Confidential Consultations Available To Members

by ANN Correspondent Aleta Vinas

Aviation has its own Dr. Phil, Dr. Phillip E. Parker. There's also Dr. Quay (Snyder) and Dr. Keith (Martin). The three physicians work for Virtual Flight Surgeons, Inc. (VFS) in Aurora, CO.

Though Dr. Phil has been penning a column in the Women in Aviation International (WAI) magazine for about a year and a half, a recent partnership announced at the WAI Membership Meeting takes the relationship to another level. The announcement will mean a new benefit for WAI members.

Confidential consultations are offered at meetings such as the WAI conference, or at Oshkosh. In addition, a discounted rate will be available for consultations outside the conference venues.

VFS also represents over 90,000 professional pilots and air traffic controllers. The VFS doctors have turned in their Aviation Medical Examiner status to avoid any formal link to the FAA.

"We work hand in hand with the FAA," says Dr. Phil "We're basically the pilot's liaison in dealing with the FAA."

Dr. Phil notes the AME's are sometimes a bit behind in regulation changes. "For instance a relatively new policy is that multi focal contacts are allowed. Most AME's don't know that."

Some of the repeat topics that come up in the 250–300 daily phone calls the office receives are about sleep apnea and kidney stones. What to report, and how to report it, are the questions. Another big question is whether a condition is disqualifying.

Sport pilot is another topic taking center stage these days. "If I report this to the FAA what's going to happen" is often the question of the day. According to Dr. Phil "in most cases if you're safe to fly, as long as you document it, the FAA is going to be willing to let you fly, with some notable exceptions."

VFS submit the bulk of waivers that the FAA receives. The turnaround, with proper paperwork, is about three to five weeks. The problems happen when the proper paperwork is not submitted. "What's actually written on the piece of paper is much more important than did you just get the piece of paper in your package." In other words, dot your I's and cross those T's.

A major project right now is getting the HIMS (Human Intervention Motivational Study) Program started for the corporate arena. A grant from the FAA, VFS and ALPA (Airline Pilots Association) years ago started the program. Treatment, recovery and intensive monitoring by the company and peers allow the individual to return to service much sooner. "The success rate is the highest of recovery programs," boasts Dr. Phil. The intensive monitoring is part of the key. With the program, an individual's job is preserved as long as the person goes through the program and continues. When the program is then in place you may get a rise in cases since the fear of unemployment is virtually eliminated.

"What you've really done is averted tragedy by having these people that were already alcoholics come forward," says Dr. Phil.

VFS and Dr. Phil will be answering questions during the conference. The booth is located by the front of the exhibit hall at the WAI membership booth. Come talk to them... confidentially, of course.

FMI: www.wai.org, www.aviationmedicine.com