Interesting. What all changed from their last change? Not super familiar with it but last change a lot of people said it wasn’t that great of a change.
People voluntarily opted to go to HIMS - the FAA sent no one.
No. It. Sez, “do not use for recurrent disease”. Folks with disease that has recurrred can’t use that path…..
If by “voluntary” you mean the FAA absolutely won’t consider your case without going to a HIMS AME as required by the FAA, I guess it’s “voluntary.”
In all sincerity, what does “recurrent disease” mean in the world of the FAA or medical community? Does that mean you got off meds, but then needed to get back on them, or some time qualifier, or other?
So is this a new and different path vs the recent “non complicated…” path?
I mean someone thinks they qualify for a medical certificate if they provide more medical evidence and have opted to try to do so. It happens everyday.
That’s the process. Why wouldn’t you engage a HIMS AME when the FAA sends you a letter saying they will consider regular issuance or SI if you work that process?
all the info looks the same so my guess it is the uncomplicated path for pilots previously deferred wanting reconsideration
To drill down further, I got on Zoloft for work related anxiety in 2020, I’ve been on it since then and never off. If I do go off of it and show I’m “stable” and no longer needing it, is that “recurrent.”
People are told everyday they have a medical condition and shouldn’t do an activity. The people providing the false hope is the crowd that demands the standards be removed to allow these people to try anyway.
I disagree. There are plenty of exceptions to that statement. Maybe you are just a person that gives up easily or takes any word of "authority" as gospel.
The FAA cares not about your health. The FAA, by law, must certify your medical history conforms to the Code of Federal Regulations sufficiently enough to certify your medical history meets the letter of the law.
I disagree with the statement in part. The FAA vehemently cares about the health of those who accurately report their health status. It's easy, but not morally right, to completely hide or lie about any non-obvious physical (or cognitive) issues and get your medical cert. I had an instructor tell me "I don't tell my AME ****." Obviously, I didn't feel that was the right approach, yet these are pilots training other pilots and are so "blessed" by the infallible FAA.
Keep in mind that, like every other aspect of aviation, paperwork is the only thing they can look at until after something occurs to attract attention. An annual inspection properly documented makes the airplane legal, not whether the inspection was actually done.
I agree with every point made. However, I don't see the wisdom in needing 1-3 people in D.C. to re-review the evaluations and opinions of those specialists the FAA already approved and to whom the processes were already "farmed out."
Are there pilot functions where the paperwork ISN’T reviewed after the designee approves it? This isn’t unique to the medical process.
I don't know what you're asking, rhetorically or otherwise...
The above is a very oddly constructed sentence, so I'm still not sure what you're saying other than demonstrating that they are operating as is normal for the FAA. I.e. SNAFU.
I’m saying this is SN. If you consider it to be AFU, what are you doing to change that? Complaining about it here as much as you have been isn’t going to change anything.
Good question. I'm donating to AOPA, writing my representative/congressmen, meeting with pilots flying for airlines that have gone through the same process, but that have union help/more governmental influence to show the brokenness of the system, and bringing attention to people like yourself in forums like this. There's a reason there is a subject thread dedicated to medical items/issues.
Some of us don’t have the time or resources to chase every cause we think is important…we have to pick. That’s not the same thing.
You have plenty of time to go back and forth on this forum...don't sell yourself short.
This is a high-priority windmill.You have plenty of time to go back and forth on this forum...don't sell yourself short.
Save your money. AOPA is useless
Not issuable at time of exam. Issuable after deferral. Unless you can apply situational depression or uncomplicated anxiety/depression pathways. Then the AME may issue, but most of the policies are somewhat challenging for non-HIMS AME's to navigate and will likely lead to deferral in most cases.
This new modification/addition to the policy is specifically for the airman/airman applicant that is currently deferred for a mental health condition. They've also removed the term 'uncomplicated' depression.
www.goflightmedicine.com
Sounds like you've been on longer than 6 months, therefore 'situational depression' does not apply to you.
In fact, the data shows a large majority of people with depression/anxiety/use of antidepressants and go thru the steps required by the FAA will ultimately get issued a certificate.