Logic dictates that if the medical requirement did not exist, the number of incapacitations would be somewhat higher. After you complete your MedXPress application, you will need to schedule an FAA flight physical with an Aviation Medical Examiner (AME). Or have a child die and see a counselor of any sort. It is strongly advised that you seek the opinion and advice of a qualified aviation medical examiner and appropriate medical physician for any medical needs you may have. I was dumb enough to tell them about my marriage counseling! I say that based on the relative numbers discussed above. I dont know for a fact other pilots lie on their medical, but pretty sure some I know do. People Lie to do what they love to do. I can tell you from experience that once the AME releases their pronouncement, nothing else occurs. A medical exam is required for a Commercial Driver License and for working on a commercial boat carrying passengers. With holding important information. I do medicals on two pilots who went on a vigorous diet and lost weight. I go to sleep. The FAA issues updates to the AME Guide on a monthly basis. Irs Data Book, 2020. chances of getting caught lying on faa medical one of the medications used treat! 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. hej Jim, you couldnt describe better the current situation: from Aryan superman to weelchair pilot. Self certification is where the FAA should focus their energy. There are heart transplant pilots flying. Another friend had accompanied me to this testing and he sat across the table from me so that he could see the doctors actions. I reported controlled hypertension on my questionnaire. An exam for a third class medical certificate with a student pilot certificate can cost between $75 and $150. I have been flying for 39 years and professionally since I was 18. 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. Otherwise I tend to be so healthy that I simply wouldnt ever go to the doctor. Avoid Medical Certification Delay. This is especially true of hearing. Does anyone really believe that this is also not true for pilots and in fact is probably much higher, given the hard working conditions. They rely on that trust and the deterrence provided by the severe penalties at their disposal to preserve the integrity of the medical certification process. It does nothing to me other than help prevent the gotta go right NOW urges. Ones health does not distinguish between ones ability to pilot a 2 seater weighing 1320 lbs and a 4 seat airplane weighing 3500 lbs. It doesnt work like that in mental health cases, and probably never will. In this case, you can cast doubt on the original diagnosis and attempt to avoid further evaluation. Would be drowsy at odd times. However, the overriding principle here is that if you intentionally falsify your medical and are discovered, then you are done permanently. speaks to mental disorders of any sort. It goes on to give examples of depression, anxiety, etc. The FAA typically expects applicants to also identify at question 18m. Im due for a flight medical soon. Someday you might actually have a problem you cannot hide. After numerous attempts I decided to contact the FAA of the situation so he would not get away with deceiving the AME again. I truly believe that if we allowed a 3rd class medical on only a drivers license we would be just as safe as we are today; and pilots would be in even better health because they would feel free to see their doctor again. If youre over 40 and your first-class medical is not renewed within six calendar months, itll revert to the privileges of a second-class medical for an additional six months. 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. How about the person that might have some minor anxiety issues? your PIC in the Cockpit might have the most serious medical condition, but will never no it thats why the federal government made the HIPPA law. It is a scam, a make-work project for administrators, and btw, doctors who make a practice of the bulk of business, which is 3rd class. A separate authorization request is required for each record released to any third party (physician, insurance company, employer, etc.). Boating accident deaths 750 Find one that will work with you to meet the necessary requirements, but lying is not an option. This does not mean that the AME should ignore any disqualifying condition that you might have. Obviously, many do. If you ever lose it you can simply request a new one. Not much of a medical exam, if you ask me. If a question comes up about whether or not a pilot is qualified to hold an FAA medical certificate, the application itself usually does not contain enough information for AMCD to make a truly informed decision. What does NTSB say? However you have never been treated or taken medication so probably if you disclose it the FAA would require some sort of doctors evaluation which says you are OK and that will be the end of it. - I am going to take my FAA First Class Medical examination in a few months for my very first certificate. Assuming you appropriately responded to one of these three questions, your application was likely deferred and the FAA sent you a letter, requesting medical records. Personally, I feel that if I am medically safe enough to drive then I should be safe enough to fly. What a great time you both will have. I can understand, in the last 5 years, but most of my things are now 20 years old and I still have to report them-no change. 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. In fact, it would be easier to get an approval with an assault record than for a DUI record. But knowing that the FAA has little humor, we all put no. You get caught lying on a medical, they'll do a lot more than just bust your balls. The AME also cannot read their minds, so he cannot go beyond a reasonable interpretation either to help with these questions. However, if you do get caught, at best you will lose your license. Died of a massive heart attack. The FAAs denial letter may look daunting, but time and time again, airmen with a history of ADHD are being issued medical certification following the appropriate presentation of the airmens fitness for flight. Bungee jumping. We have a very good AME in our area. '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. As statistics show flying is considerably safer than any land based carrier. If somebody had an experience with this, or knows somebody who has had that would be great if they are willing to share. Dental visits and visits to your AME need not be listed. Even patients, with well controlled epilepsy, may safely drive. Further more, if an airman lies and is in a serious accident with injuries or fatalities, his entire medical history will be examined and subsequent legal action may not be beneficial to his or her heirs. The message the FAA should be sending to pilots in my opinion is Manage your health. Some other government agency gets told another. Tell them what you will be it will be you that is on the bench because you failed the medical. I have to do the same stuff to go ice diving. Thank you for the help. First, if youve not taken a disqualifying medication for greater than 90 days, you can potentially argue to the FAA that your underlying diagnosis was not accurate to begin with. Re test. see you in the cockpit!! That is an entirely different responsibility that warrants a real physical exam. Flying brought some much needed joy back into my life. He was convinced if he had the physical and they discovered something bad, hed have to admit it to the AME. In-case if you ever get into an accident the FAA/NTSB will look through all your medical history and do a thorough check on that pilot meaning they want to look at every doctor visit and all medications you have been on. Period. He was the author of numerous books, including. No, get a different one. This is very disturbing to say the least, why bother imposing rules, laws or the like if there is no punishment implemented??? Often it is not a case of pilots intentionally lying or withholding information that can get them into trouble, but ignorance of what they need to report. Did you tell the FAA you snore? Governmental overkill? Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Until recently, a new pilot who had prostate cancer 10 years ago and has no evidence of recurrence had to jump through a bunch of hoops, and might have required special issuance. Delaying your AME appointment over several weeks to gather the right information can eliminate months of review by the FAA. I could not stop thinking about being in the air. Hey Guys as you know there is nothing private on the internet. Find another AME. If you qualify for an FAA medical certificate, they will issue it to you at the end of your appointment, document your exam findings, and transmit your application to the FAA. I am not an AME but am a flying physician with long experience chairing and serving on the EAA Aeromedical Council. I need some advice from experienced pilots / medical professionals about a problem. Even without a lie, I've seen situations in which the need to disclose something might have been questionable and the pilot answered "yes" one year, but "no" in a later year. You are assumed to be lying. FAA gets told one version of the story. In fact, as I write this, I see over on the corner of my screen a tweet entitled Older pilots are safe pilots. That may boost your chances of passing the exam or minimizing delays on the FAA's end. While not endorsing that, it is understandable at the emotional level. We have to be honest with ourselves. However, my pilots do. I was better off lying. Thats a great question, Ben. '[T]here is probably some justification for that,' he acknowledged in a 1998 interview, noting that the FAA is 'extremely conservative' when it comes to medical matters. I just wonder why? You may think you told the truth but you absolutely did not. It was OK to fly without government harassment. An example is the FAAs recent rule change on anti-depressant use. Too much information could mean denial of the application and bureaucratic warfare with the FAA. by Paul Engstrom, Aviation Writer and IFA Member. If you have vision with only one eye, you can get a Statement of Demonstrated Ability (SODA) by taking a Medical Flight Test. I'm a pilot, and an air traffic controller. How is THAT not a red flag to someone??? Brian, what about a medication that was rx when you were eight and havent taken for 20yrs? There are about 450-500 fatalities per year in all of GA. Thank you for allowing me to share. Generally, first-class is designed for the airline transport pilot; second-class for the commercial pilot; and third-class for the student, recreational and private pilot. Please type or print legibly and remember to sign and date the request. Experts offer these tips: When he isn't flying, Paul Engstrom writes and edits from Sebastopol, Calif. Two of the pilots I know of with these problems have Class 1 Medical Certificates. His career was essentially over with that arrest and he killed himself because of it. Now you tell me how sad it is when an idiot declares you have daltonism and denies you the ability to fly, so ruining your dream forever. Having people squeal on them? From the details they ask about, you would think you were applying to be an astronaut. In short, the FAA doesnt check medical records unless they have a reason to i.e. If the AME says that you do need to provide X, Y, and Z, get all of that together before going in to see the AME. According to Pilot Self-Grounding Requirements (CFR 61.53), pilots have the duty to ground themselves and report to the FAA any changes in their medical condition before they are able to fly again. 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