Insomnia and class 3?

[Sam Rayman]

Hi

I’m an older (40+) person looking to get a PPL. I mainly worked in corporate jobs and had two cases of insomnia - both related to work/life stress. One was two years ago where my PCP suggested I take some medication and said I might be having situational anxiety because of work related issues. I took some medication (maybe 10 pills in total - SSRIs) back in 2022/early 2023. That was the duration of prescription as well and I didn’t even need to finish the course. More recently (last 6 months) I’ve had sleeping issues again and my PCP thinks it might be depression due to a sick family member and work stressors. I was prescribed some pills but haven’t taken them. I’m working through the situation and planning to take a forced break from work for a year or two.

Anyway, my plan was to use the break to learn and do things I might enjoy like flying. I started reading about it and realized my past experience might make me ineligible for a class 3 medical despite their relatively isolated nature. I plan to start training after a few (6) months. My insomnia has pretty much resolved at this time.

Is there any chance I’d be eligible for class 3 without a protracted process?

 

[Sam Rayman]

I’m not sure if I can edit my post but the diagnosis was “adjustment disorder with anxiety, insomnia, depression, fatigue” and Depression.
The drug prescription in 2022 was. amitriptyline (30 days - I did not complete the course), and the current suggested medication (notes show that I am not yet taking it) is escitalopram for thirty days.

 

[AvNavCom]

I’m not sure if I can edit my post but the diagnosis was “adjustment disorder with anxiety, insomnia, depression, fatigue” and Depression.
The drug prescription in 2022 was. amitriptyline (30 days - I did not complete the course), and the current suggested medication (notes show that I am not yet taking it) is escitalopram for thirty days.

I strongly suggest that you get every medical note written for the entire duration of your issues and schedule a consultation with an AME. Do not fill anything out in MedXPress until you've been able to have that conversation. Since you've had two or more episodes in your lifetime, you should anticipate needing an evaluation by a board-certified psychiatrist and you will be looking at a deferral for special issuance.

The formal guidance is here:

https://www.faa.gov/ame_guide/media/SituationalDepression.pdf

Alternatively, if you've decided to start flying for fun and a personal challenge, you might want to consider Sport Pilot or Ultralight flying, which would allow you to do that without screwing around with an FAA medical nightmare.

 

[Half Fast]

The diagnoses and two separate occurrences might be a problem. One of the forum docs would have to weigh in, but you could be looking at a long and expensive process.

Are you familiar with the Sport Pilot license? It doesn't require an FAA medical (just a driver's license), and since you're just looking to fly for enjoyment it might suit your needs. You'd be limited to certain light airplanes and you'd only be allowed to fly in the daytime under visual flight rules, but that's how most private flying is done anyway.

Something to consider.

 

[Sam Rayman]

Thank you. Damn, I was hoping to be able to fly my family around. I know about the sport license but I was hoping to be able to do IFR since my place of residence (Seattle) gets a lot of cloud cover and the sun sets at like 3 pm in the winter.

I’ll schedule a consult only with an AME (HIMS) to get their feedback when I’m ready to start the process.

 

[Half Fast]

Why not do a Sport license first and see how much you like flying? You could then decide whether it’s the time and expense to get a medical. Your Sport Pilot training will count toward Private if you decide you ant it.

 

[wellknow]

also if u get sport and are off the anti depressant for two years i believe its easier. but def do consult

 

[MountainDude]

Thank you. Damn, I was hoping to be able to fly my family around. I know about the sport license but I was hoping to be able to do IFR since my place of residence (Seattle) gets a lot of cloud cover and the sun sets at like 3 pm in the winter.

I’ll schedule a consult only with an AME (HIMS) to get their feedback when I’m ready to start the process.

There is lots of VFR weather in the PNW.
And when it's IMC, most of the time there is ice and/or crappy weather at the destination, so not great.

 

[Sam Rayman]

Thank you. I think the safest course for me is to go for sport pilot and subsequently (if I like it and find the restrictions of Sport limiting) try to see if I can get a class 3 medical AFTER a consult. I might do a consult prior to getting my sport license if I find that I really enjoy flying and want to go for the full experience.

I was confused a bit on the one episode vs. two episodes vs. recurring - the recent (2024) disposition table (https://www.faa.gov/ame_guide/media/Anxiety_Depression_Disposition_Table.pdf) seems to indicate that two types of conditions are allowed without a deferral, while it offers the old table (https://www.faa.gov/ame_guide/media/SituationalDepression.pdf - 2022) seems to allow only a single episode without requiring a deferral. I'm not sure exactly what counts as failed attempts to stay off medications (since I have not started any medication this time, and I didn't fail to stay off medication the first time either). I will defer to a medical professional's evaluation.

 

[TCABM]

Thank you. I think the safest course for me is to …..

…get healthy first.

You’ve described either recurring or multiple mental health diagnoses requiring treatment. Until that’s satisfactorily resolved, the FAA isn’t likely to certify your medical history meets the regulatory requirement.

 

[Lindberg]

Is there any chance I’d be eligible for class 3 without a protracted process?

Depression severe enough to require a two-year leave of absence is unlikely to result in a simple process. And you might want to discuss what you're treating physician what he thinks of your operating under sport pilot.

 

[Sam Rayman]

Depression severe enough to require a two-year leave of absence is unlikely to result in a simple process. And you might want to discuss what you're treating physician what he thinks of your operating under sport pilot.

Sorry, I was not clear. I was not on a two year leave of absence at any point in the past. The upcoming forced break I meant is a choice - I’m leaving my corporate job because it no longer is worth it to me (I used the word forced because I’m keeping the date inflexible - a minimum of one year break even if an amazing job offer comes along).

 

[Sam Rayman]

Depression severe enough to require a two-year leave of absence is unlikely to result in a simple process. And you might want to discuss what you're treating physician what he thinks of your operating under sport pilot.

Sorry, that was poorly worded. I'm voluntarily taking a leave of absence (i.e. quitting my job) - not a recommendation/requirement from my physician. I call it "forced" because I am telling (myself) that I will take a minimum of a year off (even if I got offered an amazing gig in the interim).