Man, You can’t make this stuff up.

[Clip4]

So I was talking with a well experienced CFI friend in another state. He advises a wanna be student attempted to obtain a medical prior to starting flight lessons and was deferred for anxiety medication. What is the anxiety requiring medication? Flying. He only takes the meds while on commercial airlines.

He called the CFI to see what his options were. And where did he want to do? Light sport.

 

[AV8R_87]

He might be fine if he's at the controls.
Or not...

 

[bbchien]

Bummer.

 

[455 Bravo Uniform]

Sad.

 

[RyanB]

Wow.

 

[pfarber]

Is it the meds or the condition?

Anxiety can happy to anyone at any time (like a CFI yelling 'more right rudder!).

 

[Kent Wien]

My very good friend was absolutely terrified to fly. It was affecting his ability to go on important work trips.

So, in 1983 he learned to fly an ultralight. Then he bought a J-3, then 170, and eventually ended up with a Husky that he flies today at the age of 80. Great pilot.

 

[Salty]

My very good friend was absolutely terrified to fly. It was affecting his ability to go on important work trips.

So, in 1983 he learned to fly an ultralight. Then he bought a J-3, then 170, and eventually ended up with a Husky that he flies today at the age of 80. Great pilot.

Did he take medication to control his anxiety while flying?

 

[Kenny Phillips]

I will admit that I'm apprehensive about flying, always have been, until I drive through the airport gate. Then I'm 100% chill.
Doesn't matter whether I'm the pilot or a passenger on big iron.
But nothing so debilitating that it keeps me from driving the 11 miles to the airport.

 

[Doc Holliday]

 

[DaleB]

Did he take medication to control his anxiety while flying?

After flying yesterday for the first time in a while, my takeaway is that flying IS medication to control anxiety while flying.

 

[Kent Wien]

After flying yesterday for the first time in a while, my takeaway is that flying IS medication to control anxiety while flying.

Yeah, that’s exactly what happened to my friend.

 

[Salty]

Perhaps my point was missed.

From a prospective pilots perspective, learning to fly while also learning how to cope with your anxiety without medication is not the same as learning to fly while taking medication to cope with your anxiety.

 

[UTLonghorn_1979]

I read an article from an aviation periodical contributor, can’t remember which magazine, that talked about having a panic attack from heights while flying solo. Never happened before. I guess it got better, don’t recall.

The human mind is really complex and doesn’t fit into nice and simple boxes like many think.

 

[Albany Tom]

Maybe he was only afraid of commercial flying? Like having a kneecap hit by the beverage cart, having a carry on bag fall on your head, sitting beside a salesman, or maybe that the pilot has a youtube channel? Things that scare all of us.