Air Beat Magazine - Journal of the
Airborne Law Enforcement Association
Back to Air Beat Back Issues Index
Pioneering An Evolution In Kansas:
Wichita Police Department's Air Section
Text and photos by Dave Higdon
Only twelve other departments in the country match the longevity of the
Wichita Police Department's Air Section, giving the unit a background that
helps it fulfill its mission for this city of nearly 400,000. Wichita is a
diverse community with an increasingly diverse population and business base.
Home to four major aviation companies - Beechcraft, Bombardier/Learjet,
Cessna and Boeing Wichita - Wichita is widely referred to as the "Air
Capital of the World".
Advanced medical facilities, manufacturing, scientific and technology
companies also populate Wichita. And, all of them have their own
expectations about public safety and individual security. Throughout its
history, the Air Section has proven to be an efficient contributor to the
public safety and well being of the region surrounding Wichita, in which
another 100,000 people live and work.
Experience Counts
In the 33 years since its creation, the WPD Air Section evolved in its
experience level, depth, fleet and mission diversity. But at no time has the
section's officers lost sight of their primary charge: to support the
officer working the street below.
Not surprisingly, Air Section officers easily relate to that primary
mission, thanks to their common backgrounds as street officers trained to
fly helicopters. While some departments take pilots and train them to be
aerial law-enforcement officers, Wichita uses an approach 180 degrees out of
phase, training street officers to be law-enforcement pilots.
According to Lt. Paul Shields and his crew, this approach gives Air
Section officers a perspective to the job unique to officers who have "been
there, done that, down on the street."
"We are much more able to relate to the risks and hazards of whatever the
officer faces below us," he explained. "And we can combine that perspective
with the broader vision only available from aloft to the benefit of the task
at hand."
Officers tapped for the Air Section must first serve a minimum of two
years on patrol before entering training to fly as a non-pilot aerial
observer. The time spent as a non-pilot observer is generally at least two
more years before entering training to become a helicopter pilot.
By the time the officer becomes eligible for pilot training, the
candidate officer has at least five years on the job. "Just as you come to
appreciate the sight of the helicopter overhead when you're on the street,
we bring with us an appreciation of the risks and stresses facing the
officers working the street when we arrive overhead," explained Officer
Justin Jackson, the Air Section's sole non-pilot - at the moment.
Added Dave Doleislager, a six-year veteran of the Air Section, "Many a
time we've been approached by an officer we assisted to hear how much better
they felt when they heard us overhead. We understand that reaction because
we've all experienced ourselves."
Proven Performance
From the start, the Wichita Police Air Unit operated low-cost
piston-powered helicopters, most recently a single Schweizer 300C - one of
the six percent of police departments flying piston helicopters.
Throughout its 33-year history, the Wichita P.D. Air Section focused its
efforts on enhancing the capabilities of the officers on the street. "We're
here to support their efforts and expand their capabilities by expanding
their abilities in several areas," explained Lt. Shields, a veteran of two
stints in the Air Section. "We are also available to other entities both
within the city and beyond the city limits," Lt. Shields added.
Wichita encompasses more than 140 square miles of southcentral Kansas;
the immediate metro area takes in another 500-plus square miles. And as one
of only three law-enforcement aerial units in the entire 86,000-square miles
of Kansas, the Wichita Police Air Section frequently responds to needs
beyond the city limits.
Those needs range from the typical - maintaining surveillance on a
fleeing suspect so that officers on the street can disengage from a
potentially deadly high-speed chase - to the atypical, such as supporting
emergency services organizations after natural and man-made disasters.
Flying environmental officials, bomb-squad members, even disaster officials,
can be part of the mix.
The Mission Ahead
New times bring new demands on the Air Section's officers and hardware.
The department needed to continue evolving, given that the demands began to
exceed the capabilities of the Air Section's fleet of piston helicopters in
recent years.
So, in 2002, after years of work, research and recommendations, the WPD
finally won approval to move up to turbine power. And the move finally took
place in late April, when staff of the Wichita Police Air Section accepted
delivery of a brand new ship - an MD Helicopters Inc. 500E. With the
delivery of that new platform, the Wichita Air Section brings capabilities
and utility previously unavailable to the city, as well as to the regional
clientele the Section regularly serves.
"The MD500E allows us to better execute our missions across the board,"
said Dolieslager, a six-year veteran pilot in the Air Section. While proven
as a workhorse platform for the WPD over the years, the 300C is limited in
many ways. It has only two seats, a low payload, and limited speed.
"The MD500E improves on our capabilities in almost every area," explained
Officer Jeff Weinman, another of the unit's pilots. With five seats
available, the MD500E allows the unit to take along other officers or
officials without requiring that the observer officer stay on the ground.
Similarly, the MD500E provides payload capacity that can translate into
carrying another person and equipment that may be needed quickly at a
distant location.
The new MD500E offers the ability to keep up with suspects fleeing
upwind, thanks to a speed advantage of about 40 percent. The 300C offered a
high cruise speed of only 87 knots, sometimes far too little to cope with
Kansas winds that can routinely approach 40 knots at relatively low
altitudes. When ground speeds drop below 60 mph, even a suspect cruising at
the legal speed limit of Wichita's east-west Kellogg highway can pull away
from the 300C. With a high cruise speed approaching 140 knots - 160 mph -
even an upwind-bound suspect will struggle to lose the MD500E.
"No longer will we be in a position in which a suspect heads west at high
speed into headwinds that prevent us from keeping him in sight," noted
Jackson. The speed difference also figures into response times, particularly
when that call is upwind.
"There's really no aspect of our work that isn't improved by the 500E,"
said Lt. Shields. "It takes what we've already demonstrated and improves on
it and allows us to demonstrate new capabilities, as well. That makes it a
win-win decision for the people we serve. We just get to use the tool on
their behalf, and for that, we're grateful for the opportunity."
(Back to top)
The Kansas Highway Patrol’s Aircraft Units
The letters on the Kansas Highway Patrol’s patch are gold and blue like
the colors of Kansas’ famous wheat and wide open skies. Twelve Kansas
troopers regularly fly through these big blue skies to help enforce the law.
Though primarily a traffic enforcement agency, the Kansas Highway Patrol
does its share of criminal interdiction, and its trooper-pilots often assist
with surveillance, searches, and investigations as well as transportation
and traffic enforcement. From spotting wanted criminals and wildlife
poachers, to transporting blood and medicine, to finding missing children,
the aircraft unit is vital to the agency’s performance.
The Patrol first began using aircraft in traffic enforcement in 1957.
Borrowing the Kansas Turnpike Authority’s aircraft, three troopers
successfully demonstrated during their off-duty hours how traffic violators
could be spotted from the air and reported to ground units that would spring
into action.
For instance, crew members can observe motorists running stop signs,
passing in no-passing zones, and following too closely. In addition, using
stopwatches and symbols painted on the roadways, crew members can calculate
motorists’ speeds. In 1965, the Kansas Supreme Court ruled in Kansas vs.
Cook that such use of aircraft in traffic enforcement is lawful and that
reporting violations to officers on the ground to issue citations is modern
and necessary.
The Patrol purchased its first aircraft in 1961 from the Turnpike
Authority. Since then, the agency has gradually built a fleet to cover the
state’s 81,815 square miles and to serve its approximately 2.7 million
people. Today, this medium-sized state law enforcement agency (with around
510 certified law enforcement officers and 270 support personnel) operates
nine aircraft: four helicopters, two Cessna fixed-wing 182 planes, two
Cessna fixed-wing 206 planes, and a Raytheon King Air 350.
The 12 regular pilots and the three administrative/emergency pilots are
troopers first and foremost, and they earned their pilot’s licenses
independently. Until the mid-1970s, the aircraft and crews made up their own
division within the Patrol while covering specific regions of the state. Now
the pilots, helicopters, and planes are assigned to the Patrol’s troops and
under the supervision of the troop commanders.
Air crews are available 24 hours a day to transport people, the Patrol’s
police service dogs, and life-saving blood and organ donations. They also
track drug buys, vehicle and foot chases, and missing persons, and they
search for crashed vehicles. Thanks to Forward Looking Infrared, or FLIR,
systems and very strong spotlights, some of the aircraft can track during
the day or night. They frequently work with the Kansas Department of
Wildlife and Parks to find poachers and with the Kansas Bureau of
Investigation to find methamphetamine labs and marijuana grows.
The Executive Aircraft crew, an important part of the Patrol’s Protective
Services Unit, uses a 2001 Raytheon King Air 350 to transport and protect
state, national, and foreign dignitaries. When possible, the Executive
Aircraft crew assists with other state agencies’ missions, such as the
University of Kansas’ clinic and continuing education outreach program, the
Department of Commerce and Housing’s industrial development program, and the
Department of Transportation’s highway building and oversight program.
You can see more pictures of the Kansas Highway Patrol’s aircraft and
learn more about the agency’s mission and operations at
http://www.kansashighwaypatrol.org/.
(Back to top)
Classrooms, Conversations & Camaraderie:
A Conference Sneak Preview
By Jim Di
Giovanna, Education Coordinator
Preparing the schedule for this year’s conference has been an unusual
challenge, as many of our long-time expert instructors have either been
activated into a military role or have been reassigned out of their previous
aviation units. I am pleased to tell you that many new, highly qualified
instructors have stepped up to the plate, assuring that your courses and
classes will once again be of superb quality.
New in this year’s
pre-conference schedule are two outstanding courses
that will be trendsetters for professional development: the Aircraft
Accident Investigations Course and Aviation Safety Officer Course. A brief
description of these and all of the pre-conference offerings is contained in
this article as well as a summary of the
Main Conference classes. The ALEA
Education Committee is committed to providing ALEA members with current,
relevant and interesting professional courses.
Aircraft Accident Investigations Course
In response to several requests from our membership on this subject, we have
contacted two experts in this field who have developed this introductory
course in aircraft accident investigation for first responders. Mr. Greg
Feith, former NTSB Investigator and internationally-recognized expert in
this field will partner with retired Sgt. Jim Shuler from the Los Angeles
County Sheriff’s Department to present this course.
This introductory course is designed to provide insights into aircraft
accident investigations, whether the accident is internal or involving
general aviation, and guidance to first responders responsible for accident
scene preservation. Our instructors will explain the investigative process
including scene management, responsibilities of federal accident
investigation agencies, investigative techniques and tips on setting up
internal accident investigation teams. This class promises to be one of the
most valuable offered by ALEA. Maximum enrollment is 50.
Aviation Safety Officer Course
In response to the requests of members for more hands-on training in safety,
ALEA Safety Coordinator Jay Fuller has solicited the assistance of several
aviation safety experts in the development of this new course. A cornerstone
is the Federal Transportation Safety Institute, responsible for providing
aviation safety training and program development for federal General Service
Agency aviation departments and the U. S. Army Aviation Safety Center at Ft.
Rucker, Alabama.
Different from the Command Safety Officer Course, this course is designed
for the line unit safety officer whose responsibility it is to manage the
unit commander’s safety program. This course will provide the “tools” for
the unit safety officer’s “tool box” on safety program oversight,
implementation of policy, regulatory compliance, safety inspections and
audits and establishment of effective safety councils. Not a management
course, but it meets the immediate needs of line level officer assigned the
responsibility of managing the unit’s safety program. Maximum enrollment is
40.
Grants / Proposal Writing Workshop
Last year’s favorable responses to Mr. Richard Condon have led us to bring
him back to provide another workshop on Grant Funding and Application. If
your agency is contemplating grant applications, you will want to attend
this workshop. The Office of Homeland Security has made funding available
this year for state and local law enforcement agencies to prepare for and
combat domestic terrorism. Mr. Condon will also provide insights into grant
applications that may be available for aviation related technology.
This grant-writing workshop offers the most comprehensive resource
development training available for public safety professionals. The workshop
is conducted throughout the United States at local, state and federal public
safety training academies and other training facilities. Using instruction
and a detailed step-by-step manual with examples, students are taught the
methods and tricks-of-the-trade used by experts to obtain grants and other
assistance for programs, equipment, facilities and other critical needs. The
course will benefit both beginning and experienced grant writers, management
or public officials concerned with resource development or anyone seeking to
increase resources for public safety and other community needs. Maximum
enrollment is 75.
Night Vision Goggle Course
Also back by popular demand is Mr. Jimmy Hardin and his team of experts from
the U. S. Border Patrol, offering a two-day NVG orientation course. The
class offers an introductory course in NVG operations including training and
qualification requirements, aircraft modifications, equipment
familiarization and mission application/limitations. The course covers all
of the essentials of Night Vision Device use including theory, program
development, and maintenance issues, as well as pragmatic tips and personal
anecdotes. This NVG Course will take you from basic introduction to advanced
theory and practical use with specific emphasis on airborne law enforcement
roles. Sign up early for this one! This was one of the most popular
pre-conference offerings presented by ALEA last year. Maximum enrollment is
50.
Air Crew Operations Course
The ACOC has been significantly changed this year to focus more on patrol
tactics and techniques. The Air Crew Operations Course is intended to
provide all aircrew members with the skills and information necessary for
safe and successful completion of the airborne law enforcement mission. This
is essential and applicable to both pilots and observers. The course won’t
tell you what an aircraft is and how to locate the prop, but it will tell
you how to use it for airborne law enforcement. Learn how to effectively
deal with passengers, ground officers, and other crewmen. Find out what
specialized equipment is available, how to properly use the most common
gear, and how to direct a scene from the air. This class is an essential
stepping-stone in your professional development. Maximum enrollment is 50.
Unit Managers’ Course
As the 13-year annual favorite of the pre-conference course, this continues
to be a must-attend for newly assigned unit managers. This course has been
refreshed to address current issues in aviation unit management. It is
designed to provide both the new and experienced aviation unit manager and
supervisors the latest tools, tips, and techniques to effectively manage
their organization. Specific topics include personnel selection, training,
budget and record keeping, Public Aircraft issues, pursuit management,
aviation maintenance, safety, and SOP’s - all geared toward what the manager
and supervisor must know. Maximum enrollment is 40.
Command Safety Officer Course
This course could be considered Phase II of the Unit Managers’ Course,
equally a must for both the newly assigned and the seasoned veteran of
aviation unit command experience. This course is provided by the team of
Craig Geis and Mike Alvarado, internationally recognized experts in the
field of aviation safety and systems management. The CSC provides advanced
training in aviation safety for command, management, and supervisory level
personnel in airborne law enforcement units including both flight and ground
aviation issues. Find out why you need a good aviation safety program and
what it can do for your overall unit program. Covers theory, legal issues,
risk management, and establishing, continuing and funding a safety program.
Maximum enrollment is 25.
Airborne Thermal Imagery
This course is designed by and for ALEA members to meet the needs of
airborne thermal imaging rather than trying to translate ground-based
training. Without being vendor-specific, the course covers everything the
user needs to know in a basic course including technology, theory, tactics,
and legal issues. The course is presented in a seminar format using lecture,
slides, and video. Maximum enrollment is 50.
CFI Renewal
Unit CFIs have the opportunity to renew their instructor ratings with
outstanding instructor Leo Bell, whose engaging and entertaining style makes
learning a fun experience. This is ALEA’s fifth consecutive year sponsoring
this course. Not just your average CFI Course, this one is oriented toward
airborne law enforcement, both fixed wing and helicopter. Mr. Bell is one of
the most knowledgeable and entertaining in the industry. If you can adjust
your CFI renewal to attend the ALEA course, you won’t be disappointed.
Maximum enrollment is 20.
Maintenance IA Renewal Course
Not to be left out this year are the professional aircraft maintenance
personnel who will be afforded the opportunity to attend a one-day IA
certification renewal course. This course meets the eight-hour FAA
requirement and promises to be the most interesting one you’ve ever
attended. There are eight more hours of maintenance training offered during
the main conference portion. Maximum enrollment is 20.
Meeting Rooms and Classrooms:
Our meeting rooms this year are very conveniently placed so you can quickly
move from classes to exhibits. Pre-conference classes will be conducted in
the ballrooms of the Hyatt Regency Hotel itself, while Main Conference
classes will be conducted in upper conference rooms that lead directly to
the attached Convention Center. This makes it very easy to both attend
classes and access the exhibit floor, all the while in air-conditioned
comfort.
Main Conference Classes:
Main Conference classes and seminars again will be offered on a variety of
aviation topics. Several new classes have been added this year, including
Traffic Enforcement From The Air, Homeland Security Missions and
Applications, FLIR Operations in a Rural Environment, Cannabis Detection and
Eradication, In-Flight Emergencies, and several others. Our Saturday classes
will focus on four disciplines: unit management, patrol tactics, search and
rescue, and fixed-wing operations.
Once again, our ALEA Affiliates have graciously sponsored a “lunch crawl”
(aka free food) on the exhibit hall floor during the lunch hour on Thursday
and Friday. No educational classes will be offered between 11:00am – 1:00pm
on those days to allow uninterrupted time to meet with the vendors and enjoy
lunch.
Your opinion counts! Course critiques from last year played a major role
in shaping this year’s curriculum. During both the Pre-Conference and Main
Conference Courses, each of you will be asked to complete a very brief
critique of the class you have attended. Please take the time to complete
the critique and turn it in before you leave the class.
One of the best parts about learning is the informal sharing we do at
this annual conference. We learn by classroom participation, conversations
and exchanging insights into our unit’s unique experiences. By being
involved and speaking up, we strengthen both the organization and our
profession. Even though this is a time of austere budgets, remember that
training and learning are essential on-going needs, even if we have to fund
it on our own. There is no dollar value that can be placed on the continued
training and standards maintenance that we receive through ALEA. The
information you glean may make a life-saving difference.
(Back to top)
Above & Beyond:
Sheriff's Pilot Rescues Man Over Niagara Falls
By John J. Goldman, Los Angeles Times
There was a moment when Kevin Caffery, at the controls of the rescue
helicopter, locked eyes with the man desperately struggling to keep from
being swept over Niagara Falls. "My partner and I were sure this poor guy
was going over," said Caffery, a captain in the Erie County Sheriff's
Department.
And then, incredibly, as the man slipped, he was able to grab onto yet
another rock in the icy water. He was only a foot from the edge of the falls
and pleading, "Please, please don't lose me," when he was saved.
The 48-year-old man had slid down an icy slope into the water.
Authorities said he had fallen from Terrapin Point on Goat Island on the
U.S. side of Horseshoe Falls, skidding about 20 feet from the shoreline to
about five feet from the edge of the falls, which plunges 170 feet. New York
State Park Police summoned their helicopter when they were unable to pull
the man to safety.
"He was taken through the rapids, and at the last second, he managed to
grab onto a rock," Caffery said. "The rock was under water. He was able to
pull himself up, and was standing in water up to his thighs."
Attempts to save the man with a rescue basket dangling from the
helicopter failed. "He was so close to the brink, every time I attempted to
move close to him, the helicopter went over the brink of the falls and got a
tremendous draft of swirling air, and it was impossible to control the
helicopter," he said.
After consultations with rescue personnel on shore, Caffery and his
partner Art Litzinger, a tactical flight officer, decided to touch down
gently on an icy outcropping of land at the edge of the falls.
Firefighters handed a rescue ring with a rope to Litzinger in a back seat
of the helicopter as other police and firefighters attached to ropes and
wearing insulated suits waded into the water.
Darkness was fast approaching when the helicopter lifted off. "I flew
backward, and we dropped the rescue ring to him," Caffery said. "Just before
we dropped it, the over-wash from the helicopter knocked him off his feet,
and he slid to less than a foot from the brink. It was unbelievable. He was
able to somehow grab onto another rock."
The helicopter made another pass. This time, the man managed to hold on
to the ring while the rescuers in the water were able to pull him to shore.
"We were screaming in the helicopter when he grabbed that rescue ring,"
Caffery said. "That was the last hope. Our aircraft is called Air One. The
rescuers on the shore said, "If you can't get him Air One, he is going to
go."'
After the rescue, which took almost two hours at night, many of the 50
people who participated in the effort hugged each other and cheered. "I have
been doing this search and rescue for a lot of years," said Caffery, chief
pilot for the sheriff's office. "I have never seen anything like this. This
guy had a guardian angel sitting on his shoulder."
Note: The man was in stable condition the next day at the Niagara Falls
Medical Center, where he was treated for severe hypothermia.
(Back to top)
Expand Your Safety Knowledge & Networking
By Jay Fuller,
ALEA Safety Coordinator
As ALEA Safety Coordinator, I have a vision of the perfect law
enforcement aviation unit. It is one that provides service to its parent
police agency; it provides real-time situational information and
intelligence unavailable from other sources; it is a force multiplier,
allowing the agency to deal with more circumstances than its ground
resources can accommodate; and it performs law enforcement tasks that would
not be possible by surface based equipment alone. And, every person
assigned, every minute of the day, works with the intent of preventing
mishaps and preserving resources. Safety must be our culture; safety is "the
way we do business".
Safety is the single main purpose of ALEA. Our training programs have
generated a series of regional safety seminars throughout the year and the
annual ALEA National Conference. This issue of Air Beat Magazine is
dedicated to this year's conference in Wichita. I ask that you carefully
read through this issue and note the pre-conference classes plus conference
seminars being presented. Conference seminars are free to attendees and the
pre-conference courses, although presented at a fee, are some of the best,
most cost effective training opportunities you will find in the aviation
field. Further, they are generated and conducted by experienced law
enforcement aviation professionals with you in mind.
Having been involved with many aviation organizations over my 36-year
career and attended numerous seminars and conferences, I can honestly say
that ALEA provides the best return on value for conference attendees that
you will find anywhere, and an enjoyable experience at the same time. Think
seriously about attending, even if it's on your own nickel. And sell the
program up the hierarchy, including senior managers above but outside the
aviation unit. I am continuously reading about the fiscal pressures being
placed on state and local agencies, in some cases negatively impacting law
enforcement activities, but now is the time to take advantage of the cost
effective educational opportunities. While other courses and conferences may
be outside the realm of fiscal possibility for your organization, review the
ALEA National Conference carefully.
The course I am most excited about is one we will be conducting for the
first time this year. The Aviation Unit Safety Officer (ASO) pre-conference
course will be taught over three days from July 21-23. It is intended to
meet the needs of a line officer assigned to the duty of managing the
aviation unit's safety program.
As one who was assigned as safety officer for the NY State Police with no
previous safety management experience, I recognize the value of such a
class. Fortunately, I worked for an organization that understood the
necessity of training, bought me books, and sent me to school. However the
commercial training I received lacked the perspective of a tactical, law
enforcement environment. The course we have devised consists partly of basic
aviation safety elements taught by an outside agency and partly of safety
elements taught by experienced law enforcement aviation personnel. Thus, we
will not only teach basic safety principles and methodology, but also how to
apply these in an operating environment. It's a must for the new ASO or
someone who is interested in initiating a unit safety program. Further, it
is applicable to current safety officers.
ALEA will be conducting the Command Safety Course as well. This is a
traditional course for the national conference and it is aimed at aviation
unit managers and supervisors. Traditional aviation safety principles are
taught with an emphasis on the importance of command involvement. If you're
an aviation unit supervisor, plan to attend. If you have previously attended
but it's been a few years, think about coming again. Material does change
and review is always a positive thing.
We will again host a Safety Symposium during the main conference. This
year we'll start out with a short brief on ALEA safety activities followed
by a guest safety presentation. The last half of the symposium will be a
traditional round table discussion of safety issues in our industry plus
eliciting new ideas and issues from attendees. Make a note of the time and
place, and be sure to attend.
Aside from those classes mentioned, all pre-conference and conference
classes either directly or indirectly address safety issues. Each can
enhance the safety of your unit's operating environment.
(Back to top)
Airmen vs. Kidney Stones
By Ronald W. Case, M.D., FACS, AME
Kidney stones are one of the most painful disorders to afflict humans,
and a common ailment for pilots. In fact, there are approximately one
million cases of kidney stones each year. It is estimated that 10 percent of
all people in the United States will have a kidney stone at some point in
their life, affecting men more frequently than women.
Kidney stones are a disorder of the urinary tract. Most kidney stones
pass out of the body without any intervention by a physician. Cases that
cause lasting symptoms or complications may be treated by various techniques
that do not involve major surgery. Research advances have also led to a
better understanding of the many factors that promote stone formation.
The urinary system consists of the kidneys, ureters, bladder and urethra.
The kidneys are two bean-shaped organs located below the ribs toward the
middle of the back. The kidneys remove extra water and wastes from the
blood, converting it to urine. They also keep a stable balance of salts and
other substances in the blood. The kidneys produce hormones that help build
strong bones and help form red blood cells.
Narrow tubes called ureters carry urine from the kidneys to the bladder, a
triangle-shaped chamber in the lower abdomen. Like a balloon, the bladder's
elastic walls stretch and expand to store urine. They flatten together when
urine is emptied through the urethra to outside the body.
A kidney stone develops from crystals that separate from urine and build
up on the inner surfaces of the kidney. Normally, urine contains chemicals
that prevent or inhibit the crystals from forming. These inhibitors do not
seem to work for every one and some people form stones. If the crystals
remain tiny enough, they will travel through the urinary tract and pass out
of the body in the urine without even being noticed. /p>
Kidney stones may contain various combinations of chemicals. The most
common type of stone contains calcium in combination with either oxalate or
phosphate. These chemicals are part of a person's normal diet. A less common
type of stone is caused by infection in the urinary tract. Gallstones and
kidney stones are not related.
For some unknown reason, the number of persons in the United States with
kidney stones has been increasing over the past 20 years. Kidney stones
strike most people between the ages of 20 and 40. Once a person gets more
than one stone, he or she is more likely to develop others.
Doctors do not always know what causes a stone to form. Certain foods may
promote stone formation in people who are susceptible. A person with a
family history of kidney stones, urinary tract infections, kidney disorders,
and metabolic disorders such as hyperparathyroidism are more likely to form
kidney stones.
Usually, the first symptom of a kidney stone is extreme pain. The pain
often begins suddenly when a stone moves in the urinary tract, causing
irritation or blockage. If fever and chills accompany any of these symptoms,
an infection may be present.
To prevent calcium stones that form in hyperparathyroid patients, a
surgeon may remove part or all of the parathyroid glands (located in the
neck).
Some type of surgery may be needed to remove a kidney stone if the stone
does not pass after a reasonable period of time and causes constant pain.
There are several procedures that can be done to successfully treat kidney
stones:
Extracorporeal Shockwave Lithotripsy (ESWL) uses shockwaves that are
created outside of the body to travel through the skin and body tissues
until the waves hit the stones. The stones become sand-like and are easily
passed through the urinary tract in the urine.
Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy is recommended to remove larger stones or in
a location that does not allow effective use of ESWL.
Ureteroscopy may be needed for mid and lower ureteral stones. The surgeon
passes a small fiberoptic instrument called an ureteroscope through the
urethra and bladder into the ureter to remove it with a cage-like device or
shatters it with a special instrument that produces a form of shockwave.
The Federal Aviation Administration has specific guidelines regarding
kidney stones or as they refer to them "Renal Stones". Retained stones are
disqualifying for issuance of a medical certificate. The Examiner should
either deny or defer issuance and transmit the completed FAA for 8500-8 to
the Aero Medical Certification Division. Complete studies to determine the
possible etiology and prognosis are essential to favorable FAA
consideration. The likelihood of sudden incapacitating symptoms is of
primary concern.
An Examiner may not issue a medical certificate to an applicant with a
history of recent or recurring renal stones unless there is documentation
that there is no residual stone or significant likelihood of recurrence. If
the applicant has a remote history of a single episode of a kidney stone and
is free of signs or symptoms, the Examiner may issue a medical certificate.
The documentation obtained must be submitted to the FAA.
Prevention Points to Remember
- People who have a family history of stones or who have had more than
one stone are likely to develop another.
- A good first step to prevent any type of stone is to drink plenty of
liquids - water is best.
- People with chronic urinary tract infections and stones will often
need the stone removed if the doctor determines that the infection results
from the stone's presence.
(Back to top)
|