Flight Physical Passed!

It's been seven weeks since I last flew.

I knew I would get flagged for Body Mass Index (BMI) so after coming to the realization that the testing process would take forever and I would have to have it done anyway, I decided to roll the dice. I had been corresponding with Doc Bruce, senior AME,  on the AOPA forum.  He suggested that I get the test done and know where I stand and get my info together to speed the process.

As previously posted I took the in hospital overnight sleep study, what an ordeal.  Obviously, as Chris H (Photographic Logbook)mentioned in a comment "evidently, Gary can sleep through anything, the lucky dog".  I did, and the test numbers were excellent and the final result was a normal polysomnographic study.  In short, I ain't got no sleep apnea!!  Sorry Mrs. Harker, I had to just blurt it out like that.

I went in this morning armed with the report and my certification number from the online med-express form. Typical procedures; height, weight, eye test, color blind test and sample in a cup.  My BMI was an instant flag (requiring a sleep study) and my response was to hand over the report.  The good doctor read through it and said I was good to go.  I guess this all came to a boiling point as noted when he took my blood pressure, it was higher than normal. I'm pretty predicable at 110-120 over 70-75, I blew that away but was within the FAA limit. I came home and took my pressure and it matched what my last PCP visit was so I'm ok.

With fresh ink on my medical I just had to get 08Romeo in the air.  I had the plane fueled yesterday so I could sump this afternoon, I prefer to let it sit and settle. I didn't check the tanks after requesting fill to the slots which would have put me at forty total.  Instead, when I verified the fuel today I was easily sitting around 25-27 a side.  The line guy blew that one and I'm just as guilty for not watching him  fill each side. I did a very detailed pre-flight touching every surface verifying with my flashlight so I didn't miss anything.

It would be a short hop and multiple take off and landings if needed. I taxied out to runway one-four and made my call for departure.  The jump plane had just kicked out its load of crazy folk so I bugged out and cleared the area heading north up the beach. The air was smooth and the visibility perfect! I was back at home in the left seat, loving life. 

I putzed around for a short time then did a steep turn inland to head back south.  It seems the rag haulers (banner tows) had cut their day short, I had the beach all to myself. I crossed the inlet and descended to pattern altitude making the required calls. Abeam the numbers adding approach flaps with a nice squared off turn to base adding second notch and on final adding the last notch at five hundred feet. I added a swipe of nose up trim and 08Romeo rolled on to the runway, niiiice.

With such a sweet landing I decided to call it a day. I tucked 08Romeo in for the night with a pat on her cowl thanking her for being patient.  We'll do this again in the morning for our Sunday breakfast run.