Aspiring Pilots and the Aviation Medical Exam

Aspiring Pilots and the Aviation Medical ExamAspiring Pilots and the Aviation Medical ExamAviation medical certificates are a requirement for most pilots. Some pilots, such as sports pilots and balloon pilots, arent required to obtain an aviation medical certificate. The rest of us, however, need to reisepass an aviation medical exam to legally utilize the privileges of our pilot certificates. Aviation medical exams can be a source of anxiety for many. Will you pass? What exactly is the examiner looking for? Is my eyesight good enough? Should I disclose certain health dicke bretter bohren mssens on the forms? What happens if I dont pass? There are a lot of questions surrounding the aviation medical exam. Even the healthiest of people get nervous before an exam. After all, a lot is at stake. The good news is that most applicants pass the exam- sometimes it just takes a while. Do Your Research If youre perfectly fit and healthy, you have nothing to worry about. Most of us have some minor health glitches, though. Knowing which health problems will disqualify you or which will require a special issuance medical certificate will not only help calm your fears but will provide you with valuable information for your doctor. Youll want to show up prepared, so if youre concerned about a certain medical condition, research it before your appointment. Check out the FAA medical exam guide online to find out about specific health problems. Also, there are a lot of other online resources available for free that can guide you in the right direction. You might, for instance, determine that youll need a special issuance medical, which requires extra documentation. You can start gathering those documents ahead of time so that youre prepared to send them to the FAA once your examiner completes your exam. Or you might find that your condition is a non-issue after all. For example, mild depression that is stable or completely resolved isnt an issue. Major depression treated with medication will require a review by the FAA and a special issuance. What the Examiner Will Do Before you even show up, the examiner will have you register for an account with the FAAs MedXPress system, which is an electronic form that will be reviewed by your medical examiner and submitted to the FAA upon completion of your exam. When youre registered and have completed the appropriate forms, your examiner will verify your identity with two forms of identification and initiate the exam. Youll go over any health history that you included on your paperwork, and the examiner will point out any issues that might delay the processing of your medical certificate. The specific font of aviation medical certification youre applying for will determine the intensity of the exam. Third-class medical exams are least intrusive. First class medical exams require a more in-depth exam. For the most basic third-class medical exam for an applicant under the age of 40, the examiner will check your eyesight, including peripheral vision, nearsightedness, farsightedness, and color vision. A hearing test might be done, which will ensure you can at a minimum, hear at a conversational level. The examiner will discuss any specific health issues and medications with you, review previous surgeries and doctor visits and complete a general physical exam. A urinalysis is done to check for blood or protein in the urine or other blatant signs of disease. Your blood pressure will be checked, and youll likely field some questions about your mental health. Some of the medical requirements (for example, vision and hearing standards) are different for first and second class medical certificates, but overall the exam for each class is pretty similar. First class medical exams must be done more frequently and require the applicant to have an electrocardiogram (ECG) done annually if over age 40. At the end of the exam, the medical examiner has three choices He or she can approve the application, deny it or defer it to the FAA for further processing. What Happens If Youve Been Denied Or Deferred Dont panic. Just because your medical certificate application was denied or deferred to the FAA for further review does not mean that youll be grounded forever. First, know that aviation medical examiners (AMEs) rarely deny a certificate outright. Most of the time, they are encouraged and required to push it on to the FAA for review. But even if it is denied (if theres no question that you clearly do not meet the requirements), you can appeal the decision with the FAA. A history of extreme substance abuse coupled with multiple arrests, for example, might require a denial on behalf of the examiner and/or FAA. But if you can prove that youve been to rehab and have been sober for at least 24 months, you may have a chance at an appeal. Most of the time, people with a health problem can successfully obtain a special issuance medical certificate after completing the deferment process w ith the FAA. Sometimes, youll need to switch medications to one thats acceptable for flight. Sometimes youll need to wait until youre symptom-free for a certain period of time. And many times, the FAA will approve your medical application with barely a question. For instance, people with hypothyroidism should have no problem flying, and usually, have their applications approved even though theyll likely have to be deferred first. For most people, the aviation medical exam will be a piece of cake. For others, it can be frustrating to wait for the waiver process to be completed. But most of the time, the FAA will let you keep flying in the end.

How to Dress for a Formal or Casual Interview

How to Dress for a Formal or Casual InterviewHow to Dress for a Formal or Casual InterviewThe first impression you make on a potential employer is incredibly important. When you meet a potential employer for the first time, they immediately form an opinion of you based on what youre wearing and how you carry yourself. Regardless of the work environment, its important to dress professionally for a job interview because how you dress can either make or break the job interview. In general, the candidate dressed in a suit and tie, or dress and heels, will make a much better impression than the candidate dressed in jeans and sneakers. Different industries have different expectations of how candidates and employees should dress. The appropriate dress code can vary greatly depending on the company, industry,and location. For example, a tech start-up in Silicon Valley might frown on someone who dresses too formally, while a Fortune 50 company on Madison Avenue might frown on someone who dres ses too casually. Heres a breakdown of what to wear for a corporate position and what to wear for a mora laid-back casual position. In both cases, being well-groomed with clean, untattered clothes is always required. How to Dress for a Corporate Interview Mens Interview Attire Here are examples ofinterview outfits for men. Men should always default to wearing a suit. All clothes should fit well and be free of stains Suit in a solid color such as navy, black, or dark greyLong sleeved shirt that is white or color coordinated with the suitLeather beltTieDark socks and conservative leather shoesLittle or no jewelryNeat, professional hairstyleLimited amount of aftershaveNeatly trimmed nailsPortfolio or briefcase Womens Interview Attire In general, fashion for women is more complicated and varied than it is for men who have fewer options. It makes assembling an interview outfit a bit more challenging for women than for men. For instance, if youre wearing a dress or skirt, you need to decide if youshould wear pantyhose or if bare legs are acceptable. Women also need to considerinterview accessoriesand choose an appropriate purse. Thebest interview bagsare ones that are professional and large enough to fit a resume but arent flashy. Here are the fundamental building blocks of what women should wear to a professional interview Suit in navy, black, or dark greySuit skirt just below or above the kneeCoordinated blouseConservative shoesLimited jewelryNo dangling earrings or arms full of braceletsNo jewelry is better than cheap jewelryProfessional hairstyleNeutral colored pantyhoseLight make-up and limited amount of perfumeClean, neatly manicured nailsPortfolio or briefcase What Not to Bring to the Interview GumCoffee or sodaIf you have lots of piercings, leave some of your rings at home (earrings only is a good rule)If possible, cover tattoos You can bring your smartphone but make sure its on mute or vibrateduring your interview. It avoids the risk of getting a di stracting loud text alert or phone call mid-interview. How to Dress for a More Casual Interview When the workplace or the job is less formal, the dress code may be less formal as well. If youre elend sure what to wear, its fine to check with the person scheduling the interview. However, its still important not to dress slovenly. Here are some casual options Business CasualStartup CasualWhat to Wear When Theres No Dress Code Tips Well in advance of your interview, make sure you have appropriate interview attire, and everything fits correctly.Get your clothes ready the night before, so you dont have to spend time getting them ready the day of the interview.If your clothes are dry clean only, take them to the cleaners right after an interview, so youre prepared for the next interview.Be sure to polish your shoes the night before.Bring breath mints with you to use before entering the building.

Common Terms in the Music Business

Common Terms in the Music BusinessCommon Terms in the Music BusinessIf youre trying to get started in the music business, it can sound like everyone is speaking a different language, with buzz terms and music-specific lingo. This guide can help you understand the industry. Common Jargon 360 deals An increasingly common major label deal structure in which the label not only earns income from the sale of recorded music of their artists but also gets a cut of other artist income, including money generated by touring and merchandise sales.Agent Someone who liaises with promoters and venues to book gigs for bands.Big Three record labels Major record labels.Demo A sample recording of a bands music. Often rough recordings or early versions of songs in progress.Digital distribution Distribution of music online, i.e., downloads. Digipack A type of CD case that looks like a book instead of a plastic case. The outside is made of paper and the CD sits in a tray inside that is attached to the paper.Door split A type of payment deal for a live performance, in which the band and promoter agree to split the proceeds of the showafter the promoter has recouped their costs.Gatefold sleeve Vinyl doppelalbum sleeve that folds out either opens like a book or fold out in three sections. Usually used for double LPs or special artwork. Sometimes the gatefold format is used in asmaller format for digipack CD cases. Indie labels Self-funded labels not tied to any major label/Big Four label.Jewel case Traditional plastic CD case, also sometimes called a jewel box.Longbox The cardboard boxes that manufacturers and distributors use to send out CDs there are 25 in each longbox.Manager Essentially the business manager of a band. Duties vary wildly depending on the level of the band, but generally, managers try to seek out new opportunities for the band while being the contact person for all other people dealing with the band. Mechanical royalties Royalties paid to the songwriter per album pressed. Also sometimes called mechanicals.One sheet The info sheet for a release this can contain info about the band, the recording or anything else significant about the release. One sheets are used by labels and distributors to sell a new release. They get their name from the fact that they are (or at least they should be) one page long.P.D.s Also PDs. Short for per diems, which means per days. It refers to the stipend paid daily to band members and crew on a tour for their personal expenses, such as food and drinks. PR Technically means press relations but is also used in a slang way to refer to a person who works in press relations. PR is also known as publicity. PR companies/PR people are usually hired to work on a campaign basis to promote a new album, single or tour. Some PR people only promote to print media, some only to websites, some only to TV and some to a combination of mediums. Some PR people also work in radio plugging, but often radio is treated as a separate ent ity.Performing rights royalties Royalties paid to a songwriter when a song they have written is performed. Playlist The list of songs played by a radio station. For some radio stations, the playlist is up to the DJ. Other radio stations have platzdeckchen playlists of songs that have to be played. Often these radio stations have tiered playlists, such as A list, B list and so on, that dictate how many times a day a song has to be played.Promo A promotional copy of a recording, different from a demo in that it is usually a finished version of the recording. Promos can be complete copies of an album complete with artwork, or they can be CDs in cardboard or plastic sleeves. Promo package A package used to promote music, including a promo CD and any appropriate press releases, one-sheets, photos, and other information. Also known as a press kit or press pack.Promoter Someone who promotes live performances for bands.Publishing Essentially another level of copyright control for songs, pub lishing deals simply put a person in charge of making koranvers the appropriate amount of royalties are collected for a song, in exchange for a portion of those royalties and some rights to the song. Most publishers go further than that and actively try to place songs in revenue-generating positions, like advertisements or with other artists for acover version, etc. Radio plugger Also sometimes simply known as a plugger, radio pluggers promote releases to radio. Pluggers usually work with specific singles and go around to radio station playlist meetings, playing the singles they are representing and trying to get them placed on a playlist. In some cases, pluggers may work with full albums, letting the stations themselves decide what the single is.Session musician A musician who contributes to a recording or a live performance but is not actually a full-time member of the band. Sound engineer Generally, the person in charge of making the sound for a show work. There can be many diffe rent specific roles for a sound engineer.Tech spec Short for technical specifications. A venue or promoter usually asks for a tech spec so they can set up the stage properly for a band and ensure all of the bands technical needs can be met.Tour manager Tour managers take charge of the details of a tour. They travel with the band and do all of the jobs like checking into hotels, liaising with promoters and generally trying to make things go as smoothly as possible. Also sometimes called a road manager. Tour support Money paid out to cover the costs of a tour, usually by a record label.Tray The plastic part of a jewel case or digipack that the CD sits in - the part with the teeth.Tray card The part of the album artwork that sits behind the tray and is seen when you look at the back of the CD case.