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ICC
Member
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# Posted: 10 Oct 2023 08:51pm - Edited by: ICC
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Sometimes good days can cancel out bad days.
Yesterday was an exceptionally good day, following a period of bad days. I received my FAA special issuance authorization. That means I have my class three (private) pilots license back.
Late last year I had my first ever Afib event. Atrial fibrillation is an irregular heart rhythm which can disqualify one from holding a pilot license of any classification. There are exceptions when a special issuance authorization is issued by the FAA. It was bad enough finding out that my heart had a problem but no more flying in the left seat was a real kick in the head.
The FAA can issue a special issuance authorization after a more rigorous set of medical tests. After working with a cardiologist, having various tests including wearing a heart monitor full time for three weeks and a test for obstructive sleep apnea plus some meds and some angst on my part, I am now good for a years worth of flying. So far I have been able to avoid surgeries which makes for a good day on its own. I will need to pass an annual medical with no recurrences of Afib.
So, yes. Yesterday was a superb day!
While I am sharing part of myself, there is another thing I want to mention. More personal. A bad day. I hope I am not breaking any written or unwritten forum rule of order or etiquette. For a couple of years an observant reader may have noticed that I switch between using a singular or a plural first-person possessive pronoun. What? Examples; using “my†cabin vs “our†cabin... “I†did something vs “we†did something. And so on.
In mid summer of 2021 my wife, Sri, hit an elk. Coming from town near dusk in her Miata. She did not survive. Neither did the elk nor the Miata. After 45 years together there was and still is a very big hole in my life. For the most part, in day to day life I keep it straight, but in my thinking and talking I do still lapse at times.
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darz5150
Member
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# Posted: 10 Oct 2023 09:08pm
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I am so sorry to hear about your wife.
I almost lost mine last year to a fib.
Stay strong buddy.
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gcrank1
Member
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# Posted: 10 Oct 2023 09:52pm
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Im glad about your most recent victory and so sorry for your loss.
Turning points.....they punctuate our lives, some of those punches last.
Give yourself permission to identify as an 'I' and also to return to the 'us' that is always beneath the surface. The 'I' isnt a betrayal of your past, just a transition.
Whichever way you put it you enrich the forum with your presence 
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Fanman
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# Posted: 10 Oct 2023 10:02pm
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Sorry to hear about your wife. My wife had two deer collisions around the cabin, fortunately with no injuries (large minivan at the time)... but I think it about when driving my Miata around there.
Congrats on the SI. Can you go Basicmed when the current medical expires? Or even Sport Pilot, depending on what you're flying.
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FishHog
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# Posted: 11 Oct 2023 08:00am
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Well I'm truly glad you had a good day, sure sounds like you deserved one after what must have been a lot of bad one.
Truly sorry for your loss, and thanks for sharing with us. Puts some of those "bad" days we have into perspective.
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razmichael
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# Posted: 11 Oct 2023 08:00am
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ICC, I'm so sorry about the loss of your wife. I can't imagine the impact this has had on your life. Your continued detailed and accurate input on this forum is respected and appreciated by all!
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toyota_mdt_tech
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# Posted: 11 Oct 2023 08:03am
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ICC, so sorry to hear about your loss. 
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Aklogcabin
Member
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# Posted: 11 Oct 2023 09:12am
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I'm sorry for your loss I can't even imagine what it would be like. I will say a prayer that you can try to find solstice in your life
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Nobadays
Member
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# Posted: 11 Oct 2023 11:34am
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ICC.... So sorry for your loss. Man...... tough.
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ICC
Member
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# Posted: 11 Oct 2023 04:44pm - Edited by: ICC
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Thanks to everybody for all the kind words. They are much appreciated.
Quoting: Fanman Can you go Basicmed when the current medical expires? Or even Sport Pilot
Sport Pilot, only if I get a smaller plane. It is a possibility. I like the Bearhawk LSA, but am not sure I want to build another plane. I do really love my Bearhawk 4-place, though usually I only have the two front seats fitted and use the backseat area for camping gear. Building an LSA would take some time and that could be good for me.
EDIT: I have determined that I can do the maintenance on a E-LSA aircraft like a Bearhawl LSA after a 2 hour course. I think it may take longer to find a used one than to build one. 
Basicmed still has a SIA requirement when cardio-vascular issues are involved. However, the process should be simpler.
Then there is the question of a person having been diagnosed with Afib, but having it under control, either with drugs or surgery. If Afib doesn't occur there is no danger. Sort of like flying with prescription eyeglasses or needing hearing aids and being able to be licensed. I wear glasses and hearing aids. Those have been handled as no big deal. I need to follow up and chase down the details on fully controlled Afib.
Tomorrow I plan on flying around northern NM and southern CO with a friend, a pilot instructor, who will see if I have developed any rust over the past 10 months.
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gcrank1
Member
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# Posted: 11 Oct 2023 09:03pm
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Enjoy the sky time!
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spencerin
Member
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# Posted: 11 Oct 2023 11:05pm
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Sorry for your loss. I'm not sure, though, what etiquette you thought you were breaking.....
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Brettny
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# Posted: 12 Oct 2023 06:04am
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Sorry for your loss ICC
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Nate R
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# Posted: 12 Oct 2023 08:34am
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Ugh, sorry for the loss of your wife....that's extremely tough. 
Glad to hear about the pilot clearance, though! Enjoy your flight time today!
-Nate
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Fanman
Member
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# Posted: 12 Oct 2023 09:52pm
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Quoting: ICC Sport Pilot, only if I get a smaller plane. It is a possibility. I like the Bearhawk LSA, but am not sure I want to build another plane. I do really love my Bearhawk 4-place, though usually I only have the two front seats fitted and use the backseat area for camping gear. Building an LSA would take some time and that could be good for me. EDIT: I have determined that I can do the maintenance on a E-LSA aircraft like a Bearhawl LSA after a 2 hour course.
If the proposed MOSAIC rulemaking passes, you may be able to fly your 4 place Bearhawk (with only 2 seats occupied) under SP in a couple of years.
You can do maintenance on ANY experimental, EAB or ELSA, without any course at all. The ELSA repairman certificate (a 2 day course, not 2 hours) just allows you to do the annual condition inspection as well.
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ICC
Member
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# Posted: 12 Oct 2023 11:29pm - Edited by: ICC
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Quoting: Fanman You can do maintenance on ANY experimental, EAB or ELSA, without any course at all. The ELSA repairman certificate (a 2 day course, not 2 hours) just allows you to do the annual condition inspection as well.
Thanks Fanman. You caught me in a big boo-boo. I don't know how I typed "hour". I was thinking "day". Brain fog I guess. When I built the 4-place Bearhawk I did do the two-day class at the end and obtained the repairman certificate for the 4-place. I thought it was specific to the 4-place, so have been under the impression if I did find an E-LSA I would need a new certificate to be able to do the annual condition certification. If that is not the case, so much the better. I've never had a single serious thought that I would ever sell the 4-place until I was not able to pass the medical, so never gave much thought to replacing it. I like to be able to do the annual condition inspection as it seems to fit right into the whole idea of a self-built and maintained aircraft. And it is sort of a tradition to do as much as we can ourselves with anything on the ranch.
Quoting: Fanman If the proposed MOSAIC rulemaking passes, you may be able to fly your 4 place Bearhawk (with only 2 seats occupied) under SP in a couple of years.
That would be so good! I must admit I don't follow the potential rules changes as much as I used to. I will look up the MOSAIC proposals.
We only flew a couple of hours early this morning. Then the winds started building with high gusts, just as the forecast stated. We came back and took a drive to see some fall colors. Maybe fly tomorrow some more.
Thanks again.
Izzy
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Fanman
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# Posted: 14 Oct 2023 11:00am
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You didn't need any 2-day class to get the repaiman certificate for an EAB; the "primary builder" simply applies for it, then you're allowed to do the annual on that specific aircraft. The class is strictly for LSA registered aircraft, and allows you to do the annual on any LSA you own.
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Atlincabin
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# Posted: 14 Oct 2023 05:02pm
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Yes, worth looking at the new Mosaic rules. One key that is in there (as currently written, but folks are trying to get it changed a bit) is the stall speed clean of 54 kt. Not sure whether the BH fits that. I'm hoping for this Mosaic thing to get done soon as I'm tired of jumping through even the Basicmed hoops. And I'm hoping that one day Canada will recognize US sport pilot certs.
Comments period on Mosaic has been extended to the end of the year, I believe.
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ICC
Member
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# Posted: 14 Oct 2023 08:10pm - Edited by: ICC
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Quoting: Fanman the "primary builder" simply applies for it, then you're allowed to do the annual on that specific aircraft.
Do you remember broadcaster Paul Harvey, and his "rest of the story"? The missing details go like this...
My BH 4-place airframe was started by a guy near here who I knew because we both had Kitfoxes we had built in the 90's. He had bought the factory welded BH4 airframe and wing. .He was more or less 25% along completion of the airframe when he died. His son inherited everything and had no interest in the BH4. It sat for a time and he then offered it to me at a very good price. . After some discussion the FAA said they would treat it as a pre-owned home built. I could get the repairman certificate by doing the 2 day course or choose not to and have the annual done by a licensed A&P mechanic.
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Fanman
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# Posted: 14 Oct 2023 08:23pm
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Quoting: ICC After some discussion the FAA said they would treat it as a pre-owned home built. I could get the repairman certificate by doing the 2 day course or choose not to and have the annual done by a licensed A&P mechanic.
That's weird... the regulations definitely don't support that; the FAA guy must've been acting on his own. But they do have some discretion with the repairman certificate; they want to know that you're competent to evaluate its condition.
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Desim
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# Posted: 15 Oct 2023 01:40pm
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"That's weird... the regulations definitely don't support that; the FAA guy must've been acting on his own. But they do have some discretion with the repairman certificate; they want to know that you're competent to evaluate its condition."
Glad to see the FAA used common sense and worked with you!
Didn't remember the Bearcat, used to go to all the airshows in the SE US and was prepared to buy a kit of some kind but the ex blew the coop and finances for awhile.
So sorry for your loss. We have two Miata's in the family and I have always thought of them as pretty safe. I never thought of a large animal.
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ICC
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# Posted: 15 Oct 2023 08:27pm
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Quoting: Desim We have two Miata's in the family and I have always thought of them as pretty safe.
I believe the Miata is a safe enough car. This accident was a bit of bad luck: a big bull elk, a car with no roof (soft top was down),, the elk collapsed over the drivers side causing head injuries to Sri. No cellular service so the Pixel phone crash detection could not notify of the accident. Investigators figured that it was fifteen minutes before the first traveller arrived at the crash site. They then had to drive 5 or 6 minutes before acquiring a cell signal.
Thank you,
Izzy
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hattie
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# Posted: 16 Oct 2023 09:04pm
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My heart breaks for you over the loss of your wife. I am glad to read that you are trying to carry on with your life. Take care!
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silverwaterlady
Member
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# Posted: 17 Oct 2023 03:30pm
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My deepest condolences to you ICC.
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paulz
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# Posted: 18 Oct 2023 08:21am - Edited by: paulz
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I’ve stayed away from this thread due to the agony of my own recent losses.
ICC you have been a real asset to my cabin experience over the last decade. Hopefully the good days will outlast the bad in the future for us all.
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ICC
Member
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# Posted: 18 Oct 2023 05:19pm
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Thanks Paul. My daughter and grand-daughter and some others have been able to help me see that life had not ended with Sri's death. It is just different. Very different. I had a lot of anger.
They've helped me see there can be more good days ahead and to remind me there's nothing wrong with being sad when remembering the past. I've found that to be true and can look back, remember the good times and smile and laugh.
Take care,
Izzy
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