I am not sure whether the doctors are always correct or what specifically they are looking for to justify one pilot is medically fit while another is unfit. He was the author of numerous books, including. A related question would be do people fly without a medical illegally? Thats a great question, Ben. TO LOW TO BAIL SO HAD TO TO FLY IT DOWN . Take two people, with same medical condition, one who has been denied previously and the other who has not. Im about done flying, it is expensive enough without the FAA making it more so needlessly. However, if you are involved in an accident, incident, or disciplinary action, you can bet that the FAA and the necessary authorities will take the time to investigate, and things you didnt disclose will come out. Until the rules change, abide by them, and make sure you self monitor. Oh yeah did I mention that I live in an isolated community and that the next mediocre doc is a good four hour drive away? Look at that, all 4 of them had a diagnosis from the VA. More than anything, this should be pressing the FAA to adjust how they look at mental illness and flying. Took the FAA medical (stand on this leg, stand on that leg can you see anything out of this eye, can you see anything out of that eye). Ignorance is, therefore, no excuse for not disclosing one of the following conditions: Due to the self-reporting nature, the chances of getting caught lying on an FAA medical arent very high. Ultimately, if you have a condition that you know will result in denial, become a sport pilot. They are busy guarding the barn only after the horse is back inside. People Lie to do what they love to do. That would shut them down for good. I believe those with conditions that would be considered a problem while flying (vertigo, blackouts, narcolepsy, use of medications that cause side effects that present without warning and could be debilitating, etc.) Ask those young people who posted personal info online and then got turned down for a job interview because of those posts they placed years ago. 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). There is something very wrong with a system when every one of its users hates it. My question is what are they doing in order to get caught. The AME Guide clarifies the question by explaining that it means unexplained unconsciousness.. Because they can longer fly. I took medication for years, before I decided I didn't like and chose to stop taking meds (with my parents). He was convinced if he had the physical and they discovered something bad, hed have to admit it to the AME. 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. If you don't disclose it the likelihood that they find out about it are pretty slim, though. Hmm cant spell worth a darn mostly dumb fingers will that get me rejected??? I mean no offense, but other adults telling another adult whether or not to disclose something on a medical just doesn't seem right. I was better off lying. I reported controlled hypertension on my questionnaire. have you ever once in your life had and on the other hand they are so vague. 3. It is already hard enough to convince the FAA that you are healthy enough to fly after dealing with lifes curve balls. Justify their positions by educating and hammering self certification, not for two or five years, but every flight. But what happens when the FAA lies. What does NTSB say? I hope you realize a world that had perfect safety would be one not worth living in. Medical certificates are designated as first-class, second-class, or third-class. The questionaire is so impossible to answer honestly because it uses the word ever. At a certain point there is the issue of freedom vs safety. They yanked my 3rd class one time, because my personal physician mistyped a statement on his annual letter to the FAA. Hmmm Wiley Post was one of the great Aviators flue around the world was he Illeagle??? With the impact these regulations and half-baked ideas have on our lives, economy, and national security in general it is time that federal employees comply with all the regulations the citizens that they regulate have to. 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. What you didnt? The information they request is typically a collection of recent medical records that address the concerns they identified in your application. Of course people lie on the application, they want the medical so they can keep flying. This is one of those typical government deny-theres-a-problem attitudes that eventually comes to a head when something major and catastrophic happens. Legally, it does have to be the original. The rules here have not changed, but the enforcement will now result in a 30 day ban from APC for violations. I dont want to hide anything from him. An exam for a third class medical certificate with a student pilot certificate can cost between $75 and $150. Brian, what about a medication that was rx when you were eight and havent taken for 20yrs? In the FAA world view you are not telling the truth. Yet there is no medical requirement for any of these. I am very curious. I can empathize with that Louis. Obviously, many do. He never lied. If the medical dates are incorrect, please contact CAMI at (405) 954-4821. Thus the FAAs excessive emphasis, on the potential hazards of medical conditions and medications, serves only to reinforce its own bureaucratic authority. A large gray area separates these two extremes, however. Im just grateful to have my medical and hope to keep it however long I have to have it. The answer is that the population would not tolerate it. With over 20,000 hours of real world experience, much of it in Cessna 172s and P210s, Collins wrote about safety, weather and air traffic control from first-hand experience. This is left bundle branch block which is a stop as far as the CAA is concerned. However, if you do get caught, at best you will lose your license. If you have any concerns about your next FAA flight physical. He then went on to work for the leading aviation magazines, including as editor of both AOPA Pilot and Flying. If anyone cares to share their thoughts or any advice I would appreciate hearing from you. My father had passed his class 2 physical 3 weeks before having a massive heart attack and dieing at the ripe old age of 50. He had me sit where I could not see him so that I could not tell when he hit the switch that turned on the tone I was required to listen for. I am working on my private pilot license and I was honest and admitted to an episode of seasonal depression treated with medication (which I no longer require or take). As statistics show flying is considerably safer than any land based carrier. Here in Italy Superman still dictates. Who gave the FAA the power to stop pilots from flying because they take antidepressants? They will also review how your current application compares to the ones you have submitted in the past and your driving record. You are assumed to be lying. When learning to fly originally I was not even made aware this nor the NPPL was available. But, it was not the fault of the FAA, it was mine for not verifying the doctors statement before submitting it. Someday you might actually have a problem you cannot hide. Good Luck. 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. As one previous poster mentioned, why not let the AME make more of the calls, especially for class 3? Im 64 and working on my PP license. You do not have to be Richard Collins or Ernest Gann simply a GA pilot with a story youd share with friends sitting in the hangar. A 3rd class medical should not be required for a private pilots license. I am now 75 years old, and the FAA continues to demand increasily more stringent testing to get the isssuance. 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. The FAA requires applicants with a diagnosis of epilepsy to be seizure-free for 10 years without medication before being considered for a medical certificate. I told the truth (that I had a very early-stage, very treatable cancer) and had my medical yanked. Students and young pilots just want to fly. Ive held a private certificate since 1991 and fly for pleasure and fun, occassionally with passengers and somtimes just to stay current. If they say that you have a condition that requires you to be grounded, then fill out an 8500-8 medical form. The FAA will catch the application when it comes across due to the flags. Doesnt this seem grossly out of proportion? Email me at [emailprotected]. So Rex you never spun around and got dizzy as a child? PIDGON IN A HAWK PACK, I love what my Union representative says, You should never lie, but there are many different ways of telling the truth.. I dont feel it would be correct to try to hide a condition from these people. And the Medical Flight Test needs to be taken only once and the SODA is good indefinitely. In reality, all pilots (no matter what their license) self-certify their fitness to fly every time they fly. 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. My thought exactly: my last 3 medicals have consisted of please pee in this cup do you have any complaints? (No misprint.) For pilots with health problems that aren't debilitating but possibly disqualifying, 'fessing up on the application for a third class medical certificate can be a busted-if-you-do, busted-if-you-don't proposition. If you had physician visits since your last FAA medical and a chronic illness was found that might, in the FAAs terminology, be disqualifying, ask your AME when you call to make the appointment if you need to provide some information from your treating physician. This applies to ANY wildcat actions, including slowdown, work-to-rules, withdrawal of enthusiasm (WOE), sickouts, etc. Major unions have lost court cases and in one instance suffered severe financial damage in the process. What are the chances of getting caught lying on an FAA medical? 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. You tell me how can a lighting designer be daltonic? By logging into your account, you agree to our. Always wondered if the stress from taking the medical had anything to do with it. It is so easy for those not flying professionally to prescribe stricter rules for those that do. Now that I have no further problems I have to take an Awake and Alert test annually. Seek help, get punished? Global misunderstands that Procedure codes, diagnosis codes and pharmacy codes were denied protections under to ACA of 2010. Further, you fly with your family and maybe some of your employees if you use an aircraft for business transporation. The simple fact is that the FAA generally trusts pilots. A highly experienced AME, also a 747/DC-10 Captain for a major airline, once told me that crewmembers lose consciousness in the seat about half a dozen times every year. 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. Water under the bridge now 19 years later. 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. No further action by AWP-300. He knew it. NONE . There are are more decisions that have to be made while driving than flying. 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. The system does work though. 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. After 30 years without a problem, one would think the risk of incapacitation is no greater than the general pilot population flying on a normal class III medical. Or have a child die and see a counselor of any sort. On a related note, has anyone used an aeromedical service company to help obtain/renew a medical certificate? However, when it comes to flying without another capable pilot on board.only friends and family..that is another matter. Its funny that this question even comes up. What can some shrink tell me about myself that I dont already know? Therefore, I lied. Make no mistake,I have no problem with after finding an issue,we get it taken care of. I was so desperate to lower the volume that I installed a volume control in my own headset so I would not be blasted out of my seat. The FAA processes close to 400,000 flight physicals every year. 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. If you cannot read the serial number plate on the airplane that just flew by you then you should not be allowed to fly. Telling the truth in MedXPress is clearly the right thing to do, but that is not what this article is about. Before every flight (sometimes several per day) I self qualify myself THAT IS MY RESPONSIBILITY AS PIC!!! Flying brought some much needed joy back into my life. What most folks dont realize is that less than 1% of medical applications are denied whether it be for diabetes or criminal record. I would like to see how many incidents of NOT seeking medical attention, due to knowing that the FAA will pull their ticket, have led to problems. By comparison, about that same number of deaths a year are caused by lightning strikes or even falling out of bed. According to Dr. Guillermo J. Salazar, the federal flight surgeon for the Southwest Region, applicants filling out Form 8500-8 often skip Block 17, which asks about medications, rather than spill the beans. You would not be alone, as there are many older pilots that fly with conditions that would disqualify them from getting the Third Class medical. Fly over open country and probably be able to put the plane down in a field if there were trouble but the FAA has a BIG resounding NO for that. How long is a 2nd class medical good for over 40? 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. 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. If I wanted to continue learning to fly I had to pay to visit a nomiated CAA doctor. Some records reviewer in OKC can not guarantee those in my aircraft a safe journey only I can do that. What to do? The Federal Aviation Regulations and U.S. law require that FAA Form 8500-8, the application for a medical certificate, be filled out completely and truthfully'or else. As a pilot for over 13 years and now an AME as of this month, I understand your concern. Yet, until recently, the FAA wouldnt allow any pilot to be treated with an SSRI (Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor) a medication with an excellent safety record concerning accidents. See my other comment about getting a SODA. You are proceeding at your own risk. If you didnt say yes then you lied. This article does not in any way counsel the reader as to how to appropriately respond to questions on the FAA medical application, nor does it give medical advice regarding the accuracy of the readers medical history. They are soulless people that treat you as a thing, not a human person. 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. See Also: Do Flight Schools Drug Test Students? Insurance companies now have a way out of paying the claim and if there were passengers or other property damage involved now lawyers get involvedsomething to think about! Keep in mind that the FAA receives something like 430,000 8500-8 each year. I had a single bypass in 1981 and have been operating on a special issuance since. 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. They always do it under the banner of safety. Under the new regulation, when the first class privileges expire after twelve months, the first class medical lapses to a third class medical. John has been quoted or mentioned in major publications, including Chron, Flying Mag, and National Review. 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. How do I get a copy of my FAA written test? In this age of fax machines, email, twitter, facebook, linked in, etc, it is obvious that the FAA is stuck in the past. I take my family on flights in my aircraft and there is no way I am going to put them at risk. At worse, you may face a hefty fine or even criminal prosecution. All medical certificates are valid for 60 months, unless youre 40 or older the day you get it (then its 24 months). Certification of employees to preform tasks, medical and eye examinations are normal in the Aerospace industry. Brian is absolutely right. I dont blame poeple for lying. Back when I was an F/O we flew in airplanes with single head radios. Bottom line, you are better off disclosing to the FAA if you want a 1st, 2nd, or 3rd class medical certificate. The same diseases that the FAA uses to ground pilots should restrict driving. There is so much hearing loss among the older pilot population, but current practices do not do much more than whisper a question when not facing the pilot. They are issued by states. In other words, your health is in your hands. The other is you tell the FAA about something. At worse, you may face a hefty fine or even criminal prosecution. Does anyone know the statistics of how often a dead pilot at a crash is found to have prescribed medications for a condition that has not been reported on the 8500-8? Do you need a medical to operate a large motor home, car, boat, sand dune buggy, tractor, motorcycle, etc, etc. This is truly a Great Debate. '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. Otherwise I tend to be so healthy that I simply wouldnt ever go to the doctor. Some of the disqualifying conditions are definitely going to keep someone from getting a medical certificate, but these are illnesses such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. You had better not try to get on medication to calm you down and thus make you a safer pilot because you will no longer be able to fly. 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