So I'm writing for my partner. He fell in love with flying, got a 2nd class medical, bought a plane, and got his PPL this last year. He has had no difficulties with training.
He did the 8500 form or whatever with his AME, and ADHD never came up.
Now he wants at age 36 to make a career change to flying ATP if possible, or at least CFI/commercial/support his flying habit.
I'm the one that ended up reading more on this and discovering that a prior dx of ADHD is an issue.
I found out that he has a childhood diagnosis of ADHD, took Ritalin as a kid. Then again in college, and like 3 years ago in a certain career he's since retired from, and stopped the meds. He never did neuropsych testing, it was all based on parent/teacher/self report, PCPs, and a counselor, never a psychiatrist.
I am in a good position (although not an expert) to say that his ADHD is pretty mild, and I wouldn't be surprised if he could pass all the neuropsych testing unmedicated. But nothing in life is 100%.
I am aware that there is a pathway of disclosing the prior dx and beating the tests and getting cleared.
At this point, as a partner I can't support this as more than a hobby if he can't get the neuropsych testing and beat the ADHD diagnosis to be able to go commercial or ATP in the free and clear.
On the other hand, I hate to "push" him to jump through the hoops and then he loses the ability to basically fly anything.
In a perfect world, one would get a HIMS AME to help him get all his records together, order all the neuropsych testing, get the pee test in the right way, look at it all, and apply for the first class. If the testing goes the wrong way, just never bring it up. But I'm not sure it's possible to go about things that way.
He is committed to being medication free for the rest of his life flying. He has no other health issues or mental health issues/history, no history of substance abuse, no criminal history.
He only had the one medical, 2nd class, expires in a few months I think.
Any illumination would be helpful. The goal is not to do anything unsafe or that will get anyone in trouble, but also not to get the options more limited than they have to be.
He did the 8500 form or whatever with his AME, and ADHD never came up.
Now he wants at age 36 to make a career change to flying ATP if possible, or at least CFI/commercial/support his flying habit.
I'm the one that ended up reading more on this and discovering that a prior dx of ADHD is an issue.
I found out that he has a childhood diagnosis of ADHD, took Ritalin as a kid. Then again in college, and like 3 years ago in a certain career he's since retired from, and stopped the meds. He never did neuropsych testing, it was all based on parent/teacher/self report, PCPs, and a counselor, never a psychiatrist.
I am in a good position (although not an expert) to say that his ADHD is pretty mild, and I wouldn't be surprised if he could pass all the neuropsych testing unmedicated. But nothing in life is 100%.
I am aware that there is a pathway of disclosing the prior dx and beating the tests and getting cleared.
At this point, as a partner I can't support this as more than a hobby if he can't get the neuropsych testing and beat the ADHD diagnosis to be able to go commercial or ATP in the free and clear.
On the other hand, I hate to "push" him to jump through the hoops and then he loses the ability to basically fly anything.
In a perfect world, one would get a HIMS AME to help him get all his records together, order all the neuropsych testing, get the pee test in the right way, look at it all, and apply for the first class. If the testing goes the wrong way, just never bring it up. But I'm not sure it's possible to go about things that way.
He is committed to being medication free for the rest of his life flying. He has no other health issues or mental health issues/history, no history of substance abuse, no criminal history.
He only had the one medical, 2nd class, expires in a few months I think.
Any illumination would be helpful. The goal is not to do anything unsafe or that will get anyone in trouble, but also not to get the options more limited than they have to be.
