More Information Required Timeline (1st Class Medical)

[mfortney0626]

Hey All,

I decided on an aviation career after having no luck in finding a passion for a job that used my BS in Physics. I don't have to describe the feeling to a lot of you, but every time I get in the cockpit it's a euphoric experience.

Unfortunately, I have some situational anxiety and depression that was being treated with Paxil and Wellbutrin. I thought I did my research and saw that SSRIs were acceptable, but I failed to see that only 4 were acceptable - my meds weren't on the list. I had about 10 hours under my belt in March before I needed to see an AME for my First Class Certification, needed of course to do my solo. When I met with the AME, I learned about the ban on Wellbutrin and Paxil, so I decided on SSRI path I. (60 days off meds with doctor's confirmation of mood)

I sent my medical documents in June. After 13 weeks of waiting (I've been told due to COVID), I finally heard that Aeromed is going to need more info and will be sending me a letter with more detail. I have a loan for my program that is currently accruing interest, so having to wait longer is devastating news. I am wondering if anyone has been down this path before or if anyone can speak to the timeline after getting this request for more info? Will I have to wait another 13 weeks?

I want to fly full-time after I get medical done, so I will be doing independent contract work (Doordash) on the side to pay my half of the bills, but I don't know how much longer I can hold out on full-time work if Aeromed is going to keep me in a holding pattern like this. Thanks!

 

[whitepines]

Do you have the option to cancel the loan at this point? Unfortunately you skipped a step which was to get the medical first, then decide to make the financially risky decisions. You have a long and potentially expensive road ahead of you, and to be honest you're going to need to do more than Doordash if you want to fly eventually. You will need a relatively stable, reasonably well paying job for at least a year given the timelines and costs of the FAA "mental issues" paths -- Doordash is not that. Plus, there's a non-zero chance you'll be denied the medical -- much of aviation is risk management, so what is your plan if you are unable to get a medical at all / if you were to lose one down the line?

The actual doctors here I'm sure will chime in with more info, but I hate to see someone stretch so far financially that they break to chase a dream that may or may not be permitted by the FAA in the end.

 

[flyingron]

Despite the appearance that you can get off with 60 days off medication and a status report, the FAA will want more. Expect a referral to an HIM AME and more testing. The fact you were on two psychoactive drugs at the same time doesn't bode well for you.

 

[kath]

A loan "for your program"... does this mean a collegiate program of some sort? Requiring a First Class (instead of a Third Class, which is all you need for solo) sounds like the kind of thing a collegiate program might do.
A *good* program would not take your (borrowed) money without doing some baseline informational awareness about this... (<sigh>)
Perhaps you can talk to someone in administration (or whoever issued the loan) about getting your money back?
The journey *can* end with a medical, but it will be a long journey that takes time and dedication and persistence.

 

[mfortney0626]

A loan "for your program"... does this mean a collegiate program of some sort? Requiring a First Class (instead of a Third Class, which is all you need for solo) sounds like the kind of thing a collegiate program might do.
A *good* program would not take your (borrowed) money without doing some baseline informational awareness about this... (<sigh>)
Perhaps you can talk to someone in administration (or whoever issued the loan) about getting your money back?
The journey *can* end with a medical, but it will be a long journey that takes time and dedication and persistence.

Thanks for your answer, kath. It's a Part 141 commercial pilot program at a privately owned school in my city, which has had decent success at getting students who go on to the airlines and corporate aviation. I've just sent a message to my loan servicer asking if there are any options, but I assume that they will not be able to help. I am in a stable position to wait this out currently, and I really want to, but I am trying to figure out how long is too long. I am not the sole breadwinner in my family, so I have a bit of privilege in being able to just wait - I've waited this long, right?

 

[RussS]

You’ll have to wait for the letter at this point…which won’t be fast. Whether you will be allowed path I with your meds and time on them is s different story Dr B could shed some light on that. If you are in a 141 program you could always start knocking out the academic requirements while the medical is in limbo….BUT, I would DEFINITELY verify that you have a path forward by consulting a qualified AME on the subject.

 

[mfortney0626]

Well, you all nailed it on the head. I just received the certified mail telling me to get a psych eval up to FAA standards. I think I'm going to need to return to full-time work and return that flight school loan, so does anyone know how to find an FAA-recommended psychiatrist? I've seen Dr. Chien recommend seeing a HIMS AME and getting a referral from there. I live in Lexington, KY, so I am having some trouble finding this specific kind of care anywhere near the bluegrass.

 

[bbchien]

The relevant question here is if you ever had had more than one period of treatment, eg recurrence of disease spaced by a period of non treatment. Or treatment of longer than 5 years (presumed to be thought to be recurrent).

FAA denies 100% of “recurrent disease, untreated and unmonitored”.

 

[mfortney0626]

The relevant question here is if you ever had had more than one period of treatment, eg recurrence of disease spaced by a period of non treatment. Or treatment of longer than 5 years (presumed to be thought to be recurrent).

FAA denies 100% of “recurrent disease, untreated and unmonitored”.

Thanks so much for this info. I would say I had a “normal” amount of anxiety and depression around centralized events growing up - death, standardized tests, etc. However, the meds were given during a singular period over the course of a year, related to leaving my graduate school program and the beginning of the pandemic. I had been wanting to get off those meds prior to flying - SSRI Path I just expedited the process. The letter characterized my issue as “Major Depression” which seems like a stretch based on my medical history and the reason listed for being put on meds in the first place, but I’ll just have to roll with it.