Foreign objects and your cockpit

[CT4ME]

Here's a great example of why you keep foreign objects out of the cockpit, or at least *MAKE SURE* they are under control.  I personally dislike anything in the cockpit, including water bottles.  Cameras must be tethered to your wrist.  Etc.  I will not allow loose things in the baggage area, and all luggage pockets must be closed.  For a while, the wife collected travel pins and had them on her suitcase... until I found some in the baggage area. It can happen anywhere along the control rigging, front to back.

 

In this case, the instructor's insulin pump fell out of his pocket and got lodged at the bottom of the stick.  The elevator was jammed.  There was a boot, but also a spot where things could fall through.   Good work, guys... and a lot of luck!

[FlyingMonkey]

I agree, but an object in a pocket is not typically "loose". I draw the line at emptying my pockets before flight.

[Jim Meade]

Well, I carry all kinds of junk in my cockpit. I take some care about the harness to keep it from fouling the other sticks and think about items that might get in and around the rudder pedals, but other than that I don't get too paranoid.

 

After all, I have a parachute. Now, if I can only figure out who fires it and under what circumstances?

[procharger]

I think I saw some sweat beads popping up on them two heads??????

[Runtoeat]

Believe me, a locked up control REALLY gets your attention.

[FastEddieB]

Is this an example of a sport pilot self-certifying they are medically fit to fly? 

 

No.

[WmInce]

Is this an example of a sport pilot self-certifying they are medically fit to fly? 

No.

Go back and read the first sentence of the original post.

[FlyingMonkey]

Diabetes is a disqualifying medical condition.  This is a good example of why sport pilots should not be allowed to self-cerify they are medically fit.

 

http://www.faa.gov/about/office_org/headquarters_offices/avs/offices/aam/ame/guide/standards/

 

Unless otherwise directed by the FAA, the Examiner must deny or defer if the applicant has a history of: (1) Diabetes mellitus requiring hypoglycemic medication;

 

Yes, it's deferred.  And then if you can provide documentation that your A1c and glucose are within certain limits, your condition is well controlled, and you are not taking insulin, the FAA will issue a Special Issuance (SI) and a third class medical.  

 

It's not absolutely disqualifying.

[FlyingMonkey]

It is disqualifying.  The reason?  If you miss a shot, or as is the case here, the pump falls and breaks, the diabetic can go into a coma or lose consciousness.  You may not also have a history of heart disease, stroke, heart attack, depression, bipolar, neurological disorders, substance abuse (including alcahol and marijuana), epilepsy, parkinsons, alzheimers, or initial onset of any of these things.

 

Dude, I KNOW people with diabetes who have a third class medical on an SI.  It is NOT absolutely disqualifying, stop spreading nonsense and misinformation.

[FlyingMonkey]

Thanks Roger.  BTW, heart attack, stroke, heart attack, or substance abuse are not absolutely disqualifying either, there are similar SI processes. 

[FastEddieB]

This must make 100Hamburger very sad.

[CT4ME]

And now back to our regularly scheduled program:  The Dangers of Foreign Objects in the Cockpit. 

Without using scare tactics, I make sure my passengers understand the policy on foreign objects.  When I first mention the policy they usually think I'm just being a clean-freak. 

[Doug G.]

Reminds me of a sign my father had over his desk- "Those of you who think you are right are very annoying to those of us who are!"

[Doug G.]

So Tim, what do you do for hydration. Where do you stow water bottles?

[FlyingMonkey]

So Tim, what do you do for hydration. Where do you stow water bottles?

 

He stores them behind the rudder pedals, out of the way.  

[WmInce]

Diabetes is a disqualifying medical condition.  This is a good example of why sport pilots should not be allowed to self-cerify they are medically fit.

 

http://www.faa.gov/about/office_org/headquarters_offices/avs/offices/aam/ame/guide/standards/

 

Unless otherwise directed by the FAA, the Examiner must deny or defer if the applicant has a history of: (1) Diabetes mellitus requiring hypoglycemic medication;

Absolutely not true.

Stop spreading false information.

There are new pilots on this forum who should not be exposed to such bologna.

[Doug G.]

For a long time there was a "cup holder gap" between European auto manufacturers and the rest of the world. I think they have caught on. The biggest issue I have with my CTLS is the lack of incidental storage space. My legs are long and even getting at the door pockets means loosening my shoulder belts.

[CT4ME]

So Tim, what do you do for hydration. Where do you stow water bottles?

Being in AZ, a lot is said about hydration.  Most agree that much of the hydration needs to be done the day before.  Of course, over-hydration (before or during) can lead to undesired breaks.  So, we try to get by with no bottle, or maybe share one.  I've found a small bottle might fit in the area under the front of the seat.  Otherwise it's sat on or in the door pocket.   For survival purposes, depending on the temp/terrain/location, I may put a couple bottles of water in the baggage area or the pocket of a survival vest.  

[FastEddieB]

A CamelBak is a good solution.

 

Very durable. I have one of their M.U.L.E.S. Big mouth to fill easily with ice cubes.

 

 

 

Easy to strap to a seat back or elsewhere.

[Dan Kent]

Our son was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes a year and half ago. He is doing very well but as others have pointed out the initial info posted on coma, loss of consciousness was wrong. I replied before I saw all of the responses, and have deleted the response.

 

Excess insulin can cause coma and loss of consciousness, not lack of. Lack of can cause ketoacidosis if not treated, and long term health problems if long term high glucose levels persist. Kidney, heart issues, and other diabetes issues are due to elevated blood sugar issues over time.

 

BTW there is an insulin pump that altitude has little or no effect on the dose. It your interested PM me.

[Doug G.]

Did you read what Roger posted?

[GravityKnight]

I learned something pretty early on when I was a student that has stuck with me...I had my big flight bag sitting in the passenger seat on my solo cross country. Landed in a crosswind and got on the brakes just a little too hard, bag slid forward, wedged in between the stick and door.. hard to aileron into a x-wind like that. It all worked out, but then and there I got a lesson. When I don't have a passenger and my (new smaller flight gear backpack) is up front (in case I need something out of it), it's seat belted securely into the seat in a manor in which it won't be moving at all.

 

I also think about lose objects when I'm alone - as something could get on the passenger side and up front in/around/behind the rudder pedals and it would be kind of fun getting that resolved in flight. I'm sure I still put myself at a potential risk with some lose objects in the cockpit from time to time.. but at least I can say I make a mental note to look it over and think about the possibilities now if I have something in there with me.

[FastEddieB]

Flying with such a device and dependency is a medical issue and as I pointed out the condition would prevent this guy from passing a 3rd class medical. So why is he allowed to fly with this medical condition? Because as a sport pilot he can simply say so...

Serious question...

 

...why do you have such a serious hard on about this?

 

God forbid you ever have a medical deficiency to work around.

 

I would not wish one on my worst enemy, but then we could all argue with the same (misplaced) vigor to keep you out of the air.

 

Schadenfreude and all that.

[FlyingMonkey]

Flying with such a device and dependency is a medical issue and as I pointed out the condition would prevent this guy from passing a 3rd class medical.  So why is he allowed to fly with this medical condition?  Because as a sport pilot he can simply say so...

 

You have passed from argument to trolling.  Are you not reading anybody's posts but your own, or are you comprehension-impaired?  Those are the only two possibilities here.

[FredG]

There is actual evidence about self-certification (ie, the absence of sport pilot incidents due to medical incapacitation) and there is also, unfortunately, a persistent bias that a medical issue automatically makes a person defective.

 

Plenty of people with well managed medical conditions (even conditions that would make it more difficult to pass a 3rd class medical) are fully capable of safely piloting an airplane.