FAA policy on depression and other mental health conditions. To fly, pilots must have a medical certificate approved by an FAA aviation medical examiner (AME). Under the current guidelines, depression, anxiety, and similarly categorized psychological conditions don’t lead to automatic disqualification.
Table of Contents
What disqualifies you from being a pilot medical?
These medical conditions include a personality disorder manifested by overt acts, a psychosis, alcoholism, drug dependence, epilepsy, an unexplained disturbance of consciousness, myocardial infarction, angina pectoris, and diabetes requiring medication for its control.
Can you be on antidepressants and be a pilot?
But allowing pilots who take antidepressants to legally fly an airplane comes with strings attached. Under the new rules, pilots will be restricted to one of four FAA-approved antidepressants — Prozac, Zoloft, Celexa and Lexapro — and required to see a psychiatrist every six months.
Will PTSD disqualify me from being a pilot?
A history of PTSD that was successfully treated in the past and no longer requires ongoing treatment is probably eligible for medical certification after FAA review.
Can you become a pilot with mental health issues?
Applicants with an organic mental disorder should be assessed as unfit. Once the cause has been treated, an applicant may be assessed as fit following satisfactory psychiatric evaluation. Applicants who use psychoactive medication likely to affect flight safety should be assessed as unfit.
Can you get a pilot’s license with a mental illness?
The FAA encourages pilots to seek help if they have a mental health condition since most, if treated, do not disqualify a pilot from flying.
Can I be a pilot if I have ADHD?
Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder ( ADHD ), formerly called Attention Deficit Disorder ( ADD ), and medications used for treatment may result in cognitive deficits that would make an airman unsafe to perform pilot duties.
What are the health requirements to become a pilot?
- At arrival: Completion of a general health declaration.
- General health exam: The general declaration was followed by a general health examination.
- ECG: My heart was checked with an ECG/EKG.
Can you be a pilot with bipolar disorder?
All applicants with a diagnosis of Bipolar Disorder must be denied or deferred.
Can I be a pilot with anxiety?
The FAA will consider certification of pilots and controllers who have been diagnosed with depression or anxiety and treated with medication after certain conditions are met.
Can you be a pilot if you take Xanax?
The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association has a list of these medications that are not allowed for pilots who hold FAA-issued medical certificates, because the FAA has determined that they have the potential to interfere with the safe operation of an aircraft. Xanax is one of these medications.
Does FAA test for antidepressants?
The FAA has determined that airmen or FAA Air Traffic Control Specialists (FAA ATCS) requesting medical certificates while being treated with one of four specific selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) may be considered. The Authorization decision is made on a case-by-case basis. The Examiner may not issue.
Can I become a pilot with OCD?
It depends on how severe the OCD was, the root causes of the disorder, the length of time since the last episode and the likelihood of future recurrence. The aviation medical system is set up to be conservative for good reasons, the cockpit is a bad place to become fixated.
Can you fly a plane if you have PTSD?
y “Yes” will not bar you from flying. Answering yes may not even require you to have a psychiatric evaluation, but you can anticipate that the FAA will ask for more information about your case and application.
Can pilots take antidepressants 2022?
Pharmaceutical Considerations: The use of a psychotropic drug is disqualifying for aeromedical certification purposes – this includes all antidepressant drugs including selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs).
Can I be a pilot if I take Adderall?
Some of the commonly-prescribed medications that individuals take for ADHD are Adderall, Concerta, Ritalin, Strattera, Vyvanse, and Dexedrine. All these medications are disqualifying for medical certification purposes!
Can a fat person be a pilot?
Yes, but there are some limitations to take into account. The limit of obesity is a maximum BMI at 35. Like if you are 180 cm and weigh over 120 kg you could lose your medical license. This is a crucial matter because if an emergency appears you need to evacuate through the window and fit!
Does the FAA check medical records?
In short, the FAA doesn’t check medical records unless they have a reason to – i.e. 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.
Why do pilots need perfect teeth?
The major requirement for dental fillings as far as aviation (or diving) is concerned is there not be a trapped air pocket under the filling (this could cause problems for divers or pilots as the pressure changes may cause discomfort. (It’s called barodontalgia – pressure-induced tooth pain.)
Do pilots have high divorce rate?
This one is a surprise to many, but it’s true – pilots have a lower divorce rate. According to data from the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey 5-year data, from 2009-2018, the divorce rate for pilots was 30.5%. Much lower than the 53% for the most divorce-prone group: casino gaming managers.
What happens if you fail FAA medical?
If pilot’s clearly do not meet FAA medical standards, particularly if they have conditions that are specifically grounding in Part 67 of the FARs or the Guide to Aviation Medical Examiners, the aviation medical examiner may issue a denial letter to the pilot revoking the pilot’s current medical privileges.
Can I be a pilot with BPD?
In the U.S., the Federal Aviation Administration guidelines state that pilot candidates can have no established history of a “personality disorder that is severe enough to have repeatedly manifested itself by overt acts,” psychosis, bipolar disorder, or substance dependence.
How far back do airline background checks go?
The past ten years of employment must be reviewed while the most recent five years must be verified in writing, including documentation of date and method of how contact was made. A contact person must also be listed on the record indicating from whom verification information was obtained.
What drugs can pilots not take?
- Tranquilizers, such as but not limited to Valium, Librium, Ativan.
- Most antidepressants.
- Opiates, such as Morphine, Codeine, Lortab, Percodan, Oxycontin.
- Muscle relaxants, such as Soma, Sonata, Flexeril.
What drugs does the FAA test for?
This requires testing for five commonly abused drugs: Marijuana, Cocaine, Opiates, Amphetamines, Phencyclidine (PCP). Most companies have their own alcohol and drug policies, and these matters are the subject of national legislation and international regulation.