Post tbi

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Jad

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I would like to know if any pilot in history has ever gotten their medical certificate back after this concussion: moderate traumatic brain injury.
I've looked at many places on the internet and all I see is the pilots' posts on the process of trying to get back their medical certificate.
 
The current guidance breaks it down into
How long you were "out" for
If you had any blood on the brain on the inital CT
If you had a depress skull fracture
and if you had any post TBI seizures
and if anybody mentions congnitive dysfunction in your files.

The dispositions can be from six months out to 4 years down depending on these factors, and only the simplest gets away without the FAA's neurocognitive evaluation.

The answer to your question is "YES". All the time.

B
 
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bbchien said:
The current guidance breaks it down into
How long you were "out" for
If you had any blood on the brain on the inital CT
If you had a depress skull fracture
and if you had any post TBI seizures
and if anybody mentions congnitive dysfunction in your files.

The dispositions can be from six months out to 4 years down depending on these factors, and only the simplest gets away without the FAA's neurocognitive evaluation.

Tee answer to your question is "YES".

B
Click to expand...
Yep. I started to list it in original post. I had no skull fracture or seizure. I had a bleed for a short period. The ambulance crew said that I had a loss of consciousness for 3 minutes. There was no surgery required. It healed on it's own.
I haven't seen any posts where a pilot got their medical certificate back after a moderate tbi. I'm not so sure it's possible. And the neuropsychological evaluation is a racket. What a bunch of ****! Who has gone back to piloting after such?
 
See your other string. you didn't pass or you didn't fill all the squares.
Put the ax-grindstone away....it's unbecoming. We "get" the frustration, however.
 
Still no proof that it's passable after documentation of loss of consciousness and head bleed! If I got my medical certificate back, I would scream, "I DID IT! I got it back!" Everyone would know, but like I said, nobody is saying it after a moderate tbi.
Ok, back to my grinder. Cheers!
 
Jad said:
Still no proof that it's passable after documentation of loss of consciousness and head bleed! If I got my medical certificate back, I would scream, "I DID IT! I got it back!" Everyone would know, but like I said, nobody is saying it after a moderate tbi.
Ok, back to my grinder. Cheers!
Click to expand...
99.999% of pilots aren't talking about their medical issues on the Internet. So the fact that you didn't see pilots taking about this is meaningless.

Did you check all the FAA's boxes for moderate brain injury? Did you pass the neuropsychological evaluation? What's the current status of your application?
 
I knew a guy with a class II who claimed he had multiple TBIs. 100 % military disability as well. Probably the most bipolar, absentminded person I’ve ever met. If he can get one, anyone can.
 
Jad said:
Still no proof that it's passable
Click to expand...
If Dr. Chien says it's possible, then I would believe that he is saying so based on his extensive experience as an AME who deals with difficult cases on a regular basis and take it as the Gospel truth.

If pilots are not posting about their results, it's because pilots should know to keep their mouths shut about things related to the part of the body above the shoulders.
 
If you had a head bleed, don't bother until 48 months has passed. FAA waits on "blood in the brain" for a minimum of 2 years, as that's epileptogenic. If you had a depressed skull fracture or cognitive issues in the record, 4-5 years. So even though you didn't post it, you might be "beating your head prematurely" against the wall.
 
I know an Airline pilot that suffered a severe head injury from a fall while rope climbing a rock face. Fell about 80ft and smacked his noggin. He was grounded for over 3 years and did get his Class I back. I do not know his details of "cracked skull", depressions in the skull, or internal bleeds. He got back on with his airline and is flying, he will soon hit his "age limit".
 
Velocity173 said:
I knew a guy with a class II who claimed he had multiple TBIs. 100 % military disability as well. Probably the most bipolar, absentminded person I’ve ever met. If he can get one, anyone can.
Click to expand...
wait, someone with bipolar got a class 2 medical? I grounded myself years ago and never tried an SI, assuming it was a lost cause. (You should have seen the hoops I had to go through to get my RN license, but the state board is more trusting than the FAA) Won’t even attempt LSAs with the ambiguity of the regulations (thanks “do not fly”medication) Flew a few months ago with a CFI but didn't really enjoy it as it just wasn't the same without the acting PIC level of control (and 10 years of no-flying skills erosion)
 
sky7 said:
wait, someone with bipolar got a class 2 medical? I grounded myself years ago and never tried an SI, assuming it was a lost cause. (You should have seen the hoops I had to go through to get my RN license, but the state board is more trusting than the FAA) Won’t even attempt LSAs with the ambiguity of the regulations (thanks “do not fly”medication) Flew a few months ago with a CFI but didn't really enjoy it as it just wasn't the same without the acting PIC level of control (and 10 years of no-flying skills erosion)
Click to expand...
Oh I have no idea if he was bipolar or not. Just assumed it from his attitude. One day he’d be bouncing off the walls, motivated about coming into work. The next he’d be down in the dumps.
 
Humor, yes, but NOT to make light of the frustration that results from the FAA not communicating to pilots what their standard(s) are. The communication budget is precisely, Zero.
 
I had a motorcycle accident around 300 miles per hour at Bonneville Salt Flats in 1995 and was pronounced dead in Salt Lake City because of no brain activity.

Protocol was not followed and when they discovered that I was not dead I spent three days in ICU.

During my exit interview I was told I would never stand unassisted, speak in complete sentences or accomplish any complex tasks.

I was told to get used to my limitations because brain cells don’t grow back.

I am blind in one eye and for several months would fall over for no reason.

My doctor pointed out that head injuries were cumulative and I should find a different hobby than land speed racing.

I took up helicopters but could not solo because I did not have a medical.

I spent three years corresponding with the FAA and had several cognitive tests that never seemed to be quite what they wanted.

I found I was in the ninth percentile for unrelated short term memory and had to learn to work around my poor memory.

After my file reached a considerable size and weight I was told to schedule a demonstrated ability medical check ride. The designated pilot examiner was given a thick book of things they wanted to test me on. After a satisfactory performance I was given a statement of demonstrated ability for a class three medical.

After a few years I took another demonstrated ability medical check ride for a class two medical.

I have been a certificated flight instructor for gyroplanes for seven years and on basic med.

At 75 I may be at the end of my flying after some nerve damage from shingles makes it painful to work on my aircraft. I seem to be improving but my doctor cannot tell me when I will be well enough to work on the aircraft.

I don’t know how unique my situation was or if this will inspire anyone to keep trying.

I suspect there was a lot of wasted money and effort but the results were worth it.
 

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Vance Breese said:
I had a motorcycle accident around 300 miles per hour at Bonneville Salt Flats in 1995 and was pronounced dead in Salt Lake City because of no brain activity.

Protocol was not followed and when they discovered that I was not dead I spent three days in ICU.
Click to expand...

Vance Breese said:
I don’t know how unique my situation was…
Click to expand...
WOW!!!

I would say that your situation was/is quite unique.
 
Yeah, me. 5 years. Was originally going to be 2, but FAA policy has gotten more strict. Any type of bleed is now 5 years. I had the best neuros, and even people on the panel tell me that I was good to go with no concerns, yet the FAA made me wait 5 years.
 
Yep. They put me in that category. Now I have to wait til 2029 before I can reapply. By then, I doubt I'll have any desire to go through all that crap again. Oh well, wear a full face helmet when on two wheels. The lid helmets don't work.
 
Jad said:
Yep. I started to list it in original post. I had no skull fracture or seizure. I had a bleed for a short period. The ambulance crew said that I had a loss of consciousness for 3 minutes. There was no surgery required. It healed on it's own.
I haven't seen any posts where a pilot got their medical certificate back after a moderate tbi. I'm not so sure it's possible. And the neuropsychological evaluation is a racket. What a bunch of ****! Who has gone back to piloting after such?
Click to expand...
I am nearing the five year anniversary of my TBI. In my opinion, my head injury was fairly mild, but resulted in mild dizziness when stimulated by specific head movements (moving from an upright position to a prone position with my head looking toward ceiling), with some involuntary vertical eye movement (nystagmus). These symptoms ceased several months after my incident.

The first decision I received from the FAA came about 3 months after my medical case for authorization for approval to seek a medical certificate. The next denial letter I got after I requested reconsideration took about 7 months for a reply. In that one they stated I needed to take the FAA approved cognitive test (the full barrage: tests for about 6-7 hours and a cost of $4,000.

The next denial letter just cited the reasons they gave for the first denial: TBI, syncope. They didn’t mention the $4,000 exam they mandated I undergo. They just denied me again. Then the
Jad said:
I would like to know if any pilot in history has ever gotten their medical certificate back after this concussion: moderate traumatic brain injury.
I've looked at many places on the internet and all I see is the pilots' posts on the process of trying to get back their medical certificate.
Click to expand...
I am nearing the five year anniversary of my TBI. In my opinion, my head injury was fairly mild, but resulted in mild dizziness when stimulated by specific head movements (moving from an upright position to a prone position with my head looking toward ceiling), with some involuntary vertical eye movement (nystagmus). These symptoms ceased several months after my incident.

The first decision I received from the FAA came about 3 months after my medical case for authorization for approval to seek a medical certificate. The next denial letter I got after I requested reconsideration took about 7 months for a reply. In that one they stated I needed to take the FAA approved cognitive test (the full barrage: tests for about 6-7 hours and a cost of $4,000.

The next denial letter just cited the reasons they gave for the first denial: TBI, syncope. They didn’t mention the $4,000 exam they mandated I undergo. They just denied me again. In that denial letter they said try again after the five year point, and get another FAA outlined Cognitive evaluation (the Moca and the full day tests weren’t enough, I guess.

So that’s where I stand now: one more cognitive test and then another package with the latest (5th) MRI on CD ROM.

I just discovered this forum. I’ll try to revisit it and give you an update when I hear back. I feel optimistic.

Backstory: Passed out in the house 5 hours after the Moderna Covid shot. I fell straight back apparently and slammed the left rear quarter of my head against the floor (slab concrete below flooring).
 
AchillesLastStand said:
Yeah, me. 5 years. Was originally going to be 2, but FAA policy has gotten more strict. Any type of bleed is now 5 years. I had the best neuros, and even people on the panel tell me that I was good to go with no concerns, yet the FAA made me wait 5 years.
Click to expand...
Same. I had some hemosederin staining, but no fracture. The radiologist report and my neurologist stated the staining was chronic, not a result of a recent injury. My neurologist said in his notes I was back to my baseline and fully capable of returning to work.

No cigar; five years.
 
Jad said:
Yep. They put me in that category. Now I have to wait til 2029 before I can reapply. By then, I doubt I'll have any desire to go through all that crap again. Oh well, wear a full face helmet when on two wheels. The lid helmets don't work.
Click to expand...
2029…I’m sorry to hear that. I get your frustration. It feels like you are being treated unfairly by some doctors who have no interest in seeing you, talking to you, evaluating you, or even treating you with some dignity to explain their decisions other than “You had a TBI.”

And you soon get the impression they don’t want to even entertain the idea of your being allowed to work in your chosen career because why would they? What interest do they have in your getting back to work? None. Why risk the sweet $ making gig they’ve got?

Did they make you get the ($4,000 for mine) full cog test from an FAA-approved psychologist? My theory is the FAA had a lot of psychologists not staying current with the FAA’s training and elected to save time and money. After enough let their currency expire the FAA realized they needed to mandate the test for pilots with a TBI to generate revenue for their psychologists.
 
Lindberg said:
99.999% of pilots aren't talking about their medical issues on the Internet. So the fact that you didn't see pilots taking about this is meaningless.

Did you check all the FAA's boxes for moderate brain injury? Did you pass the neuropsychological evaluation? What's the current status of your application?
Click to expand...
Where’s your source for 99.999%?
 
SpectreHeavy said:
I am nearing the five year anniversary of my TBI. In my opinion, my head injury was fairly mild, but resulted in mild dizziness when stimulated by specific head movements (moving from an upright position to a prone position with my head looking toward ceiling), with some involuntary vertical eye movement (nystagmus). These symptoms ceased several months after my incident.

The first decision I received from the FAA came about 3 months after my medical case for authorization for approval to seek a medical certificate. The next denial letter I got after I requested reconsideration took about 7 months for a reply. In that one they stated I needed to take the FAA approved cognitive test (the full barrage: tests for about 6-7 hours and a cost of $4,000.

The next denial letter just cited the reasons they gave for the first denial: TBI, syncope. They didn’t mention the $4,000 exam they mandated I undergo. They just denied me again. Then the

I am nearing the five year anniversary of my TBI. In my opinion, my head injury was fairly mild, but resulted in mild dizziness when stimulated by specific head movements (moving from an upright position to a prone position with my head looking toward ceiling), with some involuntary vertical eye movement (nystagmus). These symptoms ceased several months after my incident.

The first decision I received from the FAA came about 3 months after my medical case for authorization for approval to seek a medical certificate. The next denial letter I got after I requested reconsideration took about 7 months for a reply. In that one they stated I needed to take the FAA approved cognitive test (the full barrage: tests for about 6-7 hours and a cost of $4,000.

The next denial letter just cited the reasons they gave for the first denial: TBI, syncope. They didn’t mention the $4,000 exam they mandated I undergo. They just denied me again. In that denial letter they said try again after the five year point, and get another FAA outlined Cognitive evaluation (the Moca and the full day tests weren’t enough, I guess.

So that’s where I stand now: one more cognitive test and then another package with the latest (5th) MRI on CD ROM.

I just discovered this forum. I’ll try to revisit it and give you an update when I hear back. I feel optimistic.

Backstory: Passed out in the house 5 hours after the Moderna Covid shot. I fell straight back apparently and slammed the left rear quarter of my head against the floor (slab concrete below flooring).
Click to expand...
Thanks for your story. Geez! $4000? I should've become a neuropsychologist. I paid $3000 and saw her for 15 minutes. Then had the 7+ hour evaluation with other people, then after I got home from Dallas, a 3+ hour video call question session with 300 or so questions.
I waited a year, then took that test at the 13th month. Then I got my denial letter 4 months later.
A month after my bicycle accident at Railyard Park, I felt fine. Went out and tricked 3000 points on my trick ski and then got around all 6 buoys in the slalom course at 34mph.
Yeah, 5 years is ********.
 
UTLonghorn_1979 said:
Where’s your source for 99.999%?
Click to expand...
Right. It's a made up number.
Hell, I'm not scared. None of this could be as bad for me as how the nurses in the hospital lied on my report.
Maybe the pilots that got cleared deleted this forum off their phone cause they have no use for any information anymore.
 
SpectreHeavy said:
2029…I’m sorry to hear that. I get your frustration. It feels like you are being treated unfairly by some doctors who have no interest in seeing you, talking to you, evaluating you, or even treating you with some dignity to explain their decisions other than “You had a TBI.”

And you soon get the impression they don’t want to even entertain the idea of your being allowed to work in your chosen career because why would they? What interest do they have in your getting back to work? None. Why risk the sweet $ making gig they’ve got?

Did they make you get the ($4,000 for mine) full cog test from an FAA-approved psychologist? My theory is the FAA had a lot of psychologists not staying current with the FAA’s training and elected to save time and money. After enough let their currency expire the FAA realized they needed to mandate the test for pilots with a TBI to generate revenue for their psychologists.
Click to expand...
Will you go do the neuropsychological evaluation and MRIs again and try to get back to flying?
 
SpectreHeavy said:
Yes. I’m in the process now. Looks optimistic in my eyes at this point.
Click to expand...
Good luck with the next round — the 5-year window is genuinely the hardest part because you're healthy and waiting on bureaucracy, not medicine.
One thing worth knowing going in: the FAA cognitive battery they require post-TBI isn't pass/fail on a single score. They're looking at a profile across domains — processing speed, attention, memory, and executive function. The tests most commonly used (CogScreen-AE plus a full neuropsych battery) compare you to normed pilot populations, not the general public. Where pilots often get tripped up is in processing speed subtests specifically, even when they feel 100% cognitively fine.
If you haven't already, it's worth spending a few weeks before the evaluation doing deliberate cognitive work in those specific areas — timed tasks, working memory, divided attention — so you're at your sharpest on test day, not just rested. The FAA doesn't penalize you for preparing; they just want to see where you actually are.
Hope the package goes smoothly this time.
 
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