AOPA Pilot Magazine - June 2011 - 36

FLYWELL
BY DR. JONATHAN SACKIER
Visit me in Camelot
“T
he highest level attainable”
is one definition of
the word “summit.” For pilots,
Summit is the pinnacle of aviation
information, a concise and
collegial meeting, to be held in Hartford, Connecticut,
September 22 through 24 (see “New England
Charmer,” page 81). In Mark Twain’s 1899 classic
story, A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court,
character Hank Morgan suffers a blow to the head
and is inexplicably transported to medieval England,
the land of my birth, to Camelot. In September,
hopefully without brain trauma, the reverse will happen and
this native Brit will come to the new Camelot, AOPA Summit,
to participate in awe-inspiring events.
At Summit 2010 I was privileged to host three “Fly Well” sessions
and because, I am sure, of the high caliber of the faculty,
these were well attended and received. Please come to Summit
2011 and participate in the Fly Well forums and, indeed, all that
the event has to offer.
Once again, we have three Fly Well panels, and there is some-
thing here for everyone. Most AOPA members are male and,
although we need to encourage more women to fly, we should
also note that women are more health conscious than men.
Face it, fellas, how often do guys sit around over a drink comparing
how understanding their doctor was when performing
the annual hernia exam? Cough, please! Because many blokes
resist health considerations until absolutely necessary, preparation
for flight physicals with our aviation medical examiner
(AME) often is absent. And this leads into our first Summit
session, “10 Stupid Things Pilots Do to Sabotage their Aviation
Medical.” That slip of paper, our aviation medical, allows us to
exercise the privileges of the piece of plastic, our pilot certificate.
Yet, avoidable mistakes can lead to needless deferral and
many earthbound months. Two colleagues will play the roles
of an AME and an unsuspecting, unprepared pilot in various
scenarios. A panel of wise sages will enthrall the audience with
methodologies to ensure you do not have similar experiences.
The second session, “Me Doctor, You Pilot. You Pilot, Me Doc-
tor” pays homage to that doyen of aviation, Monty Python, and
his Flying Circus. Pilots face health issues in their personal and
aviation lives, and this seminar will address medical emergencies
during and prior to flight. Some really compelling data on
hypoxia and aviation bends will change the way you define
“altitude.”
Moving from classic British humor to American sci-fi brings
us to Star Trek and that eternal line: “I’m Just a Doctor, Jim,”
AOPA PILOT • 36 • JUNE 2011
Jonathan M.
Sackier is an
instrument-rated
private pilot.
the title of our third event. Dr. McCoy had several
cool devices to treat the USS Enterprise crew, and
while we do not have a Tricorder yet, marvelous
technology abounds. This panel will make recommendations
about the tests pilots should employ
for their own health screening.
With such great panelists, my role as modera-
tor is ridiculously simple and we have an all-star
team. For instance, Dr. Rich Williams, chief medical
officer for NASA, Lancair pilot, and AME; Dr. Paul
Buza, who has developed a hypobaric chamber specifically
to train pilots—his videos and presentation
will stun you; Dr. Fred Tilton, Federal Air Surgeon;
and Dr. Warren Silberman of the FAA are the foremost
authorities on medical matters for pilots. Gary
Crump is director of medical certification services
at AOPA and handles tens of thousands of questions
a year—if there is a medical issue that plagues pilots, Crump
knows what to do.
At the first Fly Well forum at Summit 2010, I asked each pan-
elist to name a disease that might affect flight. Stroke, heart
attack, and aneurysm were mentioned, and then AOPA Foundation
President Bruce Landsberg jumped in with “stupidity!” For
his pithy observations and knowledge of real-world situations,
we have implored Landsberg to participate. Similarly, Dr. Ian
Fries, a CFI, AME, and member of the AOPA Board of Medical
Advisors, will grace us with his wisdom. We also have “The Duke
of Sleep,” Duke Naipohn—a paratrooper, pilot, and expert at
prospective evaluation of sleep disorders—who is already helping
truck drivers and other at-risk groups.
If you called central casting and asked for a guy who typi-
fies “Summit” you will get Scott Parazynski. Summiting Everest
is impressive enough, but Parazynski is also an emergency
room doc, 2,500-hour pilot, scuba diver, photographer, and
all-around nice guy. Oh, and he has flown five space shuttle
missions as a specialist, including space walks and working with
Sen. John Glenn on his most recent sojourn in space. Typical
underachiever! And he will be at Summit for you.
Other speakers are being confirmed, and we are exploring
the potential for a health fair—if this appeals to you, please let
me know. Additionally, we are considering developing standalone
Fly Well retreats where pilots can learn about health,
obtain screening tests, and possibly complete their medical
certification at pleasant fly-in locations around the United
States. If this is an attractive proposition, please get in touch
with me.
You can conclude that I am passionate about this topic and
hope I have imbued my readers with the enthusiasm to fire
up the engine and get on down to Mark Twain’s hometown for
Summit 2011. Or should I say, get on up?
Email the author at jonathan.sackier@aopa.org.
AOPA Pilot Magazine - June 2011

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of AOPA Pilot Magazine - June 2011
