(Always wanted to be a commercial pilot. My wife also is a physician).
Curious, what is type procedure to verify that someone really is a physician? The OP doesn't mention if a license was checked or otherwise. He relates having to speak to a someone on the ground before he could use the kit but doesn't indicate if any check of credentials was made.
A similar thing happened to my wife (an MD). She was asked by the crew if she had any sort of hospital ID. There turned out to be ~3 other doctors on board, so she wasn't needed, but they did ask for some kind of confirmation that she was indeed a doctor.
Well is not so glamourous after all. A friend of mine is currently working in Oman, he has told me that there are tons of american pilots working there as the salaries can be double than in the states. For young pilots the salary can be as low as 1000$/month. So there is lot of emigration in this profession.
If you really would like to enjoy flying, just try soaring!. Much more safe than paragliding (more expensive too and less convenient). Only the plane and your ability to extract energy from the atmosphere. Awesome!. Of course being in North America you must try a flight in a warbird!
Curious, what is type procedure to verify that someone really is a physician? The OP doesn't mention if a license was checked or otherwise. He relates having to speak to a someone on the ground before he could use the kit but doesn't indicate if any check of credentials was made.