Airman Medical & Student Pilot Cert

[cg2112]

I've got a couple questions (this is my first post here, I typically read the wealth of knowledge, but haven't posted yet)

I've been taking lessons for about six months now, and have logged about 18 hours (4 were with a different instructor in a Piper Cub, 14 are with my current instructor in a Cessna 152). After my last lesson, my instructor told me to get my student certificate and medical.

How long does it take to hear back once you fill out the forms at MedXPress? Once you do hear back and get what you need for the medical, do you need to do it within a certain amount of time?

I know that I'm going to be super busy with work much of this month, probably no time during business hours, and will be out of town a bunch, too. Should I fill out the paperwork now, then get the medical next month when I have more time during the day, or just wait?

Thanks!

 

[Skip Miller]

I've got a couple questions (this is my first post here, I typically read the wealth of knowledge, but haven't posted yet)

Welcome!

There are several things to watch out for. You should never fill out and sign the paperwork for a medical or student medical unless you are reasonably certain you will pass. Why? If you fail, you are excluded from flying under the Sport Pilot category forever, which is a viable alternative for those who have never had a medical or have let their medical lapse. So do your homework before applying for the medical.

Oh, forever is not really forever, but it takes a boatload of money to document that your situation does not exclude you from getting a medical.

Two quick questions that trip a lot of people up:

Ever had a DUI arrest? More than one?

Ever taken SSRI medication (Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors) which are sold under many brand names like:

(list from Wikipedia)

citalopram (Celexa, Cipramil, Emocal, Sepram, Seropram)
escitalopram oxalate (Lexapro, Cipralex, Esertia)
fluoxetine (Prozac, Fontex, Seromex, Seronil, Sarafem, Fluctin (EUR))
fluvoxamine maleate (Luvox, Faverin)
paroxetine (Paxil, Seroxat, Aropax, Deroxat, Paroxat)
sertraline (Zoloft, Lustral, Serlain)
dapoxetine (no known trade name)

If yes you need to seek out the advice of Dr. Bruce Chien here on this board and do what he says. He is really the guru for navigating through the FAA Medical rules and is a specialist in difficult medicals. If Dr. Bruce can't get you certified, then nobody can and Sport Pilot becomes perhaps your only option.

In fact, take your list of Rx medications you currently take and check them all against the database over at the AOPA Forums.

 

[poadeleted20]

How long does it take to hear back once you fill out the forms at MedXPress? Once you do hear back and get what you need for the medical, do you need to do it within a certain amount of time?

You fill out the MedXpress, then make an appointment with an FAA-designated Aviation Medical Examiner, whom you find here:
https://www.faa.gov/pilots/amelocator/
Usually you can get an appointment within a week. Then you go in, get examined, and the doc tells you as soon as the examination is complete which of the three outcomes applies: Pass, Fail, or deferred for FAA Aeromedical Center review and possibly additional tests. If you pass, you're in business and that's it. If you fail, you find out what the problem is and begin the process of seeing if it can be fixed to the FAA's satisfaction by talking to an aeromedical expert like Dr. Bruce Chien, who hangs out here. If you're deferred, either they'll send you a certificate within a few weeks or send you a letter detailing what additional testing is required.

I know that I'm going to be super busy with work much of this month, probably no time during business hours, and will be out of town a bunch, too. Should I fill out the paperwork now, then get the medical next month when I have more time during the day, or just wait?

I'm not sure how long you have from the date you submit the application to complete the exam, but Bruce is, and he'll probably be along later tonight after he gets off work.

 

[bbchien]

I have had more than one DUI arrest (one in 1998, one in 2005), the case in 1998 ended in a conviction, in 2005 the charge was dropped (I didn't even ask that it be dropped, there was just no evidence, and both the prosecutor and judge kind of shook their head and gave me a speeding ticket). I know it will certainly come up, but I don't think it's something that will disqualify me, particularly given how much time has passed, and no substance abuse history.

I also have a misdemeanor (theft by unauthorized taking) in 1994, which I also put on the form. Funny that I list it all out and I feel like a hardened criminal, instead of a responsible parent and respected professional. Ha.

I took prozac for a month or so (I think) when I was going through a divorce, the marriage counselor thought it might be helpful to me, but I didn't note any difference. Is that something that needs to be reported? I didn't even think of it until you mentioned it.

I'll drop him a note in the near future. Thanks for your help! I didn't even think of these things. I knew the DUI could be an issue, but hopefully not something disqualifying.

CG 2112, the amber light is flashing on your situation.

(1)What year was the prozac Rx?
(2)The counselor could not have presecribed (although they want to have that authority) so it must have come fro a doctor. A Family practice guy?
(3) You should have both the convicted DUI and the arrest in 2005 (did you blow?) as this is two (the arrest counts, and the FAA is going to demand the record(s) to compare your reported behavior with your BAC. If there is no BAC you're going to need a report from a SAP (Substance Abuse Provider/evaluator) and it needs be favorable.
(4) Will a DL search show that you are clean since? You're going to need to provide one.
(5) Will and FBI search show that you are clean since? you're gong to need to provide one.

Don't apply until you possess all this stuff and it's all favorable. The reason for question #2 is we're going to need a letter from that guy saying the need was transient and that has long passed,and that the Rx was on month long, and likely need some current testimony that the doc isn't seeing any alcohol problems CURRENTLY.

If you can't supply this stuff and apply anyway, you'll get deferred, and they'll just demand it and then deny you after the fact. Then you can't even do sport pilot.


Seriously, guy, you're asking a bit late in your flight training....but the guys here know just about ALL the relevant questions....

 

[bbchien]

It was 2006.



She recommended a psychiatrist for the prescription. I don't remember his name, but I'm sure I can find it.



I have both listed, I blew on both. The first, in 1998, I did it at the police station. I believe it was .16. The second, in 2005, I blew at the side of the road, a .01. Through a ridiculous series of events in the 20 minutes that followed that involved a car chase and a naked dead body, I was never brought to the police station and never took an admissible test.



It should, aside from run of the mill stuff that did not result in administrative action. I've gotten a couple of tickets over the last 8 years or so.



I have to imagine that it would. Aside from the stuff that I've mentioned here, I can't think of any reason why it wouldn't.




I've never really given it thought until my instructor mentioned it. I knew that there was a medical exam required, but I really thought it was simply a physical, basically, so I never gave it much thought. That's why I'm asking here

Well give it a lot of thought. You have over $2,000 invested in flying.

You need: a letter from that psychiatrist saying why the Rx was given and the timeframe.
You need: a letter from somebody current- go back to that psych if you have no doc, and finish up the documentation with a letter saying that at the current time you have "nothing".

Get the court papers from the attorney from the .16 event.
Get the court papers from the 0.01 event. It's probably ridiculous but the FAA reserves the right to say that. You can say that 'till your're blue in the face. Just get the records.
Provide a DL search to the current. (Driver's license bureau)
Provide an FBI search to the current. (police station).

If things are the way you say they are, any HIMS (the drug and alcohol enabled AMEs) AME should be able to issue you.

Where are you geographically? There aren't a lot of us.

PS the notion of, "oh, I'll just leave it off" is a FAIL. The reason: your pharmacy codes are public. FAA can get 'em. With a DUI eval, they will have reason to be looking.

 

[AggieMike88]

To satisfy my curiosity on how to find a HIMS AME, my Google Fu found this page:

https://www.faa.gov/pilots/amelocator/

with the link to HIMS AME's at the last bullet point of information. The link brings up the attached PDF roster of AME's.

 

[AggieMike88]

Thanks for answering my questions, I appreciate it.
I guess this all answers my initial question (how long does it take?) pretty well.

I have no intention of leaving anything off, though it's funny, I thought I was being more thorough than I needed to be.

I'm located in southwest Ohio.

Thanks again!

as a famous person once said, "Head west young man"

 

[bbchien]

Thanks for answering my questions, I appreciate it.
I guess this all answers my initial question (how long does it take?) pretty well.

I have no intention of leaving anything off, though it's funny, I thought I was being more thorough than I needed to be.

I'm located in southwest Ohio.

Thanks again!

cg2112, from the time you have everything, if you get the right AMe, you can be issued at the appointment. Some HIMS AMEs will take a fee before you get there, and do the paperwork based on everything I've listed. Then your issuance is instantaneous.

 

[JasonM]

Hi Chris, FYI.. Dr. Bruce is an awesome guy. He helped me through the process with relation to ssri medication "Lexapro" I was using a year ago. I live on the east coast and the drive out to IL was definitely worth it. If you haven't already, I would suggest you work with him to help you through this process through its entirety.

 

[Mason]

It should go without saying, but you really need to never, ever even come close to another DUI, or even any D&A transgression not involving a motor vehicle, if you want to be a pilot. As you can see, even an arrest or a stop where you must blow can raise eyebrows at the FAA, regardless of the final verdict of guilty/not. Those as well as "administrative actions" must be reported separately from your medical application and then again on the application when you renew.

And you need to ask questions whenever a pill-pushing helpful care provider wants to write a scrip.

A lot of time has passed and you sound like you no longer get that close to the edge, which I certainly hope is the case. And you have shown a great deal of "pilot smarts" by checking here first before wandering in to an AME and getting blindsided.

Follow Doc Bruce's instructions to the letter, maybe even hire him as your HIMS AME and welcome to the wonderful world of flight, which is the only (and by far the best) way to get high!