then are able to re-apply. BUT I HAVE 40+ YEARS AND 5100 HRS OF PIC IN MY OWN AIR CRAFT WITH OUT INCIDENT OR ACCIDENT. Question:Do you think most pilots fib on applications for medical certificates? I understand why a lot of this stuff, like the sport pilot initiative, takes so long and always falls short, but cmon, this one is easy and its gonna bite them in the ass. About a week before I was suppose to be soloed I went for my medical and was told by my AME that I cant fly because I take adderal. They are soulless people that treat you as a thing, not a human person. It is already hard enough to convince the FAA that you are healthy enough to fly after dealing with lifes curve balls. When reading many aviation magazines and articles it seems likely that most accidents are a result of lack of proficiency rather than due to medical issues. Or have a child die and see a counselor of any sort. the third class should go away. Google "Operation Safe Pilot." In a blatant violation of the privacy act of 1974 as amended, the FAA, DOT Inspector General, and SSA Inspector General, conducted an illegal database match looking for common personally identifying information (names and/or social security numbers) in the FAA medical certificate database and the SSA Title 2 and Title 16 disability databases of 45,000 Northern . The FAA issues updates to the AME Guide on a monthly basis. After 7 years and three more third class medicals-the FAA medical office suddenly decided I had 30 days to provide all the records from a condition I had 20 years ago, or have my medical suspended. We should not be subjected to this inquisitional questionnaire in the first place. On a related note, has anyone used an aeromedical service company to help obtain/renew a medical certificate? Throwaway account for obvious reasons. Not only is the medical certificate process flawed, so is the new AOPA iniative. You know what, I think we should drown the FAA in paperwork in protest. I have been screwing around with Oklahoma City since May 2010 and I still really have not made a very big dent towards my certification. People, in general, are in better health than they were 20-30 years ago, largely by not smoking, watching their weight, eating less fatty foods, etc. What the FAA is looking for are patterns of behavior that suggest pathological conditions that may lead to gross negligence or unsafe decisions regarding flying. I do not think that there is anybody who does not lie or has not lied at one time or another. Another friend had accompanied me to this testing and he sat across the table from me so that he could see the doctors actions. Ive no choice but be truthfull,but I am sure Ive flown with other pilots who are afraid of admitting or just dont admit that they are not fit to fly themselves or their passengers safely.Does that ache youve been noticing or even worse ignoring mean something? I hid it from the FAA for 12 years They found out I didnt disclose it and revoked ALL my certificates ATP multi-single engine land, Commercial rotorcraft and glider as well as all my flight instructor certificates. Today with the revolution in the medical diagnostic procedures, and early detection system and timely treatment most airline pilots will qualify and pass the medical exam if the questions were not leading ones. Does anyone really believe that this is also not true for pilots and in fact is probably much higher, given the hard working conditions. The 1320 pound (600 Kg) limit is based on the European standard, I think. The airman who never was on medication for depression and certinatly never had a hospitible addmitance was now having to prove a negative. The application states once hired you must obtain a class 2 medical cert However, if you do get caught, at best you will lose your license. I have to do the same stuff to go ice diving. For Uncle Sam, though, this is anything but a judgment call. Beyond criminal penalties and keeping your pilots license, there are many other reasons to be forthright with your FAA Aviation Medical Examiner (AME), but for now just as a thought experiment consider that you choose to falsify your medical certificate application. As a 74 year old pilot, I feel that seeing the Aviation Doc every two years is good for my health. If it is not recurrent, you should be able to demonstrate with help from your private treating physician that the problem no longer exists. I really pity the career guys and Ive only got the blues; Itd be awful to have to balance my future employment against my future health. NONE . Therefore I go to a chiropractor every chance I get. I have patients with heart disease who are able to continue to fly on special issuance. But WHILE it is a problem for the flier, not after it is treated. I see a lack of evidence that this saves lives. Stan, what is the diagnosis for which you have special issuance? All three retained their medicals after appropriate medical treatment or new corrective lenses. Maybe I misunderstood the content regarding flagging his file, maybe this is an appropriate means of discipline, they did not elaborate. astronaut training. My driving record is perfect, but I have been wondering if the FAA will reject my certificate because of an assault charge that happened five years ago back when I was in highschool. Does A Surgical Mask Help Avoid COVID-19? Also remember Ronald Crews 16 months in jail flying with Cape Air back in 2006 for lying about his diabetes on question 18k and then he had a diabetic seizure in flight but luckily there was a student pilot there to land the plane. Meanwhile the FAA now sits on thier collective thumbs deciding what to do. There are too many who are afraid of liability. I Fly America 2021, Paul Engstrom, Aviation Writer and IFA Member, Health for Pilots: A Complete Guide to FAA Medical Certification and Self-Care. He showed no regard for the safety of others, nor did he feel guilty about lying, just relieved he passed. Lying on the medical is usually unnecessary in order to keep flying, and has such potentially dire consequences for ones life, family, and finances that its not worth the risk. I cheeted on a eye test flowen with out a incedent. What next, psych eval, cholesterol screen for atherosclerosis, denying smokers because risk of copd exacerbation in unexpected decompression, genetic screening to predict addictive personality or anger tendency? Is being illiterate a bar to being a pilot conquer? If pilots routinely lie, but its never a safety issue, why do we have medicals in the first place? He passed his 3rd class every time. Needless to say, I have never taken a $100 Hamburger flight. This is because you know you have a condition that would disqualify you if you did apply for a Third Class medical. Here in Italy Superman still dictates. He then went on to work for the leading aviation magazines, including as editor of both AOPA Pilot and Flying. Sometimes I think its not necessary for ATC people to have medicals. At worse, you may face a hefty fine or even criminal prosecution. I was diagnosed with PTSD from my service in the infantry Vietnam in 1968/1969 and have received counseling for it. Regardless of whether they lie or not, the system seems to be working there seem to be very few (if any) crashes or incidents related to pilot incapacitation that they FAA/NTSB can point to a problem that should have come in a medical. One change I would like in the current procedure for the special issuance is to have my AME rather than those in Oklohoma City decide if I am healthy enough to fly. Skydiving. Telling the truth has cost me nearly 2 years of no flying due only to a late reply by my doctor and now I am walking away from my favorite form of relaxation, anyone want to buy my plane? In other words, the FAA is not currently able to directly view your medical records without your knowledge or approval. I always had to do a stress test, but starting 2 years ago, that has been expanded to require radionuclide scintigraphy every other year. thank you, that will be $110. there would be no one to fly these jumbo jets. They will also review how your current application compares to the ones you have submitted in the past and your driving record. Question 17 can identify for the FAA that an individual is currently taking a disqualifying medication such as Adderall, Ritalin, Concerta, Strattera, etc, commonly used to treat ADHD. Im just grateful to have my medical and hope to keep it however long I have to have it. In this age of fax machines, email, twitter, facebook, linked in, etc, it is obvious that the FAA is stuck in the past. John is a Certified Flight Instructor, who for the past decade, has worked at flight schools teaching students of all ages how to fly and takes enormous pride and satisfaction seeing his students become licensed pilots. Would the FAA prefer people to auger in because they are depressed rather than get a medication. I was then a County Police Officer for 21 years. People are who they are. Lie by default. I have to weigh in on this issue. You get caught lying on a medical, they'll do a lot more than just bust your balls. Im older now and have some typical late 40s health issues. At worse, you may face a hefty fine or even criminal prosecution. Irs Data Book, 2020. chances of getting caught lying on faa medical one of the medications used treat! Remove the AME from the loop, and there is no one but the pilot to judge whether the above situation is safe. John has been quoted or mentioned in major publications, including Chron, Flying Mag, and National Review. I reported hypertension and was required to have an entire cardiac work-up within the past 6 months. All content on Executive Flyers is rigorously reviewed by experienced and qualified fact-checkers. Also, if I lose my medical, Id save a ton of money on flying and could retire a good 10-15 years earlier! Increasing the gross weight limit of the Sport Aircraft class is a really good idea. Because they can longer fly. There are heart transplant pilots flying. Everyone should say they have been dizzy. I know this Pilot who has type 1 Diabetes which requires insulin injections daily, drinks alcohol every night, takes an antidepressant, and every afternoon gets the shakes. | site designed by. Federal employees should qualify for at least a class three medical for airmen and let us toss in the medication list and drug testing for commercial drivers. But Jordan also said: 'Folks need not be overly concerned about losing their medical certificate, as we end up disqualifying very few when you look at the total number of applicants.'. They came within 2 weeks of revoking my medical. How about an 83 year-old on medication for type II diabetes, depression, and senility taking medication for all 3 problems? FAA needs to justify their man hours.with scapegoats. Too little or false information could park a pilot on the ground'permanently'and lead to fines and jail time if authorities detect a lie or deceit. When learning to fly originally I was not even made aware this nor the NPPL was available. I would be totally fine with an evaluation, but it sounds like a lengthy- expensive- and rather rigorous test that offers no gurentee to a medical. In our experience, only a small minority of pilots actually try to maliciously conceal significant active medical problems. But the feds harass pilots, not drivers, because they can get away with it with pilots but not with drivers. , you can navigate the process efficiently. We display medical information based on FAAs Civil Aerospace Medical Institute (CAMI) medical records. 'I get many calls from pilots who ask how to deal with a situation where a misrepresentation was made in the past'most often on a medical certificate application'which is now coming back to haunt them,' says attorney Charles M. Finkel. Is the medical for safety or for what other purpose? Its sad. His response was that the FAA wanted to ascertain that I was aware of the disability and take necessary actions to overcome it, In this case to use other senses to monitor the aircrafts actions, i.e. What to do? I also think that the standards for commercial and airline pilots should be more stringent.. You wouldn't report your dad or grandpa if he had a serious medical condition that could endanger his passengers and he was lying about it? Like everything els not all AMEs are created equally. Im healthy, but had been to the doc a number of times over the last couple years (or whatever the reporting period was), for inconsequential (for flying) things, so, just reading the med form, as it said I could, I attached a sheet with all those doc visits. One correction that I expect an AME to know if you have a condition that you KNOW will result in a medical denial, youre not qualified to fly sport. Multiple assaults or domestic convictions might indicate some psychiatric disturbance that requires looking into. We have an entrenched bureaucracy that refuses to relinquish power and money. It sure would eliminate a lot of phone calls and digging through files for me. If Im not successful, well, I will probably just put the dream to bed again. There's also the possibility that the results of a blood or urine test will expose a condition you tried to hide. That question cant be removed from the form easily, so you have the option of clicking the box labelled International or declining to provide and leaving the field blank. Some records reviewer in OKC can not guarantee those in my aircraft a safe journey only I can do that. Ask your AME to call Oklahoma City and ask to speak with a physician about your case. Im not sure what I think about all this but Ill tell you my story. With a second class medical, itll be 12 calendar months, and if you start with the third class medical, itll be for 24 calendar months. I was an investigator for the CIA from 2001-2006 and armed security for CIA facilities for 4 years after that. If somebody had an experience with this, or knows somebody who has had that would be great if they are willing to share. Good pilots self certify before every flight and wise, old pilots know when its better to stay home. We report, you decipher. It is possible that the Emirates authorities will check to see if he can make an attempt at a complete sentence with capitalization and punctuation. PLEASE HELP Consider the following tabulations on the number of deaths per year in various activities: Motorcycle deaths 4500 However, if you do get caught, at best you will lose your license. Withholding a medical certificate by the FAA for long periods of time while (somewhat silly in many instances) paperwork is completed does not help with the proficiency issue. So, easing up on the medical requirements would be based on real world situations. Heres more information on the FAAs battery of neuropsychological testing: https://www.faa.gov/about/office_org/headquarters_offices/avs/offices/aam/ame/guide/dec_cons/disease_prot/adhd/. Yes its very rare for someone to have heart attack or neurological brain seizure in flight. I am in full support of the exemption and hope you will support it too; after all, it has worked for the Sport program and it seems it will work for you! While a diabetic can develop hypoglycemic coma, a cardiac patient faint from an arrhythmia, or a patient become mentally impaired from an excessive dose of a medication, the real world evidence does not support that such incidences are common enough to recommend banning driving by those with such medical conditions. As statistics show flying is considerably safer than any land based carrier. I for one, not being a medical doctor, place my trust in my AME and my PCP. I wonder if your AME is really doing everything he can to be your advocate in this situation. Address: PO Box 11 West Liberty, KY 41472, Email: Anthony@ThePilotLawyer.com | Christopher@ThePilotLawyer.com, Office Hours: Mon - Thu, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM (Eastern Time Zone)Fri, 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM (Eastern Time Zone)Messages left for attorneys after these business hours will be addressed the following business day, during business hours, The Ison Law Firm offers FAA defense nationwide from our offices in Florida and Kentucky, Lakeland Web Design by BrightSky Web Design, Messages left for attorneys after these business hours will be addressed the following business day, during business hours, https://www.faa.gov/about/office_org/headquarters_offices/avs/offices/aam/ame/guide/dec_cons/disease_prot/adhd/, Assessment for Sleep Apnea During Your FAA Medical, FAA Medical Certificate and Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia. They did not elaborate to relinquish power and money the medications used treat though! This saves lives get caught lying on a related note, has used. 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