Denied medical for PPL 10 years ago from medicine

[blakeaf96]

10 years ago I logged about 32 hours for my PPL. I did not know at the time (and CFI never told me) that I could just get my sports license with NO medical.

Anyways, I went to have my medical and they denied me because of taking Cymbalta. Since then, Cymbalta has been approved by the FAA on a special issuance basis.

Question... what are the chances I could now get approved now that it's been 10 years AND the medicine has been added to the FAA approved list of medications?

How do I proceed? Just simply go back to an AIMS doc and go through the medical again OR do I need to write the FAA before I go in for another medical to get approval?

Not sure how this would work, but really looking to start flying AND get a SPORTS PILOTS LICENSE instead of a PPL since I now know the differences. Light sport aircraft is all I wish to fly anyways!

Thanks for the help from anyone knowledgeable about this!!!

 

[blakeaf96]

Thank you! I have reached out to my local FAA Regional office and asked for guidance on how to proceed with the special issuance. Wish me luck. The denial was the biggest bummer of my life! =D

 

[blakeaf96]

They told me to go to a HIMS/AME physician and retake the exam.
Just wondering what I could expect after that appointment if the doctor doesn't see any issues proceeding?

 

[Anthem]

<Content deleted by User>

 

[Lindberg]

Just wondering what I could expect after that appointment if the doctor doesn't see any issues proceeding?

This:

if you are still taking it and planning to, then you would go through SSRI pathway 2. Look that up and you'll see some of the steps it will take for you to go through it.

Do not schedule an exam with the HIMS AME. Schedule a consult. This will allow you to get all your socks in a row before the exam and have a much another and quicker process.

 

[murphey]

If the AME will not do a consult, find another AME. do not talk to anyone else at the FAA until then.

 

[Lindberg]

at this point the denial is still on file there. While I agree with doing a consult in general - not sure there is /any/ difference at this point. The consult is /usually/ to prevent the denial and speed thigns through. But yeah OP needs to get all their information together regardless.

The consult before this go around allows him to submit a complete package, or at least have in hand the information that the FAA is going to demand immediately. And we don't actually have enough information here to determine whether he's eligible at this time. He could have other issues undisclosed here.

 

[TCABM]

at this point the denial is still on file there. While I agree with doing a consult in general - not sure there is /any/ difference at this point. The consult is /usually/ to prevent the denial and speed thigns through. But yeah OP needs to get all their information together regardless.

Sure there’s value. This is a new application; if the OP has their ducks in a row at submission, the likelihood of an SI getting approved without further FAA delay caused by asking for more info.

Also, unstated, is any relevant changes in the OP’s medical history that may have changed.

As far as the OP is concerned, I’d get the one-time Class 3, switch to BasicMed and do the PPL training since LSAs can be hard to come by in part 61 land.

Post training, OP can simply exercise Sport privileges under BasicMed or let it expire and operate Sport Pilot using just the driver’s license.

 

[TCABM]

Im not sure there is any difference between getting initially deferred, and follow up with all the information the FAA needs in the following weeks/months, since the FAA allows your file to be updated. They will work on the file when they get to ….

Until about a week ago, that policy had changed.

FAA Paperwork Medical Denials Delayed 'Indefinitely' - AVweb

Sources have told AVweb that a controversial FAA policy to turn incompletely documented medical deferrals into denials has been indefinitely deferred. The

www.avweb.com

 

[bbchien]

I can tell you that they are doing it. Lots of first round general denials. Just got a bunch of refugee inquires today....

 

[RussR]

Sport is completely off the table for you until you get through it. Then you can choose to do sport or PPL - though I would say do PPL if you have it as that allows full sport privileges and more.

The way you worded that is potentially a little misleading - not intentional, I know, but just to clarify for the OP:

You can work on Sport Pilot (or Private Pilot) all you want while you work through the medical. You just can't solo or finish either of them until you get the medical resolved.

Sport Pilot isn't off the table, what IS off the table now is the ability to go for Sport Pilot without getting a medical. Since you were previously denied, then like @Anthem said, you have to get a medical regardless, and can then make your choice. And if you do decide to go Sport, then you will never need to get a medical again. Of course, if you choose to go Private, you could go Basic Med which is halfway toward never getting a medical again, and is a route that many have found valuable.

 

[UTLonghorn_1979]

I can tell you that they are doing it. Lots of first round general denials. Just got a bunch of refugee inquires today....

Dr. Chien, does the denial make way for complete files moving faster? I.e. do they do an initial check for all required items before digging through the file and after 30 days of review finding the personal statement is missing or something? I’m trying to find a silver lining in this!!

Thanks!

 

[blakeaf96]

I actually just consulted with Dr. Chien. He was very helpful and informative, but the news wasn't good. He stated that the FAA will see this as a "recurrent depression" since I've been on "some sort of" SSRI since I was 17 years old. Even IF I come off of the med (which my PCP wants me to do) for 10+ years with no issues, no side effects, successful life, no relapses etc, that the FAA will STILL have a problem with it and then treat it as "Recurrent depression unmonitored and untreated" - And sounds like he hasn't had many success stories with people in the past doing that and getting their medical. I take full responsibility. I allowed a quack doctor when I was 17 to prescribe me an a SSRI after my grandfather was killed by a drunk driver. He gave me a questionnaire with 15 questions, prescribed an SSRI and I've been on it ever since thinking that was what I needed to do. It's all been a huge shock and disappointment to me BUT it IS my fault.. =/ I appreciate EVERYONE here who has given their advice and taken the time to respond!

 

[UTLonghorn_1979]

I actually just consulted with Dr. Chien. He was very helpful and informative, but the news wasn't good. He stated that the FAA will see this as a "recurrent depression" since I've been on "some sort of" SSRI since I was 17 years old. Even IF I come off of the med (which my PCP wants me to do) for 10+ years with no issues, no side effects, successful life, no relapses etc, that the FAA will STILL have a problem with it and then treat it as "Recurrent depression unmonitored and untreated" - And sounds like he hasn't had many success stories with people in the past doing that and getting their medical. I take full responsibility. I allowed a quack doctor when I was 17 to prescribe me an a SSRI after my grandfather was killed by a drunk driver. He gave me a questionnaire with 15 questions, prescribed an SSRI and I've been on it ever since thinking that was what I needed to do. It's all been a huge shock and disappointment to me BUT it IS my fault.. =/ I appreciate EVERYONE here who has given their advice and taken the time to respond!

Best of luck! If you truly want it, you’ll likely get it, it’s just a long haul.

 

[blakeaf96]

All I want to do is fly around my land out in the country and a few small local uncontrolled airports haha - Just something to get away from life, traffic and the hustle and bustle. So maybe I'll just buy a Merlin Lite and be content with that. I'm sure it'll still be a blast! =D

 

[UTLonghorn_1979]

All I want to do is fly around my land out in the country and a few small local uncontrolled airports haha - Just something to get away from life, traffic and the hustle and bustle. So maybe I'll just buy a Merlin Lite and be content with that. I'm sure it'll still be a blast! =D

Look at a motor glider like a Pipistrel Sinus.

You can fly those without any FAA medical and those will go 120 kn, soft Field capabilities, and excellent glide performance

 

[blakeaf96]

Wow those are nice! Merlin Lite also offers a motorglider configuration. Looks very similar to what you recommended but I'm going to have to look into that. Those look super cool. Really all I want is to get in the air and have the "feel" of a regular aircraft like a Cessna. I will be 100% content with that.

 

[odie451]

If you want to fly a motorglider, you will need to get a PPL-Glider License/Certificate. Do not go for Sport Pilot Glider; it's not worth it. Also, most CFI-G will only recommend PPL.
Once you have your PPL-G, you can train to fly light sport aircraft according to

Federal Register :: Request Access

No knowledge test or checkride would be needed if you go this route.

Plus, you are not limited to the 10,000MSL/2000AGL limitations applied to Sport Pilots.
I am not sure if you are limited to a single passenger or if you can fly with multiple passengers.

 

[UTLonghorn_1979]

Wow those are nice! Merlin Lite also offers a motorglider configuration. Looks very similar to what you recommended but I'm going to have to look into that. Those look super cool. Really all I want is to get in the air and have the "feel" of a regular aircraft like a Cessna. I will be 100% content with that.

If you can find a Pipistrel Virus SW that’s of the experimental glider category, I think before 2024, it will cruise at 135-140 kts TAS, VNE of 163 kts. Gets around the whole medical and LSA rules. .

Ping me if you want a good broker and transition pilot.

 

[bbchien]

Dr. Chien, does the denial make way for complete files moving faster? I.e. do they do an initial check for all required items before digging through the file and after 30 days of review finding the personal statement is missing or something? I’m trying to find a silver lining in this!!

Thanks!

No. They give you 60-90 days to get a case together. Even if you had in your possession RIGHT now every bit of medical record, it takes some time to get the AME version of the FAA medical record, in hand, and no HIMS psychiatrist nor Neuropscyhologist is going to be able to see you before that time runs out.

Thus, you get a consult, we obtain missing records, get the FAA AME version of the medical record (your version is missing some items), plan all the referrals, draw up the GANTT chart, execute the plan and then apply with EVERYTHING YOU NEED alread in hand.

I summarize this to the mil pilots: Why wouold you go before a board of inquiry without everything in had that you will need?. Then, the "light" goes on!