So I am a prospective student pilot. I recently graduated college and with my new found time and resources I finally have the opportunity to start working on my PPL. I recently discovered however that my ADHD diagnosis would be a major hinderance. During college I sought a diagnosis for ADHD and underwent behavioral counseling related to my associated avoidance behaviors and currently take non-stimulant medication in the form of NDRI antidepressants. The main reason for taking the medication is that it allows me to overcome my anxiety around beginning tasks that I find tedious. Overall I have never had significant problems focusing on tasks once I start them. My question is really is whether it is even possible for me to get a special issuance. I am not 100% sure whether I have ADHD as I was never formally diagnosed as a child, I was just told that my (elementary)school thought I was likely to have it. Is there anyway for me to get a special issuance. On the chance that Its not likely I could qualify for a class 3 SI, would it be better for me to get my sport certificate and apply in the future after demonstrating that I can indeed fly an airplane?
1) You can't get Basic Med without first having held a Third Class (or higher) Medical after 14JUL2006. So that's not an option. 2) Demonstrating that you can fly an airplane has no bearing on obtaining a medical. LSA is really the best option in 2021 if you've never held a medical. First consult with @bbchien (www.aeromedical.com) to determine what would be needed to get a medical, then decide if the LSA rules would fit your desires if that is indeed your only way in to the skies.
Well for some physical disabilities, it is part of the process. But, in this case you are right. Your problem is more complex than a straight ADHD answer because you've not diagnosed as such. In fact you seem to have an anxiety disorder. The problem is that since you're taking antidepressants for any reason, you're going to have to have a HIMS AME and it's going to cost you a lot of money to do the testing that is required. You CAN NOT FLY taking an NDRI PERIOD. There's no path for medical issuance for that. If you switch to an approved SSRI you can apply after a wait and more testing. A frank conversation with Dr. Bruce or another cognizant HIMS AME is well advised. As you may have surmised, do not submit an application without a clear path to issuance unless you want to abandon the concept of going sport pilot.
Minor correction. There are several paths into the air and not all require dealing with the FAA medical people.
Cognition disturbance due to social anxiety disorder, is what the FAA is going to see. And they will see the antidepressants eventually even if you omit. That's a call 4 felony, ruining your life. Get with a good Board Certified psychiatrist, both for good outcome and credible help when certification time comes around. No PCPs, please....I'v trained them for a living and they get 3 weeks of psychiatry....all we can do is train them to recognize symptoms (That's good). But for recognizing WTH is really goin on, not so much.
Follow up on that..what if you just plain quit taking the NDRI without switching? Does the same 60 day voluntary quitting use apply? When I was going through my divorce I was moody and it made me stress smoke. bupropion is prescribed for lots of things including to quit smoking so my therapist prescribed it for both the mood and cravings. I just never stopped but I can do without it.
Technically the Path I/II stuff is limited to SSRI. If your bupropion use was for smoking cessation, your chances are better. While the FAA won't let you fly while taking it, getting off it and showing no adverse effects would do it. Unfortunately, claiming mood issues, in the old day they'd send you to the PPP protocol, but these days they're stickier and you may end up in HIMS.
