Getting a PPL with a POSSIBILITY of a seizure?

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Deusdies

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Deusdies
Hi all,

Since I was a little boy, I've always wanted to become a pilot. I'm 23 years old now, and even though life took a different path for me, I have countless of hours on Flight Simulator X with PMDG/VATSIM and all the good stuff.

Working as a software developer, I am (thankfully) well-paid, and I see that getting a PPL is in range of $7k - $10k (from Googling - is this correct?). However, unfortunately in December of 2013 I was diagnosed with a large brain tumor. The tumor has been immediately removed and is now completely gone.

My doctor says that I am now likely more seizure-prone than the general population, so he put me on Keppra. I have never had a seizure in my life, and even my doctor thinks that he should only keep me on Keppra for about a year, after which he will take me off (provided that the EEG tests show that I am seizure-free inside).

My question is: would I be able to get a private pilot license with this kind of condition?

Cheers!
 
Sailplanes or LSA is what you want.

But really, think about how you'd feel if you killed a passenger or someone on the ground if you had a seizure while flying.

Some people really cannot be pilots through no fault of their own. You may be one of these.

Talk to an experienced AME, and tell him or her to be brutally honest with you.
 
The answer to your question is likely no. You won't pass a medical (I am guessing)

But you can get sport license w/o it as Hulk said but also have to consider Jim's question.

I would say If you have to fly go sport and fly with a safety pilot at all times. I would never want to tell someone they shouldn't fly. I know how it feels to have flying in your blood.

But I don't think it is worth the risk. You don't want to have your first seizure as pilot in command.

Lots of pilots will safety pilot for you. Not quite the same as throwing the family in flying off into the sunset but a reasonable compromise.

Here is the important deal
If you try to pass the medical and fail, it is over. You are done.
If you skip the medical and go the sport route, you get to fly.
 
If he always has a "safety pilot," he doesn't need a certificate. The other pilot is PIC and he's a passenger, even if he does all the flying.

For the sport pilot thing, as with most safety issues, ask what the NTSB report will look like. How would you respond to a headline that says "pilot with known risk of seizures crashes into schoolyard?"

Most states DO restrict drivers licenses due to risk of seizures. Would your license be suspended if your state knew?

See also 14 CFR 61.53(b).

I really hate to burst bubbles, but this has "bad idea" written all over it.

Flight training up to but not including solo is an option without a medical.
 
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Even going the sport pilot route, the OP must self certify, and 14 CFR 61.53 still applies, meaning he cannot fly with a known medical deficiency. He should consult his physician to determine whether the Dr. Believes the possibility of seizures would interfere with the safe performance of sport piloting duties. What does the doc say about driving? My guess if the doctor recommends against the OP driving, flying is also obviously out of the question.
 
Go for it, ask Doc Bruce before going for a medical as denial prevents flying as a sport pilot. Most are being unnecessarily cautious there is no history of seizures just an increased risk. Same as former HS football players and skateboarders he just happens to have a conservative doctor.
If a medical and sport pilot is both off the table there is still plenty of flying to be had, sailplanes, hot air balloons, hang and paragliding, skydiving and ultralights all can be done without a medical even with a denial. Most of that stuff is more fun then vanilla general aviation anyway.
 
Instead of listening to guesses, get a real, knowledgeable answer. Go to this website, and email Dr. Brice Chien: http://home.comcast.net/~bbchien/site/ He is an experienced FAA medical examiner who specializes in helping hard cases get medical certificates. He will consult with you on your chances before doing any paperwork.

That is important, because of what is called a Sport Pilot certificate. A sport pilot certificate gives you slightly less privileges than a private pilot certificate, but it does not require a medical certificate. The catch is that you aren't eligible if you've ever been denied a medical. So, if you're likely to be denied, you don't apply, in order to preserve the ability to fly as a Sport Pilot.

Some conditions, like seizures, are medically disqualifying. But some meds are also disqualifying regardless of symptoms because the FAA assumes that if you're on the med, there's a reason. But Since the plan is to have you on the seizure meds prophylacticly, you might eligible for a medical after that if you've never had one. Dr. Chien is the guy who can tell you.
 
If your desire to be airborne and experience the thrill of flight I suggest flying Powered Para Glider. There its just you, the parachute and the hum of a two or four Stroke Motor. If you have a seizure while power parachuting all that will happen is you safely float down to mother earth. No certificate or medical required. I feel this is the safest means of flight for you.
 
evapilotaz said:
If your desire to be airborne and experience the thrill of flight I suggest flying Powered Para Glider. There its just you, the parachute and the hum of a two or four Stroke Motor. If you have a seizure while power parachuting all that will happen is you safely float down to mother earth. No certificate or medical required. I feel this is the safest means of flight for you.
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People he has less incapacitation risk then all the apneatic fatty pilots that are medically certified. The biases on this are amazing. Fat guys ask about flying and are told to buy a bigger plane. Someone with zero history but an increased risk of seizures(alcohol and head injury histories from the fatties please) according to one doctor, asks and everyone(none of whom are docs) medically disqualifies him. You people should be ashamed of yourselves.
 
Jhernandez04 said:
Dont get a medical and go LSA I think is your best route.
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The mere fact that one has never had a FAA medical certificate denied is not sufficient to go out and fly as a Sport Pilot. One must consider in consultation with one's physician whether one can safely do that, and if one's doctor thinks one is seizure prone, that might not be possible. However, that's a matter for the pilot concerned to discuss with his/her physician, and not one upon which we can pass judgment here. See http://www.faa.gov/licenses_certificates/medical_certification/sportpilots/ for more on this subject.
 
DesertNomad said:
Get on the aopa red board and ask Dr. Bruce in the medical forum.
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That's the AOPA Forums. You can also reach aviation medical certification specialist Dr. Bruce Chien via his web site http://www.aeromedicaldoc.com. And since denial is almost certain for someone with a recently removed brain tumor who applies without the proper documentation, you really want to have expert advice before you fill out the FAA medical application form.
 
First welcome to Pilots of America ( POA) Good to have another aviation enthusiast here. Second good to hear that your surgery was successful. Third. No one here can really answer your question other than a good AME ( Aviation Medical Examiner) Contact Bruce Chien Directly at http://www.aeromedicaldoc.com.

Bruce knows his stuff and can tell you if you have a chance and if so what you need to do. Best of luck!
 
How about the doctor who operated on him. Would he be a logical person to discuss it with verses the internet? if I had survived this serious an operation I would do exactly what that doctor recommended! waiting the prescribed amount of time to get well and then , in consultation with the doctor , go forward. Again, the question.....do you currently drive on the open road. if so, much easier to pull over than to find an airport and land.
 
Do you have a condition that you know or should know would prevent you from operating an airplane safely? I think you do and I think you know that too. If you think maybe you're close to the line, check with an AME. Dr Chien is first class.

On the other hand, if you always fly with another pilot in the right seat, then I don't necessarily see your condition as a safety concern, because there is a pilot to take over if you become disabled. The odds of you having a problem and your copilot have a problem at the same time is so close to zero as to be negligible.
 
Jimmy cooper said:
How about the doctor who operated on him. Would he be a logical person to discuss it with verses the internet?
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Good choice. Nobody will know your case better. Even better if that doc is also a pilot, and best case is that doc is also an AME.
 
bflynn said:
On the other hand, if you always fly with another pilot in the right seat, then I don't necessarily see your condition as a safety concern, because there is a pilot to take over if you become disabled.
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There are all sorts of seizures, and some of them you really wouldn't want anyone to be suffering in the front seat near the controls. In addition, even if the seizure isn't violent, that pilot acting as PIC may not be able to provide any aid or assistance to deal with the seizure until the airplane is safely on the ground, and it's possible that could have serious implications for the survival of the person suffering the seizure. This really is something to be discussed thoroughly with both an expert on your condition and an aviation medical expert.
 
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Jimmy cooper said:
o you currently drive on the open road. if so, much easier to pull over than to find an airport and land.
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YGTBFSM

In a car you either cross the center line and have a head on collision or you go off to the right and hit what/who ever is there in a matter of seconds. People, places, and things tend to be concentrated along the sides of roads.

In an airplane, you can be out for a while and the airplane will drone along on it's own. And, unless you are flying over a downtown area, if you do finally hit the earth, chances are you will end up in an empty field hurting no one but yourself.
 
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