5 ms·

Yes, absolutely. I have a pilot acquaintance that would refuse to go to the doctor when he was younger. I also tried to become a pilot, but because of a docum

Yes, absolutely. I have a pilot acquaintance that would refuse to go to the doctor when he was younger. I also tried to become a pilot, but because of a documented history of taking anti-depressants, the FAA grounded me for life, despite being years removed from needing them. [1] I wish that history was not documented. [1]: https://gavinhoward.com/2022/09/grounded-for-life-losing-the-dream-of-flight/ https://gavinhoward.com/2022/09/grounded-for-life-losing-the...

dmitrygr 4y ago
Are you sure? Last I checked (a friend was on anti-depressants), as long as you only want a private (not commercial or ATP), a year off the meds or a year at a stable dose and a letter from your doc that you're ok will be enough to get a 3rd class medical.
- gavinhoward 4y ago
  I have been denied a medical by the Federal Air Surgeon. I have the personal letter from her to prove it. This is usually done on a case-by-case basis; I just happened to come down on the unlucky end of it.
  - dmitrygr 4y ago
    Sorry, that sucks. There is hope that MATRIX will allow more small planes to be piloted without a medical. Hang in there.
- Blackthorn 4y ago
  The FAA rarely follows their own guidelines and procedures on this matter.
Aerroon 4y ago
It's unrelated, but I wanted to nitpick this: >safety comes first. Always. The safest way to keep the airspace above the US would be to ban all general and commercial aviation. Safety does not come first. Safety never comes first, because the safest course of action is to never do anything. It is always a balancing of risk. It is very unfortunate that something like this is keeping you from your dream. I'm sorry.
- ghoward 4y ago
  I actually mention this in my post that I linked. Yes, another of their missions is to facilitate aviation. What I meant is that in my case, the default decision couldn't be to give me a medical. So I should have limited the "safety comes first" to my case. A more charitable interpretation is to say that pilots without issues are defined as safe, which they are even if they are not in practice. They're safe enough.
- deleted 4y ago
  [deleted]

dmitrygr 4y ago

Are you sure? Last I checked (a friend was on anti-depressants), as long as you only want a private (not commercial or ATP), a year off the meds or a year at a stable dose and a letter from your doc that you're ok will be enough to get a 3rd class medical.

gavinhoward 4y ago
I have been denied a medical by the Federal Air Surgeon. I have the personal letter from her to prove it. This is usually done on a case-by-case basis; I just happened to come down on the unlucky end of it.
- dmitrygr 4y ago
  Sorry, that sucks. There is hope that MATRIX will allow more small planes to be piloted without a medical. Hang in there.
Blackthorn 4y ago
The FAA rarely follows their own guidelines and procedures on this matter.

Aerroon 4y ago

It's unrelated, but I wanted to nitpick this: >safety comes first. Always. The safest way to keep the airspace above the US would be to ban all general and commercial aviation. Safety does not come first. Safety never comes first, because the safest course of action is to never do anything. It is always a balancing of risk. It is very unfortunate that something like this is keeping you from your dream. I'm sorry.

ghoward 4y ago
I actually mention this in my post that I linked. Yes, another of their missions is to facilitate aviation. What I meant is that in my case, the default decision couldn't be to give me a medical. So I should have limited the "safety comes first" to my case. A more charitable interpretation is to say that pilots without issues are defined as safe, which they are even if they are not in practice. They're safe enough.
deleted 4y ago
[deleted]