I agreemost pilots at least fail to mention things. If you fear denial, speak to someone that knows what they are talking about, not a blog. This in spite of my personal physician and the AMA specifically noting several times that it was a complete non-issue. But most of disqualifying conditions can be dealt with, and your AME should help you do that. I was shocked I never thought a medical would ever be an issue for me. At medical renewal you give a different date for same previously reported event. So, I can only assume that the FAA will see it so there is no question about having to report it myself. Telling the truth in MedXPress is clearly the right thing to do, but that is not what this article is about. I have informed my regular doctor to please clear with me anything they might write in my record, as it could affect my FAA medical. Whether or not your AME issues your medical certificate, the FAAs Aeromedical Certification Division (AMCD) will review your application. thank you, that will be $110. This is truly a Great Debate. And two complete submittals of blood tests. My admitting to counselling halted my medical. This applies to ANY wildcat actions, including slowdown, work-to-rules, withdrawal of enthusiasm (WOE), sickouts, etc. I am going to start a letter campaign to ask the people who can make this happen (our elected officials), to get behind it and make it happen quickly. If you are a student looking to get your first medical certificate issued, or a pilot who needs to renew your license, the same principles apply. FAA doesnt. Most pilots I know plan to fly for longer than it takes one or two medical certificates to expire. That cost me about six months of flying. I never have believed a medical for a private pilot operating his own aircraft has any validity. If you have any concerns about your next FAA flight physical, contact us to find out the best way to prepare. I will follow that up with a word of warning. You are very nave about physicians income from doing FAA medicals. I would respect them more if they screened for problems and helped people cure them, rather than go over the hill with a knee jerk reaction. How do I get a copy of my FAA written test? My own doctor sent me to the local hospital who cleared me and found nothing wrong. All other patients was sick, so sick but pilots healthy, so healthy. But here is where the absurdity of this over zealous pursuit of perfect safety is to be seen: It has little to do with Health. That would shut them down for good. That resulted in the rejection of my 2010 medical! How long is a 2nd class medical good for over 40? Unfortunately, nuts-deep in lighting nowwhoo.. A few pilots are apparently blatant about this but I would wager that most just tell little white lies. Also the FAA does check your National Driver Register/Record so make sure you keep your driving safe. Needless to say, I have never taken a $100 Hamburger flight. For airmen, this, like so many other aspects of aviation, is a judgment call'but one that also gets tangled up in personal ethics. I got the picture regarding medical, but am concerned about the section regarding legal history. They are issued by states. The FAA would, if it could, ban all general aviation to create a perfect safety record, and thus avoid any potential criticism from the press and Congress. Signed, RN/PPSEL/IFR. Information on the certificate will be populated from data that has been entered into the electronic form. Even patients, with well controlled epilepsy, may safely drive. I did years later and got totally cleared. Over forty years I have watched the change from Aryan superman standards to wheelchair/ limbless PPL pilots. I had the whole Combined Medical Board (CMB) certifying that I had systolic heart murmur that justified them to ground me from Air Force flying. I on the other hand can only fly sport and do when I can find a plane to rent. It is irrelevant whether the union itself has anything to do with the action. hej Jim, you couldnt describe better the current situation: from Aryan superman to weelchair pilot. What does NTSB say? Boating accident deaths 750 Many pilots get away with submitting false information on their MedXPress applications. Lets analyze how you got to a denial and what can be done to appeal the denial. Here is my suggestion: Expand the gross weight of light sport airplanes to something like 1800 pounds. Now, prostate cancer several years in the past with normal PSAs now is not a hindrance and the AME is instructed to issue the medical certificate. If you can pass a regular physical, youre probably in good enough shape to fly, physically, anyway. While I dont think most will lie on their medicals, I feel that some will if they have an issue and are in fear of losing their certificate(s). How come the standards are so different now? The FAA is charged with both promoting aviation and regulating its safety, which can be conflicting responsibilities. Telling the truth in MedXPress is clearly the right thing to do, but that is not what this article is about. I think that increasing the value of a worn out C150 to about $100K (which would happen the day they were included in the category) would take most of the trainer fleet out of circulation and the already paultry number of students would dry up completely. I'm a pilot, and an air traffic controller. I showed him on the form. That isnt good leadership. It doesnt seem to exhibit much intelligence to uselessly act excited after the fact instead of before. I dont think the FAA realizes that pilots arent average human beings. I was told at a young age I could not fly with one eye, but latter in life I found out I could with a medical waver. Hey Guys as you know there is nothing private on the internet. I wanted to go to the interview with the certificate already in hand so I could have a slight edge. A trip to the pulmonologist to see if you have sleep apnea and subsequent CPAP will make you lose the ticket for a long time until you have jumped through very lengthy and expensive FAA hoops. My ex lied and never mentioned it. The rules here have not changed, but the enforcement will now result in a 30 day ban from APC for violations. If you submit something on your MedXPresss application that does not agree with previous applications, that can trigger an in-depth review, Your AME can defer your application for any reason that will most like result in further information requests, The FAA could request information based on the results of your driving record search, For military veterans, disagreement between your MedXPress application and your VA disability ratings often earns a letter from the FAA. AFAIK the FAA considers ADHD medications a serious issue. Governmental overkill? Such a persons private physician(s) might not think so, but those physician(s) have no say in the matter. What you didnt? From a practical standpoint, it makes the most sense. Im just grateful to have my medical and hope to keep it however long I have to have it. Pilots that I talk to share the same dreams as I do and we all began chasing the dream at an extremely young age. (BTW, I am a member of both.) If you cant pass the physical you need to find another way to fly. Oh sure they lie. Period. An airline pilot may have 500 passengers aboard while flying under stringent IFR conditions. However, if you do get caught, at best you will lose your license. The FAA Medical requirements need revision and made more rational instead of simply being a procedural nightmare for pilots. Port St. Lucie, FL 34988 I for one, not being a medical doctor, place my trust in my AME and my PCP. At worse, you may face a hefty fine or even criminal prosecution. Typical government bull-. May just you please lengthen them a little from next time? I have a perfect driving record,clean medical history,and also a clean criminal history. If I wanted to continue learning to fly I had to pay to visit a nomiated CAA doctor. - I am going to take my FAA First Class Medical examination in a few months for my very first certificate. Not just surprise test changes from the FAA but the FMCSA again wanting to reduce truck drivers hours of service due to fatigue despite the lack of evidence published on the FMCSAs own web site. Im a 24 year old healthy male non smoker athlete with 20/20 vision and I cant fly because I took adderal as needed for help concentrating in school. Anyway if your willing I have a ton of questions for you. What was yours for if you dont mind me asking. No, of course you should not lie to your AME, but you should find one who knows how to work with you, and the FAA, to successfully maneuver around those inevitable issues which are bound to come up from time to time during a life of flying. I do recommend that you do ask your AME any questions regarding your medications and or your medical history and assist in the gathering of medical records relating to what condition you may have and also the same for your arrest/and or correctional history to explain why on the medical form in the explanations page. The questionaire is so impossible to answer honestly because it uses the word ever. No. 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. :). It is so easy for those not flying professionally to prescribe stricter rules for those that do. The information contained herein is meant for informational purposes only. So if there is cause, e.g a call to the FAA's hotline, an investigation will occur, and these will be seen and rather quickly. I have thought about going Sport Pilot but if I am not healthy enough to pass tests for a 3rd class physical I am not healthy enough to fly sport pilot. If you have more than two DUIs you are disqualified for good unless you can get the FAA to budge which is rare I have known people who have had this happen to them. Home | About | Contact | Copyright | Report Content | Privacy | Cookie Policy | Terms & Conditions | Sitemap. And on the other hand we have people like the pilot mentioned in J. Mac McClellans article Too Many Risks in the May 2012 issue of Sport Aviation who out right lied about his substance use and abuse. Duuuuuuuuuh do fat babies fart? So Rex you never spun around and got dizzy as a child? Skye, If you have not required counselling for a few years and are not taking anti-depressants you should be good to go. Id never put my family in danger and drive a car if I wasnt feeling well, why would anyone think Id fly that way? Otherwise I tend to be so healthy that I simply wouldnt ever go to the doctor. Would I report this or any depression on the 8500-8? Why would I deprive myself of the one thing that brings me joy in my life to appease such imbecilic, calamitous assumptions as to the risks I pose to others? Great guy, but he needlessly put a lot of peoples lives in danger. Your signature at the bottom authorizes the FAA to search the National Drivers Registry for violations involving alcohol or illegal drugs, for instance, so you may want to think twice about trying to conceal a drunk driving conviction. It's better to try to resolve a condition first than to risk having your application rejected or delayed for months by the FAA. That would translate into 45-50 deaths a year. They even asked me are you sure you never had epilepsy attacks?. Then, I initiated actions to get tested, never dreaming that FAA would punish me for being conscientious and wanting to be fully alert. In certain circumstances, I wouldnt think twice about lying on the medical form, quite frankly. Good pilots self certify before every flight and wise, old pilots know when its better to stay home. Such law, whether it be the Prohibition of Alcohol, a tea tax or 3rd class medical requirements, will be seen only as an assault upon the freedom of those governed, designed solely to enhance the authority of its issuing agency through intimidation. However, if you do get caught, at best you will lose your license. AOPA and FAA have not really been a lot of help. It was OK to fly without government harassment. The answer is that the population would not tolerate it. Every child at some point decides to spin around and around until they are dizzy and fall down. At a certain point there is the issue of freedom vs safety. have you ever once in your life had and on the other hand they are so vague. I have all kinds of things happen to me and I can not possibly put them all down or even remember them. As one previous poster mentioned, why not let the AME make more of the calls, especially for class 3? If you are stupid and want to wait months for a medical waiver. The absurdity of these medicals resides in the tiny number of casualties from medical incapacitation, compared to most other activities requiring no medical. Theres also the issue of things that a doctor may speculate on that they have no training or qualifications to formally diagnose. One comment referenced the fact that we dont have to have a medical to operate a car or any other type of transportation vehicle. No he should not have been grounded. Fortunately with the airlines, there is always a second pilot capable of flying the plane. instead of just listening to the engine, watch the instruments that monitored the engine. I think that FAA should be concerned about this difficulty in people. The FAA medical process makes it nearly impossible to comply with completely. Thus the FAAs excessive emphasis, on the potential hazards of medical conditions and medications, serves only to reinforce its own bureaucratic authority. I agree the sport licensse should include at least up to a 152, super cub and all two seat trainers. I greatly respect him, and therefore, I must meter the information I give him about my own medical problems ungood! And, actually, the FAA is making Special Issuance less of a problem for certain diseases. Next, instead of the Class 3 Medical Certificate being good for 5 years until age 40 when it decreases to 2 years, make the decrease more gradual. Dont worry about getting caught unless you lie about you criminal history you will be fine. Id rather be flying but I dont require the FAAs approval for my activities. Yet there is no medical requirement for any of these. Let me start with a word of advice: DONT DO IT. But, its on the list that would prevent me from passing my medical, so I did not name them. I would have assumed since this person had been flying for awhile, and flying solo that they would have imposed sanctions such as the ones discussed above. The application states once hired you must obtain a class 2 medical cert Something like 75% of all medicals that arrive in OKC come from outside the USA. Just makes you wonder. The states set the standards for driver licenses and the Feds set the standards for pilot medical certificates and pilot certificates. My understanding is that the FAA cannot see your personal medical records without your permission so how are guys getting caught. Medical certificates are designated as first-class, second-class, or third-class. Yeah thought so. Ok, I read the revised FAA 61.53 and I have been under a misconception; however, there are most likely many others who believe like I did. With the right preparation, you can navigate the process efficiently. How is THAT not a red flag to someone??? The word EVER in the forms will toss you through a buttload of psychological tests you will be sorry you were ever honest. Bungee jumping. With that framework in mind, it should be obvious that the FAA has a number of overlapping methods to catch you lying on your flight physical application. I was then a County Police Officer for 21 years. There are too many who are afraid of liability. Expand the Sport Pilot Program and the sport aircraft class (Cessna 150, and other two seat trainers) and there will be no need to lie. Im about done flying, it is expensive enough without the FAA making it more so needlessly. Also, if you are too young for that, they can check other insurance companies and, apparently, a company, McKesson I believe, that gathers and compiles statistical data from and for insurance companies. Like driving big trucks and boats have no such pseudo-medical crap. I hope the FAA box didnt kill more. Find one that will help you get through the maze, not simply hand your problem off to the FAA. How does the FAA find out what medications you are on? 6 months and 2 weeks earlier I had one done for a Peace Corps application and sent that in, which would have been good for 2 years. The FAA gives final denial to only 0.01% of applications. You just hit a key to the problem. I can not discuss my medical problems with my trusted friend and AME as he MUST tell the FAA about these problems! But the feds harass pilots, not drivers, because they can get away with it with pilots but not with drivers. That would include most of the trainers (Cessna 120, 140, 150, 152, Piper Tomahawk, etc.) We know that the incidence of major depression in the general population is 10%. He memorized the color chart. WOW they had a conniption, and I lost my ticket for several months while they dithered. Do You Need A PHD To Be A Medical Scientist? 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 . ASMEL, CFII, AME, Hi, Im currently a student pilot I finally saved up the money to go after my dream. Perfect safety is impossible, and an excessive attempt to achieve it will conflict with freedom. He wouldnt go to hell and back (becoming a commercial pilot) if he didnt want his dream. Me- private pilot ASEL, Airplane Instrument, flying since 1986. Managing a flight department or want to offer a premium service to your club members or students. before an incident so we know how to correct. People Lie to do what they love to do. Comparatively, what I take is barely more than a prescription grade Imodium AD. Im not trying to be deceitful, but I really want to be prepared for this interview and I dont see the importance of something that wont effect flying. I have sleep apnea and use a Constant Positive Air Pressure (CPAP) machine. Federal Air Surgeon Jon Jordan is very aware of the FAA fear factor among pilots who worry about the potential consequences of filling out the form truthfully. Or have a child die and see a counselor of any sort. Get thorough guidance on how to proceed. If the problem went away, petition the FAA to remove the requirement for special issuance. Remember that most pilots who have lost their medicals because they lied are probably not around here to talk about it. Yea if you got deep pockets to afford the tests you Probably dont need. Two of the pilots I know of with these problems have Class 1 Medical Certificates. That is approximately the same magnitude as deaths from lightning strikes, or falling out of bed (literally). He as a jet driver and as the sole pilot that might have been a problem during the flight he was scheduled for the next day. If you ever lose it you can simply request a new one. I HAVE NEVER ACTUALLY TRIED FOR A MEDICAL OR A LISENSE AS FAR AS THAT GOES. My question is what are they doing in order to get caught. I do medicals on two pilots who went on a vigorous diet and lost weight. Before I was flying my previous HMO physician told me I was the perfect patient for the insurance company because I hadnt shown up for seven years. I love flying and if I had to give it up, I know I would feel like part of me, and who I am, has been lost. The process is so closed ,opaque, and bureaucratic. Also my flight instructor was telling me that he knew an applicant who lied about his criminal history for shoplifting and two to three months later the FAA found out and pulled his medical currently and he did not hear back for any clearance to fly again so these are great examples why not lie. Yes I can agree even thought I am a pilot right now I do want to work for the airlines one day so I will need a first class which I currently hold. I lost my career as an airline pilot (major airline) and my life spiraled out of control. But, to the uninformed, it has an appearance of diligence. The 8500-8 of necessity must be brief and it is very difficult to get authorization to change it. I dont care who you are if you tell me that you have never been diagnosed with anything then you are the liar. Misdiagnosed with epilepsy. I fly for a living. Find one that will work with you to meet the necessary requirements, but lying is not an option. AMCD will consider much more than the information you submitted in MedXPress and your AMEs exam findings. Due to the self-reporting nature, the chances of getting caught lying on an FAA medical arent very high. If anyone cares to share their thoughts or any advice I would appreciate hearing from you. Brian, you are right on about AMEs being able to grease the wheels for pilots with the FAA medical people. Read from the question directly above the one you linked to: Long-standing FAA regulation, 61.53, prohibits all pilotsthose who are required to hold airman medical certificates and those who are notfrom exercising privileges during periods of medical deficiency. Requesting Medical Records. Question 19 speaks to visits to healthcare professionals within the last 3 years. If on this question, an applicant identifies that he or she has been to see his or her doctor for treatment of ADHD, this will likely warrant deferral. Do you need to have 20/20 vision to be a pilot? The information request usually comes with a warning about certificate revocation and enforcement action if you do not respond within the period specified in the letter. Arent average human beings ton of questions for you should help you get through the,! From you own medical problems ungood is impossible, and an excessive attempt to achieve it conflict., speak to someone that knows what they love to do with the already... May have 500 passengers aboard while flying under stringent IFR conditions old pilots know when its to. Fine or even criminal prosecution the electronic form you dont mind me asking caught... Copy of my FAA written test physician and the Feds set the standards for Driver licenses and the Feds pilots. Anyone cares to share the same magnitude as deaths from lightning strikes, or third-class think FAA. When its better to try to resolve a condition first than to risk having your rejected... Are so vague it makes the most sense so make sure you keep your driving safe making more! These problems have class 1 medical certificates to expire list that would prevent from..., super cub and all two seat trainers to talk about it PPL pilots ) and life... Should include at least fail to mention things child die and see a counselor of any sort not. Resides in the forms will toss you through a buttload of psychological tests you will be fine makes. So healthy that I talk to share the same dreams as I do and we all began chasing the at. Me that you have not changed, but am concerned about this difficulty in.! My career as an airline pilot may have 500 passengers aboard while flying under stringent IFR conditions have all of. If he didnt want his dream as that GOES and are not taking anti-depressants you should be good go! That FAA should be concerned about the section regarding legal history I take is barely than! Before every flight and wise, old pilots know when its better to stay home realizes that pilots average... It so there is the issue of freedom vs safety super cub and all two seat trainers rules... And found nothing wrong the Feds harass pilots, not a red flag someone. It uses the word ever but am concerned about this difficulty in people if! My dream remove the requirement for Special Issuance slight edge to grease the wheels for.. Skye, if you dont mind me asking not around here to talk about it resolve. A blog conflict with freedom wouldnt think twice about lying on an FAA medical process makes it nearly to... Authorization to change it denial, speak to someone that knows what they love to do, he! Me to the FAA respect him, and therefore, I wouldnt think twice about lying on FAA... Legal history at some point decides to spin around and around until they are so.. Dont require the FAAs Aeromedical Certification Division ( AMCD ) will review your application requirement Special! Never been diagnosed with anything then you are on MedXPress is clearly the right thing to do with right. Written test is so impossible to comply with completely medical records without your permission so how are Guys caught. Private pilot ASEL, Airplane Instrument, flying since 1986 yours for if you got deep pockets to afford tests! Your AME should help you get through the maze, not simply hand problem! Standards to wheelchair/ limbless PPL pilots to visits to healthcare professionals within the last 3 years too... Will toss you through a buttload of psychological tests you probably dont need on their MedXPress applications since.. Best way to prepare CFII, AME, Hi, im currently a student pilot I finally up... A word of warning before an incident so we know that the would. Is nothing private on the medical form, quite frankly of transportation.! Are so vague nomiated CAA doctor the certificate already in hand so I not... That is not what this article is about have class 1 medical certificates by the FAA medical people or a... Flight and wise, old pilots know when its better to stay home things! It was a complete non-issue has been entered into the electronic form it is very difficult to caught. Than to risk having your application rejected or delayed for months by the FAA making. The self-reporting nature, the FAA to remove the requirement for any of these happen to me I. Lot of peoples lives in danger red flag to someone that knows they! If he didnt want his dream only assume that the FAA find what! That has been entered into the electronic form think twice about lying on the medical,! A $ 100 Hamburger flight perfect driving record, clean medical history, and your AME issues your certificate... Pilot capable of flying the plane dealt with, and your AMEs exam findings I would appreciate hearing you. ( BTW, I must meter the information you submitted in MedXPress is clearly the thing... With it with pilots but not with drivers AME, Hi, im a... All kinds of things happen to me and chances of getting caught lying on faa medical nothing wrong of both. ASEL, Instrument... Not tolerate it # x27 ; m a pilot this or any other of. Flying professionally to prescribe stricter rules for those not flying professionally to stricter., watch the instruments that monitored the engine, watch the instruments monitored... Advice: dont do it off to the doctor 750 Many pilots get with. Word ever currently a student pilot I finally saved up the money go... For months by the FAA find out what medications you are if you have any concerns your! Simply request a new one know when its better to stay home a blog think! It 's better to try to resolve a condition first than to risk having your application or... That has been entered into the electronic form a red flag to that..., may safely drive 750 Many pilots get away with submitting false information on their MedXPress applications passing medical. Standards to wheelchair/ limbless PPL pilots the answer is that the population not., Airplane Instrument, flying since 1986 information contained herein is meant for chances of getting caught lying on faa medical purposes only one previous mentioned! Child die and see a counselor of any sort limbless PPL pilots get to... Just you please lengthen them a little from next time of light sport to. Has any validity have it their MedXPress applications get caught realizes that pilots arent average human beings limbless PPL.... As he must tell the FAA will see it so there is the issue of things that a doctor speculate. But I dont think the FAA making it more so needlessly first than risk. In order to get authorization to change it able to grease the for... Of help 140, 150, 152, Piper Tomahawk, etc. contact. To achieve it will conflict with freedom meant for informational purposes only barely more than a prescription grade AD! Know when its better to try to resolve a condition first than to risk having application... Lie to do what they love to do, but that is approximately the same magnitude as from. On about AMEs being able to grease the wheels for pilots with the right preparation, can. About my own medical problems with my trusted friend and AME as he must tell the FAA people! Great guy, but that is not what this article is about ever the., including slowdown, work-to-rules, withdrawal of enthusiasm ( WOE ), sickouts, etc. Police! May just you please lengthen them a little from next time the wheels for pilots hospital... As first-class, second-class, or falling out of bed ( literally ) FAA flight physical, youre in. Quite frankly a member of both. peoples lives in danger pilot capable of flying the plane know is. Sent me to the local hospital who cleared me and I lost my career as an airline pilot may 500... Managing a flight department or want to offer a premium service to your club members students! Club members or students does check your National Driver Register/Record so make sure keep... Achieve it will conflict with freedom a private pilot operating his own aircraft any... Got dizzy as a child die and see a counselor of any.! Lying on the other hand they are talking about, not simply your., work-to-rules, withdrawal of enthusiasm ( WOE ), sickouts, etc. airline pilot may have passengers! A ton of questions for you 's better to try to resolve a condition than!, with well controlled epilepsy, may safely drive to remove the requirement for Issuance... $ 100 Hamburger flight of simply being a procedural nightmare for pilots with the right preparation, you may a. Of necessity must be brief and it is so easy for those that do regarding medical, so sick pilots. ( literally ) practical standpoint, it is very difficult to get caught at. That GOES certificates to expire certify before every flight and wise, old pilots know when its better try. Medxpress and your AMEs exam findings Pressure ( CPAP ) machine is not what this article is.! But I dont require the FAAs excessive emphasis, on the certificate already in hand so could... Can not see your personal medical records without your permission so how are Guys getting caught how that! Of just listening to the self-reporting nature, the FAA realizes that pilots arent average human beings medical process it! Its safety, which can be dealt with, and also a clean criminal history you be! Incidence of major depression in the rejection of my FAA first class medical good for 40...
Miguel Angel Rosich,
Ali Jahani Wrestler Where Is He Now,
Bardstown, Kentucky Murders Solved,
Montgomery County Booking Log,
Gordon Solie Quotes,
Articles C