I had casually asked an instructor (unfamiliar with the sport route it turns out) if they thought I could get a medical if I have a past bipolar diagnosis. I thought there was nothing to lose because I know I can fly sport, and I might gain a little perspective on the possibilities of getting a medical. Long story short they contacted the owner, and I was later kindly told they can't have me because they think I'd be breaking the regulation about having knowledge of a medical condition that would make me unable to safely operate an LSA. They also cited insurance and liability coverage reasons.
This isn't being posted because I need help determining if I am eligible, I know I am eligible. The relevant portions of the FAR/AIM say a driver's license may be used, and the only "problem" I've encountered (with regard to operating as a sport pilot with a driver's license) is that exact part about having knowledge of a medical condition. The FAA has pages saying to consult one's PRIVATE physician if one needs help determining if they would be safe to fly. I can't link anything yet because this is my first post. My doctor said I'm fine by the way.
So that's enough on that, because I know the rules, and so do you (if you're gonna reply, hopefully). I am looking for advice on what to do, because this is the only school remotely near me that has an LSA. They either mistakenly rejected me because they pathetically don't know the rules or they are just being extra, extra cautious. I think they know better and are trying to protect the business, since they cited insurance reasons. But one extra bad thing (with regard to their mind being swayed) was they called an agent from FSDO and discussed a fictional scenario (to keep me anonymous) about someone with bipolar trying to procure a SPL. The agent simply pointed to the exact same thing I point to when I say I can fly (61.301, section B, paragraph 4). Like I said, the only thing in that section that is (apparently) preventing me from flying, according to them, is knowing of a medical condition.
The school doesn't understand that if someone at FSDO is called about about this scenario, of course they are going to assume the person with the bipolar is untreated and just point to the above from the FAR/AIM. The agent said nothing else. They point to that and to the school that means I am unable to fly. The agent is obviously not going to encourage the school to let me fly, because that puts his job at risk a little bit if he goes on record saying that and then something happened. But still, nonetheless the agent said nothing else except for referencing the FAR/AIM. I am sick of these people covering their asses and not caring about the individual at hand.
They don't care or have enough time to care about seeing if said person actually is fine, they just make up that they are not to simplify sh*t and move on with more important matters. The instructor flew with me before the call to FSDO was made. He said he would fly with me based on how fine I seem and how well I did, but he doesn't wanna risk any of his certificates/ratings and $100,000 invested. That is very cautious, but in their eyes it is just the decision that has to be made. Maybe he should've researched the matter more first, but okay.
At first, I was surprised that I was wrong. Then I spent two weeks researching everything possible, consulting lawyers, airline pilots, recreational pilots, etc., and just studying/rereading the law on it over and over making damn sure I knew what was correct. I wanted to be right, but I much more wanted to prove myself wrong if I was. I've always been about knowing the truth versus lying to myself to be happier or whatever. I'm positive if I go somewhere else and shut the hell up there wouldn't be a problem. I bet tons of (sport) schools would have me even if I did mention the diagnosis. I'd sure hope most flight schools are more educated on the topic. This one offered everything a school could offer, and sport was kind of just an extra thing they offered. Schools with more LSAs and sport instructors probably wouldn't have done this.
Regardless this school made their decision, and I very boldly but confidently claim they are wrong about me being able to fly. They are full of sh*t or embarrassingly uneducated on the topic. They are legally allowed to reject a customer like that I suppose, citing what they did cite, so what the hell do I do? Do I write a well written, professional email (not cursing like I am here haha) citing everything I can, using a letter from my doctor, etc., to try to convince them to have me again? I have contacted all the instructors within two hours of me, and I have had zero luck. Trying to fly sport has proven tough because of availability, but if I just kept my f*cking mouth shut in the first place there would have been no problem at that school, ever. What a world where an honest person like myself gets conditioned to not be honest because of the fear.
One young instructor around my age that I did the intro flight with said I can fly sport when I mentioned the diagnosis. He has the least authority there compared to the senior instructors that told the owner about my situation, so he probably doesn't have enough power to persuade them. I am at a loss, and my only option is to temporarily move to a different state, it seems. To just be extra clear (...and redundant), the FAA has not rejected me, just the school. The FAA can NOT override self-certification and private physician consultation when using a driver's license as a medical for sport flying, so long as the person in question has not been rejected a medical. They DO make it difficult to know that, surprise surprise (I mean in my case when you have a medical condition/diagnosis that is NORMALLY disqualifying for higher certificates). But yeah, it's just that school, as the title says.
I very greatly appreciate any advice on what to do, it helps me immensely. I'm kind of scared to take the school's advice and call FSDO or and AME about this. I would call if I wanted a medical, but I decided I'm not going to try to get one. I'm really not wanting to disclose this information to anyone else because look how that worked out so far. I don't wanna lose more control by potentially telling someone else that's unhelpful and judgmental but with more authority. Another instructor also advised me to just keep it a secret because of how these ignorant people view it. I'm afraid most people working for the FAA are old-timers with that one size fits all approach to mental illnesses. I just don't wanna try calling and f*ck myself over. I mean, if I applied for a third class medical I would definitely end up not being able to do sport when that got rejected. So I'm just really stuck and don't want to move just yet, ya know? I accepted I can't do this for a living and have been able to be fine with just flying sport, but now I'm having problems doing even that. My life is being shattered because this has always been my number one thing I've wanted to do, and I couldn't do it in the past (before the diagnosis) because of money. Now I can, except apparently not (yet), still.
