AOPA Pilot Magazine - May 2020 - 106

NEWS & NOTES
MEDICALLY SPEAKING

PILOT PROTECTION SERVICES

Know your
numbers

ADAM ANSWERS
BY GARY CRUMP

Pilot Protection Services

I'VE BEEN BLESSED with generally good
genetics and have had no serious health challenges my whole life. I work out, and annual
health screenings have historically had good
results. I monitor my blood pressure on a
regular basis, and I noticed it starting to
creep up slowly over the past few months, in
the high 130s systolic. Considering my baseline has always been in the normal range, I
brought it up with my health-care provider.
That started a mild cascade of change that
caught me by surprise. Based on my blood
pressure readings, he suggested I start with
a low-dose trial of lisinopril, an ACE inhibitor. I also had a complete blood count with
lipid panel ordered at the same visit, and my
follow-up visit three weeks later brought
even more surprises.
My fasting glucose was slightly high,
and so was the LDL. That led to another
pharmacy visit, this time for simvastatin to
bring the LDL back into line. During the follow-up, he ran a risk profile for heart disease
based on age, blood pressure, and total and
HDL cholesterol that showed my 10-year
risk for heart disease or stroke was almost
20 percent! It was a sobering realization.
I've spent my career at AOPA telling
pilots that taking anti-hypertensives and

statins is "no big deal," and it really isn't, but
when it happened to me, it did get my attention. Although the thought of being on two
new meds in the same visit wasn't sitting
well with me at the time, the risk/benefit equation made sense. Being on a statin
is reported to lower the long-term risk by
about half, so I'm OK with that.
So, know your numbers, and don't
ignore the need to treat the condition(s).
The FAA is fine with virtually all blood pressure meds and statin. If you have questions,
do not hesitate to give us a call.
aopa.org/pps

GARY CRUMP is director of medical certifica-

tion for AOPA Pilot Protection Services.

ENGINE PROGRAMS
B Y A DA M M E R E D I T H
P R E S I D E N T, A O PA F I N A N C E
Q: I'm looking to finance a Cessna
Citation. The current owner does not
have it on an engine program. Will that
be a problem with the lenders when I
try to finance?
A: Generally, the best financing options
are available to turbofan aircraft
enrolled in an engine maintenance program. We still have plenty of options
for those not enrolled in a program.
Lenders are able to get comfortable
without engine programs by either
requiring a larger down payment, setting up a reserve account at the bank
to cover maintenance, or sufficient
cash reserves to cover maintenance
and/or overhauls. We can always discuss your options with a quick call at
800-627-5263.

NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF MEMBERS
The annual meeting of the members of the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association
has moved to 9 a.m. on Tuesday, September 15, 2020, at the headquarters of AOPA,
421 Aviation Way, Frederick, Maryland, 21701, located on Frederick Municipal
Airport (FDK), for the purpose of receiving reports and transacting such other business as may properly come before the meeting, specifically including the election of
trustees. If you are not able to attend, but would like to appoint your voting proxy,
please visit www.aopa.org/myaccount or call 1-800-872-2672.
-Justine A. Harrison, Secretary

CONTACT AOPA
ADDRESS CHANGE?

Send your new address and AOPA
membership number to AOPA:
421 Aviation Way
Frederick, Maryland 21701-4798
Fax: 301-695-2375
aopa.org
TOLL-FREE PILOT
INFORMATION CENTER

800-USA-AOPA (872-2672)
pilotassist@aopa.org

AOPA FOUNDATION

AOPA AIRCRAFT FINANCING

AOPA AIR SAFETY INSTITUTE

AOPA PERSONAL INSURANCE

AOPA CREDIT CARD PROGRAM

AOPA PILOT PROTECTION SERVICES

800-955-9115
aopafoundation.org
800-638-3101
airsafetyinstitute.org

Top off your airplane and wallet
with the best card for pilots.
877-787-3171
aopa.org/creditcard

800-627-5263
aopafinance.com

800-USA-AOPA (872-2672)
aopa.org/membership/personal
800-USA-AOPA (872-2672)
aopa.org/pps
AOPA TRAVEL DISCOUNTS

aopa.org/cars | aopa.org/hotels

AOPA PILOT INFORMATION CENTER HOURS

Do you have questions or need information about an aviation topic? Access the team of aviation experts in our Pilot Information Center
during our convenient weekday hours. Call 800-USA-AOPA (872-2672) Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. until 6 p.m. Eastern time, with
your questions and our staff will be happy to assist you.
Visit the website (aopa.org/membership) to learn about upgrading to our higher levels of membership with Pilot Protection Services
coverage included.
106 | AOPA PILOT May 2020

http://www.aopa.org/pps http://www.aopa.org/myaccount http://www.aopafoundation.org http://www.aopafinance.com http://www.airsafetyinstitute.org http://www.aopa.org/membership/personal http://www.aopa.org http://www.aopa.org/pps http://www.aopa.org/creditcard http://www.aopa.org/cars http://www.aopa.org/hotels http://www.aopa.org/membership

AOPA Pilot Magazine - May 2020

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of AOPA Pilot Magazine - May 2020