Basic med +substance abuse

[Pilib17]

Hi! So I am new to this forum and to flying, and I need some clarification....
I have been taking lessons and am interested in pursuing either a sport pilot or private pilot liscense, but I am concerned about the medical requirements...for basic med it says substance abuse in the past 2 years is disqualifying. I do have a history of opiate abuse as a teenager from 14-17ish age, I had 5 years sobriety until I was injured and prescribed a pain medication which caused a slight slip up. I have been clean again for just over the 2 years mark, but for some of that I was taking maintenance medication through a Doctor (maintenance meds = Suboxone, methadone, etc) . Will I have to wait until 2 years after I stopped the maintenance medication or just 2 years clean?

Also are most medications disqualifying for basic med or just the class med liscensing?

 

[DutchRoller]

I suspect that you have never held even a third class medical so basic med isn’t even possible. So you might just want to look at sport pilot. If you really do want private, you will need to see an AME for a third class first.

 

[Ravioli]

NO first medical can be Baisc Med. Read the eligibility requirements. Something to the effect of "must have had a third or better issued after some year"

@DutchRoller beat me to that statement.

Next: Get off the internet and work out your medical possibilities privately.

OR:

Use the search feature and find the countless threads here that say, it can't be basic, don't post details here, and seek a Senior AME.

 

[azure]

Senior AME just means they can issue a 1st class medical - not relevant for the OP. She needs an AME who specializes in difficult cases - most of those are senior AMEs, but many senior AMEs are not difficult case specialists. In fact, with a substance abuse issue she might need a HIMS AME. Dr. Bruce Chien (@bbchien), who posted a while ago on the other active thread, is one such and might have better advice. Hopefully he will pop in here when he has a chance.

 

[ejensen]

I would take a serious look at the sport pilot. There are decent planes if you're ok with the limits. 2 pax, day only, no B, etc

 

[Stephen Poole]

I would take a serious look at the sport pilot. There are decent planes if you're ok with the limits. 2 pax, day only, no B, etc

If by "no B" you mean Class B airspace, a Sport Pilot CAN fly some Class B with proper training and sign off. I checked that very carefully for myself.

14 CFR 91 Appendix D says I couldn't do Atlanta, but Charlotte isn't listed in section 4, so I assume I could do that.

Since I would avoid Atlanta like the plague, that doesn't distress me.

 

[flyingron]

You aren't likely to get into the CLT class B VFR no matter what pilot and medical certificates you hold.

 

[ejensen]

You aren't likely to get into the CLT class B VFR no matter what pilot and medical certificates you hold.

Not sure what you mean. I can land at a class B. Don't want to but I could. Several Cs and satellite D's. My point was a sp can't.

If by "no B" you mean Class B airspace, a Sport Pilot CAN fly some Class B with proper training and sign off. I checked that very carefully for myself.

14 CFR 91 Appendix D says I couldn't do Atlanta, but Charlotte isn't listed in section 4, so I assume I could do that.

Since I would avoid Atlanta like the plague, that doesn't distress me.

Yes, airport by airport. And I don't want to land at DEN either. But as a pp/ir flying as a sport pilot I can with anything special.

 

[Stephen Poole]

Not sure what you mean. I can land at a class B. Don't want to but I could. Several Cs and satellite D's. My point was a sp can't.

... and that's what I was disagreeing with. A Sport Pilot can't take off or land at some airports. But if the airport is not listed in Appendix D, section 4, the Sport Pilot CAN land at or take off from that airport -- for example, Charlotte. Not that I want to.

§ 91.131 Operations in Class B airspace.
...
(b)Pilot requirements.

(1) No person may take off or land a civil aircraft at an airport within a Class B airspace area or operate a civil aircraft within a Class B airspace area unless -​

...

(iii) The pilot in command holds a sport pilot certificate and has met -

(A) The requirements of § 61.325 of this chapter (which lists the training and equipment required)​

(2) Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraphs (b)(1)(ii), (b)(1)(iii) and (b)(1)(iv) of this section, no person may take off or land a civil aircraft at those airports listed in section 4 of appendix D to this part unless the pilot in command holds at least a private pilot certificate.​

That last snippet, in fairness to you, may be what you were thinking of. If you want to land at an airport in that Appendix, yes, you DO need a PPL.

 

[ejensen]

... and that's what I was disagreeing with. A Sport Pilot can't take off or land at some airports. But if the airport is not listed in Appendix D, section 4, the Sport Pilot CAN land at or take off from that airport -- for example, Charlotte. Not that I want to.

§ 91.131 Operations in Class B airspace.
...
(b)Pilot requirements.

(1) No person may take off or land a civil aircraft at an airport within a Class B airspace area or operate a civil aircraft within a Class B airspace area unless -​

...

(iii) The pilot in command holds a sport pilot certificate and has met -

(A) The requirements of § 61.325 of this chapter (which lists the training and equipment required)​

(2) Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraphs (b)(1)(ii), (b)(1)(iii) and (b)(1)(iv) of this section, no person may take off or land a civil aircraft at those airports listed in section 4 of appendix D to this part unless the pilot in command holds at least a private pilot certificate.​

That last snippet, in fairness to you, may be what you were thinking of. If you want to land at an airport in that Appendix, yes, you DO need a PPL.

Thanks for the refresher. It's been awhile since I read it all.

 

[lbfjrmd]

Hi! So I am new to this forum and to flying, and I need some clarification....
I have been taking lessons and am interested in pursuing either a sport pilot or private pilot liscense, but I am concerned about the medical requirements...for basic med it says substance abuse in the past 2 years is disqualifying. I do have a history of opiate abuse as a teenager from 14-17ish age, I had 5 years sobriety until I was injured and prescribed a pain medication which caused a slight slip up. I have been clean again for just over the 2 years mark, but for some of that I was taking maintenance medication through a Doctor (maintenance meds = Suboxone, methadone, etc) . Will I have to wait until 2 years after I stopped the maintenance medication or just 2 years clean?

Also are most medications disqualifying for basic med or just the class med liscensing?

2 years off those drugs too!

 

[Palmpilot]

Next: Get off the internet and work out your medical possibilities privately.

Why? To preserve the option of lying?

 

[flyingron]

And you mentioned CLT and unless you're landing at CLT, it's unlikely they'll let you in. One of the less friendly to VFR transition facilities out there.

 

[Clip4]

Hi! So I am new to this forum and to flying, and I need some clarification....
I have been taking lessons and am interested in pursuing either a sport pilot or private pilot liscense, but I am concerned about the medical requirements...for basic med it says substance abuse in the past 2 years is disqualifying. I do have a history of opiate abuse as a teenager from 14-17ish age, I had 5 years sobriety until I was injured and prescribed a pain medication which caused a slight slip up. I have been clean again for just over the 2 years mark, but for some of that I was taking maintenance medication through a Doctor (maintenance meds = Suboxone, methadone, etc) . Will I have to wait until 2 years after I stopped the maintenance medication or just 2 years clean?

Also are most medications disqualifying for basic med or just the class med liscensing?

The 2 year period is for substance abuse, the time period for substance dependence or failed a drug test is ever. The fact you were treated means you were dependent.

 

[Stephen Poole]

And you mentioned CLT and unless you're landing at CLT, it's unlikely they'll let you in. One of the less friendly to VFR transition facilities out there.

Oh, sure. It was a theoretical.