Sasha From Russia, joined May 1999, 858 posts, RR: 0 Reply 3, posted (1 year 9 months 3 weeks 1 day 14 hours ago) and read 4019 times:
I have a colleague whose eardrum was injured at the age of 13 or smth. She is now 29 and during flights experiences discomfort in the affected ear, and sometimes pain. I suppose it is due to rapid pressure changes. So I suppose the candidate for the pilot job has to evaluate his/her experience so far. If the rupture is healed and not causing any problem during regular flights as a pax, then proceed with the medical... Have to bear in mind some landings can involve very rapid descend.
GeorgiaAME From United States of America, joined Aug 2005, 867 posts, RR: 6 Reply 4, posted (1 year 9 months 3 weeks 18 hours ago) and read 3858 times:
The regulations are a tad nebulous. I will post them for you, but basically, a perforated ear drum by itself is NOT disqualifying for any class. It becomes disqualifying if it is associated with pathology. SO, if an airman walks into my office with an ice pick in his ear, or a rip roaring middle ear infection that has just ruptured the drum and there is nasty stuff oozing out, that is definitely disqualifying. BUT, if the same person walks in, has a small hole from either of the above from 5 years earlier, and has no hearing disability or positional vertigo, only a hole, than yes, I can certify, at any class level.
Here are the rules (First Class, II/III are less rigorous, but the pathology part is the same) :
§ 67.105 Ear, nose, throat, and equilibrium.
top
Ear, nose, throat, and equilibrium standards for a first-class airman medical certificate are:
(a) The person shall demonstrate acceptable hearing by at least one of the following tests:
(1) Demonstrate an ability to hear an average conversational voice in a quiet room, using both ears, at a distance of 6 feet from the examiner, with the back turned to the examiner.
(2) Demonstrate an acceptable understanding of speech as determined by audiometric speech discrimination testing to a score of at least 70 percent obtained in one ear or in a sound field environment.
(3) Provide acceptable results of pure tone audiometric testing of unaided hearing acuity according to the following table of worst acceptable thresholds, using the calibration standards of the American National Standards Institute, 1969 (11 West 42d Street, New York, NY 10036):
Frequency (Hz) 500 Hz 1000 Hz 2000 Hz 3000 Hz
Better ear (Db) 35 30 30 40
Poorer ear (Db) 35 50 50 60
(b) No disease or condition of the middle or internal ear, nose, oral cavity, pharynx, or larynx that—
(1) Interferes with, or is aggravated by, flying or may reasonably be expected to do so; or
(2) Interferes with, or may reasonably be expected to interfere with, clear and effective speech communication.
(c) No disease or condition manifested by, or that may reasonably be expected to be manifested by, vertigo or a disturbance of equilibrium.
"Trust, but verify!" An old Russian proverb, quoted often by a modern American hero
virginblue4 From United Kingdom, joined Jun 2008, 832 posts, RR: 0 Reply 5, posted (1 year 9 months 3 weeks 16 hours ago) and read 3837 times:
Thanks for all of the replies so far. My right ear ha been aching a bit lately, and I may have slightly dulled hearing (I say may because I might just be worrying so much that I have lead myself to believe this).
I am going to give it 2-3 weeks and if it is still hurting or if I still have dulled hearing, I am going to go to the doctors.
I have read about ear irrigation, and although it is usually successful, there is a very small risk of causing deafness which of course would ruin all my dreams of becoming an airline pilot. I am just so wary of my ears, I am not quite sure what to do.
GeorgiaAME From United States of America, joined Aug 2005, 867 posts, RR: 6 Reply 6, posted (1 year 9 months 2 weeks 6 days 16 hours ago) and read 3707 times:
Virginblue, since you are UK, your rules may be different, although I doubt it. In your CURRENT situation, I would have to disqualify you , and then advise you on how to appeal my decision to the FAA. (I have no idea what so ever how the UK handles these situations.)
Now for some free medical advise from across the pond: Please don't wait 2-3 weeks to see a doctor! You could have an infection that needs early treatment, an ear wax clog that can be quickly removed, an allergy problem blocking your eustachian tube (good reason NOT to fly). Delaying could put you in a bad position for future flying.
Best of luck to you.
"Trust, but verify!" An old Russian proverb, quoted often by a modern American hero
exFWAOONW From United States of America, joined Nov 2009, 284 posts, RR: 0 Reply 7, posted (1 year 9 months 2 weeks 6 days 16 hours ago) and read 3705 times:
What he said
Waiting may make things worse.
I ruptured both eardrums as an infant. Combined with allergies, flying was painful. Even though I loved it, the pain just took all the fun away. On one trip, it was four days on the ground before my ears stopped hurting and I could hear clearly again.
I said all that to say this, if you really want to pursue flying, don't risk the damage by waiting.
virginblue4 From United Kingdom, joined Jun 2008, 832 posts, RR: 0 Reply 9, posted (1 year 9 months 2 weeks 6 days 2 hours ago) and read 3646 times:
I just got back from the doctors. I have a build up of fluid in my inner ear which is causing the 'cloudy' hearing and aching. They told me to spray salt water up my nose for the next 7 days and it should draw out the fluid. She asked me about my future plans and I told her about becoming a pilot and she said about how hearing is a serious thing and that I did the right thig by coming here.
Thanks to the two people who advised me to go
Although it turned out to be nothing serious, I now have peace of mind.
virginblue4 From United Kingdom, joined Jun 2008, 832 posts, RR: 0 Reply 10, posted (1 year 9 months 2 weeks 2 days 16 hours ago) and read 3467 times:
Quoting GeorgiaAME (Reply 6): Virginblue, since you are UK, your rules may be different, although I doubt it. In your CURRENT situation, I would have to disqualify you , and then advise you on how to appeal my decision to the FAA. (I have no idea what so ever how the UK handles these situations.)
So now I know what it is, would you still disqualify me?
flymia From United States of America, joined Jun 2001, 6297 posts, RR: 6 Reply 11, posted (1 year 9 months 2 weeks 2 days 11 hours ago) and read 3442 times:
Quoting virginblue4 (Reply 5): I am going to give it 2-3 weeks and if it is still hurting or if I still have dulled hearing, I am going to go to the doctors
Nevermind you went good job.
Quoting virginblue4 (Reply 8): . I going to see a doctor tomorrow about it, I will let you know.
Exactly no need to ever wait when you think something is wrong with your ear eyes etc. Have a pain in your finger in your ankle then take a few days, but eyes, ears, noses things like that waiting is never a good idea glad you went to the doc ASAP.
Quoting virginblue4 (Reply 9): I just got back from the doctors. I have a build up of fluid in my inner ear which is causing the 'cloudy' hearing and aching. They told me to spray salt water up my nose for the next 7 days and it should draw out the fluid. She asked me about my future plans and I told her about becoming a pilot and she said about how hearing is a serious thing and that I did the right thig by coming here.
Sounds like it is just a build up so why would this disquailify you if it is a one time thing. By that I mean you do not have a chronic problem which if this the first time this happening you probably dont.
"It was just four of us on the flight deck, trying to do our job" (Captain Al Haynes)
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