On Sun, 10 Jul 2005 12:26:26 -0400, "Doug S"
wrote:
So, after a few years of putting it off (actually..."after a few years of
saving enough $$$"), I decided I want to get a private pilot cert.
Welllll...from the time that I first wanted to do that (about 10 years ago)
until now, I've had some changes in my medical status, which will
*definitely* require a waiver. The question to the group is, what are my
chances? In other words, I don't want to go through the hassle of getting
all my records together if there's not much of a chance I will receive the
waiver. On the other hand, if people think that the waiver is probable,
what steps should I take? Should I get the records together first and then
take the medical? See, I don't want to even start taking instruction (and
spend the $$) if there's not much of a chance that I'll be able to get the
cert...
Doug,
I had a similar delima in that I wasn't sure I was going to get my
medical due to an old surgery. You can fly sport pilot currently, but
if you get denied an FAA medical, you can't.
I didn't want to ruin my chances for a sport pilot cert so this is the
procedure that I had to follow....
1) Call AOPA. Join if you haven't already.
2) Get a reference of a good, fair AME. Particularly one that isn't a
full time AME, but is a like a GP and does Flight meds one week a
month. You will need to talk to local pilots. Hang around your
local FBO.
3) Get every record you can find. Everything. Bring it with you. If
you have anything that needs to be reported, you better have the
records. Full disclosure. Since you have been on SSRI's, you need a
note from the prescribing doctor that you are off them, you are OK and
you were never a danger to yourself or other people.
3) Explain to your chosen AME that you want a regular medical, not a
flight medical. Explain also that your interested in a flight med.
but would like an evalauation first so you don't ruin your chances for
sportpilot. DON'T FILL OUT ANY FAA PAPERWORK UNTIL THE DOC HAS SEEN
YOU AND YOUR CHARTS!!!!!! (You may have to pay twice, but it will be
worth it)
4) If your doc says you don't have a good chance of passing, STOP!
Pay him and leave. Go for sportpilot.
5) If everything looks good, go for it. There is always a chance
that Oklahoma will overrule the doc, but that's a chance you will have
to take.
Good luck,
Jim
http://www.unconventional-wisdom.org