How about the person that might have some minor anxiety issues? Sorry for apparently differing from the crowd on this, but I think people are nuts if they are lying. However, if you do get caught, at best you will lose your license. Office hours M-F 8:30am - 5:00pmOur Privacy The message the FAA should be sending to pilots in my opinion is Manage your health. Such a persons private physician(s) might not think so, but those physician(s) have no say in the matter. @Brian B. Jack, petition the FAA to quit demanding the maintenance of wakefulness test. There, see you did lie on your medical didnt you. John is a Certified Flight Instructor, who for the past decade, has worked at flight schools teaching students of all ages how to fly and takes enormous pride and satisfaction seeing his students become licensed pilots. The reader should always consult his or her doctor before discontinuation of any medication. So why disclose it here on an open forum? Question 17 can identify for the FAA that an individual is currently taking a disqualifying medication such as Adderall, Ritalin, Concerta, Strattera, etc, commonly used to treat ADHD. Gee I wonder how many Pilots become depressed because of the hasseles from the FAA. I have thought about going Sport Pilot but if I am not healthy enough to pass tests for a 3rd class physical I am not healthy enough to fly sport pilot. Regardless of whether or not you would get caught, a better question to ask is why would you try to get away with it? Your email address will not be published. The Aircraft Registration Branch maintains registration records on individual aircraft and serves as a repository for airworthiness documents received from FAA field offices. Tell them what you will be it will be you that is on the bench because you failed the medical. It was less rigorous than a regular over 40 physical, so I took one of those too. People are willing to take the risks in exchange for their freedoms. The FAA as a whole believes all people should fly if they desire. Thank you for allowing me to share. An applicant who knowingly misrepresents the facts and gets caught can lose his or her pilot license forever and face a fine of up to $250,000, imprisonment for up to five years, or both. Water under the bridge now 19 years later. I have to weigh in on this issue. We are equally desiring of our freedom, but because we are a small group, the bureaucracy can get away with it. Find a Senior AME in your area, call and ask to speak to the AME about your problem. Managing a flight department or want to offer a premium service to your club members or students. The only way around this is to pay for all of your medical care yourself and not use insurance. Avoid Medical Certification Delay. I took medication for years, before I decided I didn't like and chose to stop taking meds (with my parents). Alternatively, upon 90-days of discontinuation of medication, you can potentially undergo the requested neuropsychological testing prescribed by the FAA. and moved on to checking the no column for the rest of the page. The flight will continue without further incident. Lying on the medical is usually unnecessary in order to keep flying, and has such potentially dire consequences for ones life, family, and finances that its not worth the risk. Ask your AME to call Oklahoma City and ask to speak with a physician about your case. I sympathize with you. whether, in their life, have they been diagnosed with, had, or presently have a history of ADHD. I take my family on flights in my aircraft and there is no way I am going to put them at risk. Robert Davis Travel Management Consultant, 2023 Executive Flyers +1 (512) 241-0795. People Lie to do what they love to do. Speaking as a pilot, I think that there should be a way to maintain certification for those of us flying recreationally without having to see an AME every 2 years. So Rex you never spun around and got dizzy as a child? So do we really want 10+% of our commercial pilots to be flying with untreated major depressive disorders? Unfortunatley I have seen too many accident reports where the pilot was on prescription medications (found during the toxicological examination)many of them disqulifying, and none of them were reported on the medical application. You may think you told the truth but you absolutely did not. I guess it was a bit negligent on my part to get so far into before getting the medical. At least three questions on the FAA medical application (Form 8500-8) can identify to the FAA that an individual potentially has a history of ADHD. Theres also the issue of things that a doctor may speculate on that they have no training or qualifications to formally diagnose. And, actually, the FAA is making Special Issuance less of a problem for certain diseases. you disclose something that warrants further information or investigation, or something happens to you like an accident, incident, or disciplinary action which the FAA will then thoroughly investigate. If Im not successful, well, I will probably just put the dream to bed again. This is nothing but government bureaucracy. Its possible that a pilot could fill out a MedXpress form to the best of their knowledge and still leave something off that could be revealed in an investigation. He was the author of numerous books, including. With $ 20.00 USD anything is possible down there and then just let the FAA go through hoops to find my one in a million medicals just to disqualify and pull my medicalwhich is fake after allwill give them and me something to do till I can think of some other ways to pass the time with the all mighty FAA. Have you EVER been dizzy? You are there to take away joy and livelihood. How many of you have had an enforcement action for a medical violation? Its mode of travel, the air, makes it a lot more divertable than stuck to a road, and should make it safer, Especially as opposed to the majority of motor home drivers, that are in their later stages of life, howling down the freeway at 70 miles per hour in bumper to bumper traffic. what tests you need, when you need to take these tests, etc) to satisfy the FAA that youre good to go. How do I get a copy of my FAA written test? Back when I was an F/O we flew in airplanes with single head radios. TH REASON IS FOR INJURIES I RECIEVED WHEN MY 01 LANDED WITH OUT A RUNWAY. The FAA Cannot possibly know all the doctors or hospitals you have ever been to unless you tell them. HIPPA Law prevents them from looking at your medical history without your consent. I gave up on my dreams. Im an AME. Willy post had only one eye should he have been grounded.??? Due to the self-reporting nature, the chances of getting caught lying on an FAA medical aren't very high. Politicians create government agencies empowered to rule by edict. The simple fact is that the FAA generally trusts pilots. BUT I HAVE 40+ YEARS AND 5100 HRS OF PIC IN MY OWN AIR CRAFT WITH OUT INCIDENT OR ACCIDENT. But then how would all the AMEs and some people in the FAA make a living??? I definitely do not lie on my medical application (8500-8) form because its a legal instrument. Im due for a flight medical soon. KL, Special Issuance hoop jumping is expensive. Of those, only a very small % are from medical causes. There is a good chance you can hide some minor medical problems or even some major ones that you recovered from years ago. John has been quoted or mentioned in major publications, including Chron, Flying Mag, and National Review. I fly a Cirrus, my wife knows how to pull the parachute. So, easing up on the medical requirements would be based on real world situations. We report, you decipher. In order to understand how likely it is the FAA would catch you lying, it is important to understand how they would catch you. Having people squeal on them? However, if you do get caught, at best you will lose your license. I will follow that up with a word of warning. If I have the big one in the seat here is what will happen: 1. Would I report this or any depression on the 8500-8? That would shut them down for good. At least my livelihood doesnt depend on it. The only way to get information to them is via the USPS, another government agency stuck in the past. I just wonder why? People, in general, are in better health than they were 20-30 years ago, largely by not smoking, watching their weight, eating less fatty foods, etc. My new AME, (old one finally retired,) is a pilot, as is his wife, the office manager and head nurse. Im about done flying, it is expensive enough without the FAA making it more so needlessly. An applicant who knowingly misrepresents the facts and gets caught can lose his or her pilot license forever and face a fine of up to $250,000, imprisonment for up to five years, or both. SO ITS FLY TILL I DIE OR GO TO PRISON. If I tell the AME about this will I not get my cert that day? My father had passed his class 2 physical 3 weeks before having a massive heart attack and dieing at the ripe old age of 50. Experts offer these tips: When he isn't flying, Paul Engstrom writes and edits from Sebastopol, Calif. What is 1st 2nd and 3rd class FAA medical? Its a losing game. Well maybe a little? If the medical dates are incorrect, please contact CAMI at (405) 954-4821. But, it was not the fault of the FAA, it was mine for not verifying the doctors statement before submitting it. I have to say, this doc was thorough, checked everything, but, when he saw that attachment with all that exposure, he looked at me in a way like what is all this. It is none of their business. All pilots know that after taking the physical they self-certify before every flight for the next year or two. I know of several pilots who have useful vision in only one eye or have amblyopia that makes it impossible for them to pass the eye exam. I just recently got my Cat 1 medical, and honestly the doctor is pretty thorough when it comes to examining his patient, everything from blood pressure to ECG. Therefore I go to a chiropractor every chance I get. Over forty years I have watched the change from Aryan superman standards to wheelchair/ limbless PPL pilots. Find another AME. Some records reviewer in OKC can not guarantee those in my aircraft a safe journey only I can do that. Make the FAA do a special issue for every single pilot in the country. What Are the Chances of Getting Caught Lying on an FAA Medical? He knew it. Dont take it personally, those are just the facts on the ground. Most get grounded for a year? On the other hand, the FAA medical system is complex, expensive, and difficult to support with data showing lives saved, etc. Now then, back to your question do pilots lie about medical conditions to their AME naaaaaaah! Question 18m. Home | About | Contact | Copyright | Report Content | Privacy | Cookie Policy | Terms & Conditions | Sitemap. All FAA medical certificate applicants are required to acknowledge that warning before submitting their application in MedXPress. I aeree. No. Many pilots get away with submitting false information on their MedXPress applications. How come the standards are so different now? Of course they do. Why? Emmons wait until you have an episode of situational hypertension or have to see a marriage counselor. Major unions have lost court cases and in one instance suffered severe financial damage in the process. I have to do the same stuff to go ice diving. Funny thing is the murmur is gone but Ill never have my life back If you lie on your medical form Best of luck. I would respect them more if they screened for problems and helped people cure them, rather than go over the hill with a knee jerk reaction. In the FAA world view you are not telling the truth. Makes no logical sense. We should not be subjected to this inquisitional questionnaire in the first place. Yes, I lie about the counseling part. You are assumed to be lying. Usually, that period of time is 60 days. Even if you can disprove a legitimate history or diagnosis of ADHD (discussed further below), use of a disqualifying medication within 90 days of application will usually lead to a denial. Due to the self-reporting nature, the chances of getting caught lying on an FAA medical aren't very high. The relative numbers of fatalities in all of General Aviation (GA) vs those from other causes. Yes, all my discussion was only applicable to private, recreational pilots, not airline or large freight liner pilots. I really want to fly but Im not sure my passion, not to mention my wallet, will be enough to get me through this process. Typical government bull-. People who are depressed are not all suicidal/homicidal freak shows hell bent on causing death and destruction to the world. There's also the possibility that the results of a blood or urine test will expose a condition you tried to hide. Sometimes, your case can be put higher up in the stack. He petitioned the FAA to remove his special issuance for that disorder and supplied a letter from his treating physician, and the special issuance requirement went away. Headwind vs. Tailwind Whats the Difference? I dont know for a fact other pilots lie on their medical, but pretty sure some I know do. Yeah thought so. Commercial pilots, or military pilots or leisure pilots may have lied during their lifetimes, but it is unfair to only single out the pilots. As a 74 year old pilot, I feel that seeing the Aviation Doc every two years is good for my health. Of course people lie on the application, they want the medical so they can keep flying. Ruin a life a move on. This is truly a Great Debate. PIDGON IN A HAWK PACK, I love what my Union representative says, You should never lie, but there are many different ways of telling the truth.. I was STUPID enough to be honest. Multiple assaults or domestic convictions might indicate some psychiatric disturbance that requires looking into. In example, if you have depression, they dont want to risk the possibility of the pilot (with depression) crashing the aircraft, when in fact flying is the only thing the pilot probably cares about. Flying is no more dangerous than driving when properly trained. He was convinced if he had the physical and they discovered something bad, hed have to admit it to the AME. I suggest that every pilot take a look at the AME Guide on the FAA website. The hypocrisy at the FAA hurts general aviation in lots of ways. He was a commercial pilot flying 727s. I am unconscious every night. Information on the certificate will be populated from data that has been entered into the electronic form. Gradually, our freedoms are being taken away by government regulatory entities. The fibbing about a little issue. If the FAA ever decides to search to see if he is taking any prescription medications (which they dont do often, but they have the ability to do), they will most likely pull his medical permanently for falsification. In my case I have never lied, but if Im at risk of loosing my license for a medical condition that is under control I might do that also. 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