an MEB and most likely get kicked out.  I assume that you are automatically grounded for a while?  If you can be treated by a cpap machine I don't see why it would be a huge issue to get a waiver.   

[deaddebate]

49 minutes ago, rbigred300 said:

Does anyone know what the latest guidance is for sleep apnea in the reserves and while on flying status?  If you are already in the reserves and diagnosed with sleep apnea and require a cpap machine...what is the normal outcome?  I have seen everything online from just getting a waiver to you are not worldwide deployable and therefore go to an MEB and most likely get kicked out.  I assume that you are automatically grounded for a while?  If you can be treated by a cpap machine I don't see why it would be a huge issue to get a waiver.   

Depends on severity of the apnea, if drowsiness is controlled via cpap or other methods, compliance with treatment, any other concurrent conditions, etc.

95% I've ever seen are MEB, retained with ALC C-1, and flying waiver.  Needing a bipap is usually a C-3 or separation.

[rbigred300]

Thanks for the reply.  Interesting about your comment for the bipap.  Do you know why that would be?  I thought a bipap is pretty similar to a cpap.  Would that be if you were diagnosed with central sleep apnea instead of obstructive?

[deaddebate]

Somebody else could answer the specifics of the different types of apnea better than I could, however the main point is a BiPAP manages very severe apnea.  While the CPAP is just pressure, the BiPAP also controls the rate of breathing. BiPAP people are typically too broken for the AF.

[rbigred300]

Thanks...and anyone know how long an MEB decision with associated waiver and C1 normally takes?  Are we talking a couple of months or potentially 6 months or longer?

[RASH]

Not CPAP/OSA related, but RILO/MEB/C1 process for severe arthritis in my back took 15 months. Caveat: I was at 17 years when diagnosed, and I'm pretty sure my doc drug the process out to get me to 18/"sanctuary".

[deaddebate]

Because sleep apnea is an easy diagnosis, 6 months is possible but unlikely. Be proactive and get your sleep study done asap if you haven't already. A realistic timeline for the MEB and waiver is probably around 6-9 months.

[Spilfer]

That can be corrected through surgery??

[deaddebate]

Surgery is usually a last resort.  Other, better, solutions include weight loss, reducing alcohol/tobacco use, and sleep hygiene/positioning.  Next could be an oral device (like a mouth guard, just keeping your mouth open and jaw forward).  After that would be a discussion with your ENT/Sleep Medicine Specialist about CPAP/BiPAP vs surgery.

[duece123]

Thread revival.  Looks like I am going to be diagnosed with sleep apnea of some sort.  Not 100% sure yet as I have to go back for a second sleep study (blows).  Current airline dude and part time guard herc driver.  IS what I read above still accurate?  There is a chance I could get a waiver and finish my last years flying in the guard?  FYI, this is common and it is a very easy waiver to get in the FAA/airline world.

Thanks.

[Skitzo]

I've known two people to get uncomplicated apnea waivers.


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[Hacker]

On 4/2/2016 at 4:37 PM, Spilfer said:

That can be corrected through surgery??

I was diagnosed with mild-severe OSA that was not related to weight or any other lifestyle factors.  I had three procedures - a UPPP, a tonsillectomy, and a rhinoplasty - to correct the shape/size of my nasal passages and throat, which was identified as the cause.

The overall process took about 9 months from initial diagnosis, to evaluation down at Brooks by the USAFSAM, to surgery at Wilford Hall.  I was only medically grounded during the surgery and healing period after the surgery -- about 4 months.  I had a post-surgery evaluation (read: "astronaut physical") by the neuro-psych guys at Brooks (I understand the office has since moved up to Wright-Patt) before I was issued a waiver to get back in the cockpit.

My waiver had to be renewed every 3 years, and it was a simple base-level process that was evaluated/recommended by the Flight Doc who performed my PHA.

When it came time to get my FAA medical, it was a one-time evaluation of my USAF records and waiver by the docs in OKC.  On the basis of that evaluation, I receive an unrestricted First Class medical every 6 months with no further examination or reporting.