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Some of the existing issues I plan to communicate to the current Aviation Safety, Operations and Innovation Subcommittee regarding deferrals (specifically for SSRI) - if you care to add any of your own comments, I will incorporate into my letters: All correspondence is via certified mail From...

FYI…I’m sending letters to every member of the Aviation Safety, Operations and Innovation Subcommittee outlining the need to update the existing means of processing deferrals. With the proliferation and preponderance of “diagnoses” and prescribed medications for ADHD, anxiety etc, this is...

Local Rep was about a year ago, congressional inquiry. That didn’t help. I’ve reached out to AOPA, didn’t really get anything other than “be patient, the FAA is always looking at the deferral process but it’s complicated and complex.” Reached out to Senator Cruz, ranking member of Committee on...

I’m not going to stop asking, pushing. I’ve contacted my Senator, local Rep, AOPA… Has this new HIMS process actually made flying safer, or made people even less likely to seek help?

Dr. Chien, with it being a known disaster and “out of control” in your words, why would they not decentralize and expand, at least to an expert in each state, to handle the final sign off for these scenarios? It’s completely absurd and BS that applicants will forfeit their position if they...

Yes, that’s exactly why it’s stupid to continue status quo. Makes too much sense to let the professionals be the front line and reduce time from 365+ days to 90-180 days, depending on situation. Not starting that debate again, however.

Hopefully the next step will be the FAA acknowledging that the HIMS AMEs already being prudent and effective evaluators will lead to authority for them to issue the bulk of deferred situations themselves in-house.

Hoping for the best.

I was sent a denial, but the same letter said they would reconsider after another round of SSRI evaluations + now addressing the alcohol component. Wondering if that’s treated as brand new submission or “still in process/review.”

In reality/practice, if you're declined, but given reconsideration upon further info, are you back at the bottom of the pile for review, or because DC is theoretically more familiar with your case, is it a faster process?? I've been super transparent on this forum with my situation. My HIMS AME...

Congratulations!!! I'm in the middle of a deferral myself, just over 1.5 years in, but I'm pretty sure I have a resolution in sight...if still another 6-12 months. Enjoy the skies!

Very helpful, thanks!

So I guess the conclusion is drawn during the deferral/HIMS process and then the person with ongoing anxiety is likely viewed as less a risk than someone with ongoing depression? But both will go through the same process on the front end, right?

Honest question, why is someone with social anxiety disorder, or other situational anxiety, treated by the FAA the same as someone that has ongoing/recurrent depressive episodes vs. a single bout of depression? My point being someone with anxiety is likely to have the anxiety for the rest of...

Fair enough comments. Perhaps I underestimated the amount of time each AME patient takes up for a practice. To be clear, the normal, non-deferred process is great, no complaints there whatsoever. However, the instant it’s deferred and out of the hands is the AME, it’s a freaking nightmare and...

I agree with all that. Let the actual boots (AMEs) on the ground do the heavy lifting for the majority of cases, even for the bulk of those that currently require a deferral to OKC/DC. The AME/HIMS AME should have much more authority to be able to review all the FAA requested documents, HIMS...

I'm happy with my AME. No need. I guess let's just do nothing, keep the system as it is and be "okay" with a system that inherently creates a moral dilemma/personal conflict for pilots to be honest about their mental and physical health. I'm clearly barking up the wrong tree. I look forward...

I agree, I'm in the same position, under deferral myself because I played by the rules. It seems that the majority on this forum that have never been through the deferral/HIMS process think we're complaining warrantlessly. It's funny/ironic too because I've have some suggest that I could have...

Any actual Doctors want to step in here?

I have no idea how you made the above leap. Every AME I've ever met, or heard of, is also a GP...acting as an AME isn't their sole medical practice. Think about it, the population of people needing an AME is a fraction of a fraction of the US population needing a GP. Why would this cause more...