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COVID-19 Breakdown

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COVID-19 — The Corona Virus still presents potential FAA medical certification problems for many pilots. Pilot Medical Solutions has been fielding many calls from pilots and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) approval for previous sickness can be tricky. Some pilots have discovered alternatives to the increasingly long wait for government approval. Pilot Medical Solutions has helped many pilots discover what they had missed in FAA correspondence letters. For others, alternative flight fitness rules or requirements may be an option.

FAA letters can be hard to understand and sometimes they include errors or omissions which can mask a pilot’s options. In addition, the FAA has liberalized medical certification standards over the last few years and has allowed Aviation Medical Examiners (AME’s) to certify pilots with many conditions which were previously only certified by the actual FAA. Unfortunately pilots and some AME’s are not always up-to-speed on these allowances. In other cases there are options or privileges under different flight rules such as Sport Pilot and Basic Medical Rules (BasicMed). BasicMed is a relatively new allowance by the federal government which usually does not require formal FAA medical certification for limited flight operations.

Pilot Medical Solutions has helped many pilots discover that they are already cleared to fly or that any available AME can issue a medical certificate. It is important to note that while some pilots can be approved at the AME level, some have been unnecessarily deferred to the FAA in Oklahoma for final review or decision. This is rarely good. Pilots need to receive clear guidance to establish their options and avoid being unnecessarily grounded. If FAA medical certification isn’t required or they can operate under alternative rules pilots need to know before they go to an AME. Airmen with certain issues may find that they should not get an FAA medical exam and let their 1st class certificate lapse to a lower class. Finally, there is a large contingent of pilots who have simply failed to submit sufficient information and waiting for the FAA is not the true limiting factor. Pilots can call Pilot Medical Solutions at 405-787-0303 to discuss their case and to talk about aeromedical options and alternatives.

Wellbutrin XL 300

Psychiatric & Psychological Issues | FAA Medical Certification

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Wellbutrin XL 300

 

Behavioral health is a prominent topic and pilot mental health is clearly an important matter. Many pilots know of the IMSAFE checklist but their use of it is far from universal. Pilots are generally confident and competent. Loss of medical certification and employment can reduce pilot’s interest in mental proficiency. Pilot Medical Solutions has customized behavioral health support that promotes mental health risk management while keeping pilots in-control. Contact us to learn about the many alternatives that are available to pilots, air traffic controllers and civilian space candidates.

While many medications offer stability, there is often a wide variety of experience with their use. Not only are individual outcomes important, but in some cases, pilots experience adverse symptoms which of course is the opposite goal of the medications utilized. The FAA does not require comprehensive behavioral health evaluation of pilots during their routine medical certification examination. They do require applicants to voluntarily report all mental issues since birth. The FAA has approved Special Issuance authorizations for some Class 1, 2 and 3 airmen who are taking a select few medications under the FAA’s strict and increasingly complicated antidepressant protocol. Approval requires extensive medical evaluations with strong eloquently detailed records.

 

 

The FAA offers isolated approval of a few psychotropic drug categories:

Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI):
• Citalopram (Celexa)
• Escitalopram (Lexapro)
• Fluoxetine (Prozac; Sarafem)
• Sertraline (Zoloft)

Serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake
inhibitors (SNRI):
• Desvenlafaxine (Pristiq)
• Duloxetine (Cymbalta)
• Venlafaxine (Effexor)

Dopamine/norepinephrine-reuptake
inhibitor (NDRI):
• Buproprion (Wellbutrin) SR/ER
formulations ONLY

While these medications can be acceptable for pilot-use a comprehensive process is required for FAA acceptance. Pilots who wish to be considered can contact Pilot Medical Solutions at 405-787-0303 to find out if they can be favorably considered by the FAA.  FAA medical approval is less likely to be allowed if there is a significant medical diagnosis which requires medication to assure safe function and behavior.

The initial presentation of any psychiatric/psychological issue typically requires an evaluation irrespective of medication use.  This should be performed for the FAA by a carefully selected medical provider and reviewed confidentially by an expert to establish eligibility for FAA medical certification.  This includes but is not limited to:

  • Depression
  • Anxiety
  • Attention Deficit
  • Psychosis
  • Bipolar
  • Personality Disorder
  • Substance Dependence or Abuse and the use of any psychotropic medication.

FAA psychiatric evaluations must be accomplished in compliance with specific protocols. Before documentation is sent to the FAA it should be reviewed by an aeromedical document expert. Authorization must be obtained from the Federal Air Surgeon or their designee, such as the Aeromedical Certification Division of the FAA in Oklahoma City. Aviation Medical Examiners (AME’s) are normally not authorized to approve certification for airmen with the aforementioned behavioral-medical history and they are required to defer the application to Oklahoma City FAA. The AME deferral process can take many months just to receive the FAA’s initial response. If the pilot applying is taking medication the case will usually go to Washington, D.C.. When the case goes to Washington it is not uncommon for the decision to take many months. In fact, it is common for pilots to wait well over a year without our service.

We can help!

We have helped thousands of pilots with this process. We have developed proprietary psychiatric fitness strategies and work directly with private physicians and the FAA to assure compliance with FAA medical protocols and to resolve complex aeromedical certification issues quickly.

Contact us at 405-787-0303 or via E-Mail to confidentially discuss the details of your case and to establish your eligibility for FAA medical certification.

There is no charge for an initial consultation.

Herbal Preparations  |  The Pilots Mind  |  Psychiatric Fitness  |  Pilot Mental Issues  |  FAA Statistics  |  SSRI’s & Pilots