Print Story Pilot's Blog: The Medical
Travel
By MostlyHarmless (Fri Jun 16, 2006 at 03:34:10 AM EST) pilot, medical (all tags)
"Ewww, it's warm! I didn't want it to be warm!"

Amongst the pieces of paperwork you have to file to become a pilot is one from a Doctor saying "Yes, I don't believe this person suffers from any serious medical problems". Today I had my appointment to obtain said paper work.

What I hadn't expected, but in hindsight it's obvious, was that the first thing I was expected to do was provide a "sample".



As I was holding the tightly sealed plastic cup containing said sample and riding the elevator back from the nearest washroom, the quote from my intro text was going through my head over and over like the few bars of a bad, but catchy, pop song. A lollipop to whomever guesses where it's from. (It should be real easy for a few of you, I'm sure)

I gratefully handed the cup off to the receptionist who whisked it away for whatever purpose they needed it for, and started filling out my particulars in the form on the clipboard she handed me. By the time I had completed my portion of the form she had returned, declaring that I had passed the urine tests, and would I be willing to pay now such that she might be able to get out of the office sooner? (My appointment was at the end of the day) I agreed, and by the time I had rummaged through my wallet for and had managed to properly remember how to write a cheque, the Doctor appeared, and was now ready to see me.

The exam itself wasn't terribly exciting but fairly detailed: a few questions on family history, prior injuries and illnesses, smoking/drinking habits, allergies, and current ailments. Blood pressure. Balance, mobility and co-ordination tests (the first and only time I've been through the "close your eyes touch your nose with your right hand" business), Height and weight measurement, all orifices above the neck peered into, chest and heart listened to, eyes checked for acuity, binocular vision and colour blindness, and finally making sure my irises respond correctly.

Through the course of this I found out that:

  • at 182cm, i'm not quite the 6' tall I've been claiming
  • 78kg means the scale I've been using at work is close enough
  • my left eye is on the hairy edge of qualifying for the Class 1 medical. Looking at the regs this evening, to qualify for a Class 1 your eyes have to be within +/- 3 Dioptres, my left eye is -2.75.
  • my binocular vision without glasses surprised the doctor, given my left eye. I think it's due to regularly sparring without glasses on.
So in short, I passed my Class 3 and would likely pass my Class 1 if I was going for my Commercial Licence. The form has been stamped, and sent of to Transport Canada for their files.

The next entry should have some real flying in it, I promise.

Full discussion: http://www.hulver.com/scoop/story/2006/6/16/33410/4109