Bipolar/Schizoaffective Disorder and Soaring

As per the guide for aviation medical examiners in
section 4, it states that Bi-Polar syndrome is disqualifying
for a medical. I know, we as glider pilots don't need
a medical but this is interesting especially if you
are thinking about trying to get a medical to fly power.
It is just food for thought.
Under section 9, classes of medical certificates, it
states the following:
Glider and Free Balloon Pilots are not required to
hold a medical certificate of any class. To be issued
Glider or Free Balloon Airman Certificates, the applicant
must certify that he or she has no known physical defect
that makes him or her unable to pilot a glider or free
balloon. This certification is made at the local FAA
Flight Standards District Office.
Now, my question for you is that how can you certify
that you have no known physical defect if you know
you are bi-polar and you could not get a medical for
flying power because it is considered a failing contributor?
If you are on medication for bi-polar syndrome, you
are failing to comply with the FAR's as those substances
are banned by the FAA.
I am not looking to get into a shouting match. What
I would like to do with this thread is make people
aware of what is legal and against the FAR's. Nothing
more, nothing less, just food for thought....
Brian

This has not been true for the last 7 years.

Allan



"To be issued Glider or Free Balloon Airman Certificates, the applicant
must certify that he or she has no known physical defect
that makes him or her unable to pilot a glider or free
balloon. This certification is made at the local FAA
Flight Standards District Office."

By the way my Psychiatrist is a pilot and feels I am safe to fly provided I
take my medicines daily and I do...

But, I do need some clarification.
A medical certificate is not required for soaring is what I have been told
reguardless of medications or illness provided the pilot feels he can fly
safely.

I have never heard of a list of medications which bar a pilot from flying
gliders...

However I have done some research and read the FAA won't even issue a medical
to an applicant on unipolar depression so I did not plan to apply to face
certain rejection

Also, however, I am wondering if these psychotropic medications don't cause
problems with heatstroke and dehydration

I was hoping maybe an annonymous person would step forward and say they were
flying and it was not a problem

Lithium, Effexor, and Zyprexa are the ones I have taken for over two years

Also, by the way, my Pyschiatrist said getting back into flying would be an
excellent anti-depressant

The controlling and ONLY FAR you need to consider medically while flying
gliders is 14 CFR 61.53(b).

Allan

"DL152279546231" wrote in message
...
By the way my Psychiatrist is a pilot and feels I am safe to fly provided
I
take my medicines daily and I do...

....Snip...

The controlling and ONLY FAR you need to consider medically while flying
gliders is 14 CFR 61.53(b).

Allan

So now I am still confused. Do I read this FAR to say if you know you have a
medical condition but don't think it will interfere with your flying, fly. OR,
if you have a medical condition which would make you ineligible for a medical
certificate you cannot fly even in an operation not requiring a medical
certificate...

(b) Operations that do not require a medical certificate. For operations
provided for in §61.23(b) of this part, a person shall not act as pilot in
command, or in any other capacity as a required pilot flight crewmember, while
that person knows or has reason to know of any medical condition that would
make the person unable to operate the aircraft in a safe manner.

"DL152279546231" wrote in message
...
The controlling and ONLY FAR you need to consider medically while flying
gliders is 14 CFR 61.53(b).

Allan

So now I am still confused. Do I read this FAR to say if you know you have a
medical condition but don't think it will interfere with your flying, fly. OR,
if you have a medical condition which would make you ineligible for a medical
certificate you cannot fly even in an operation not requiring a medical
certificate...

You should be seeing a huge grey area, perhaps one big enough to fly a
glider through, perhaps not. I flew gliders for years whilst taking a "banned"
medication. IMHO I did so legally and safely because research told me that the
FAA was waivering that drug and that condition as long as certain medical tests
were done; tests that I had already done more than once. My doctor and I were
in agreement that it was OK for me to fly. Furthermore, it would have been
difficult for the FAA (or an insurance company) to say I was violating 61.53(b)
when the FAA was routinely granting waivers for exactly that same condition.
Later, this was all verified when I decided to fly SEL and actually went through
the bureaucratic hocus-pocus to get the waiver and the medical. Are they
waivering your condition and your medications? I don't know, but I'll bet that
AOPA could help you find out.

If the FAA is absolutely not waivering anybody with your condition and/or
anybody taking the drugs you take, I have to reluctantly say that it is probably
best for you to keep your feet on the ground.

Vaughn



(b) Operations that do not require a medical certificate. For operations
provided for in §61.23(b) of this part, a person shall not act as pilot in
command, or in any other capacity as a required pilot flight crewmember, while
that person knows or has reason to know of any medical condition that would
make the person unable to operate the aircraft in a safe manner.

DL152279546231 wrote:

By the way my Psychiatrist is a pilot and feels I am safe to fly provided I
take my medicines daily and I do....

Also, by the way, my Pyschiatrist said getting back into flying would be an
excellent anti-depressant.

It works that way for most of us, I'm sure, but if you are looking for
permission, I doubt you will find it here.

Go the official route and take your lumps, or involve your Psychiatrist and your
CFI-G in a constructive partnership that can perhaps get you airborne, and see
how things work out from there.

I wish you the best.



Jack

On Fri, 11 Jun 2004 22:02:15 +0000, DL152279546231 wrote:

By the way my Psychiatrist is a pilot and feels I am safe to fly provided I
take my medicines daily and I do...

But, I do need some clarification.
A medical certificate is not required for soaring is what I have been told
reguardless of medications or illness provided the pilot feels he can fly
safely.

I have never heard of a list of medications which bar a pilot from flying
gliders...

However I have done some research and read the FAA won't even issue a medical
to an applicant on unipolar depression so I did not plan to apply to face
certain rejection

Also, however, I am wondering if these psychotropic medications don't cause
problems with heatstroke and dehydration

Perhaps the question you should ask, is "how hot and dehydrated will I get
whilst flying" and "how much exercise is involved in ground-handling
gliders". Most people on the list would be able to answer these questions
for you, and you can take this information to your doctor who will be able
to tell you whether it is likely to be a problem.

I was hoping maybe an annonymous person would step forward and say they were
flying and it was not a problem

Lithium, Effexor, and Zyprexa are the ones I have taken for over two years

All of the patient information for these drugs cautions that they can
cause dizziness and / or drowsiness. They caution against driving if these
symptoms are apparent, and I think this would apply to gliding x2 (or
more).

Also, by the way, my Pyschiatrist said getting back into flying would be
an excellent anti-depressant

vne

Perhaps the question you should ask, is "how hot and dehydrated will I get
whilst flying" and "how much exercise is involved in ground-handling
gliders". Most people on the list would be able to answer these questions
for you, and you can take this information to your doctor who will be able
to tell you whether it is likely to be a problem.



I think you (and several others) have hit on an excellent idea. I have been
reluctant to join my local club because I have only had two rides and they
require a substantial financial commitment, initiation and monthly dues. I
can't just go rent a glider for a few flights, they require membership. I
wonder if they would allow me to come hang out and wing-run, and ground handle
in the heat. This would test the heatstroke and I could see how the people
are... If everyone is a jerk I probably wouldn't want to go anyway... Maybe I
could be ballast for the 2 place trainer if one of the seats is empty...

I do plan to read 14 CFR 61.53(b) however and may drop SSA an E-mail about the
subject

Here is the scoop. I spoke with my medical flight examiner some time
ago about the use of medications that treat bi-polar syndrome and
taking them while operating an aircraft or glider. He was not 100%
sure on the ruling even though it is stated on the FAA's medical pages
that those drugs used to treat bi-polar syndrome are not allowed. He
then in turn contacted someone in OK city with the FAA and they told
him and I quote "If the person is on medications that are banned by
the FAA, they need to ground themselves for 30 days before flying".
The doctor then asked "What about flying gliders". The lady in OK City
said that "it did not matter what they were flying as you are not
allowed to operate an aircraft while taking medications banned by the
FAA".
If you want to fly and think this is a load of crap, contact your
local FAA medical examiner and ask them. I really hope that the people
on this page who say it is alright to take these medications and
operate an aircraft as PIC don't live in the United States. If you do,
and you make a mistake, you could screw everything up for everyone
else. Get the facts from the horses mouth which happens to be the FAA
or better yet, if you are in the United States and are a member of
AOPA, contact their legal office and ask them.


(DL152279546231) wrote in message ...
By the way my Psychiatrist is a pilot and feels I am safe to fly provided I
take my medicines daily and I do...

But, I do need some clarification.
A medical certificate is not required for soaring is what I have been told
reguardless of medications or illness provided the pilot feels he can fly
safely.

I have never heard of a list of medications which bar a pilot from flying
gliders...

However I have done some research and read the FAA won't even issue a medical
to an applicant on unipolar depression so I did not plan to apply to face
certain rejection

Also, however, I am wondering if these psychotropic medications don't cause
problems with heatstroke and dehydration

I was hoping maybe an annonymous person would step forward and say they were
flying and it was not a problem

Lithium, Effexor, and Zyprexa are the ones I have taken for over two years

Also, by the way, my Pyschiatrist said getting back into flying would be an
excellent anti-depressant