by The Pilot Lawyer | Jun 30, 2023 | Podcast
The complication of getting a medical certificate with the FAA eats up a pilot’s time and energy.
Learning how to fly was probably a walk in the park compared to dealing with the FAA.
Why spend all those years in school and then not be able to fly?
That’s the bad news.
There is hope when it comes to dealing with the FAA – not all pilots have to get their full traditional medical certificate.
Introducing BasicMed: Your path to a faster way to fly and get approved with the FAA.
In this episode, you’ll discover what BasicMed is and how you can hack the traditional licensing process and fly almost immediately with just a simple driver’s license.
Listen now.
Show highlights include:
- The secret way a chiropractor can help you get your BasicMed license approved (7:30)
- One physical exam you need to get BasicMed and have yourself flying by almost next week (7:50)
- The secret 6-point checklist used by the FAA and why this can speed up your licensing process (7:50)
- How to get to the “Go Fly” FAA stamp of approval so you don’t spend months waiting on the ground (7:57)
- A simple application hack to qualify for BasicMed (even if you have a medical condition) (11:30)
- Do you have this personality disorder that’s keeping you from getting BasicMed? (12:03)
- The weird way this 6000-pound gorilla will stop you from flying bigger aircrafts (23:11)
For more information or to get in touch with us, go to https://thepilotlawyer.com/contact/
by Anthony Ison | Jun 23, 2023 | Pilot Law
Obtaining your FAA medical certificate on Wellbutrin is finally an option! Our firm has worked with many airmen using Wellbutrin, which was previously an aeromedically disqualifying medication for the FAA. Unfortunately, because Wellbutrin has been a disqualifying medication, the only option available to these airmen was to discontinue use of the medication or transition to a different medication. Good news came from the Office of Aerospace Medicine on May 31, 2023, when it was announced that Wellbutrin would no longer be ineligible for consideration under a special issuance authorization. Note, however, that only Wellbutrin XL and Wellbutrin SR have been approved for certification.
What does this mean for you? If you are taking Wellbutrin XL or Wellbutrin SR for anxiety, major depressive disorder, adjustment disorder with depressed mood, dysthymic disorder, or other non-depression related conditions, you now have an option of remaining on the medication and achieving airman medical certification. Keep in mind, however, that while this medication is now approved for consideration under a special issuance authorization, it is still disqualifying for regular medical certification. As such, in order to achieve airman medical certification with the FAA while using either Wellbutrin XL or Wellbutrin SR, you must still undertake the necessary steps to achieve a special issuance authorization, or waiver. This process is the same as the FAA’s stated processes for SSRI Decision Pathway II. As a result, if you are on Wellbutrin XL or Wellbutrin SR, you will still need to engage with a HIMS-trained professionals and undertake the necessary steps to achieve a special issuance authorization.
Keep in mind that using Wellbutrin XL or Wellbutrin SR comes with the same perquisites for airman medical certification as the four, “approved,” SSRI medications. Specifically, keep in mind that your application for airman medical certification and special issuance authorization may be denied if you have ever had symptoms of or a history of psychosis or suicidal ideation or attempt(s). You will also have difficulty establishing eligibility for a special issuance authorization if you’ve ever been treated with electro convulsive therapy, if you’ve been treated with multiple SSRI medications concurrently, or been treated with a multi-agent drug protocol. Learn more here.
Why involve a FAA medical attorney when you are applying for a FAA medical certificate while taking Wellbutrin XL or Wellbutrin SR? Despite what you may hear from other pilots, the medical certification process is more so a legal process than a medical process. Ensuring that your doctor is developing the proper documentation regarding your use of Wellbutrin XL or Wellbutrin SR, as needed, can be a difficult task. There are many nuances in what the FAA needs to see in order to effectively and efficiently evaluate your case. A FAA medical attorney can evaluate your records, prepare a plan for best presentation of your case to the AME or FAA, and best argue your medical eligibility to the Federal Air Surgeon, with an eye for potential, future appeal. Furthermore, if your medical documentation is as strong as possible upon initial submission, in doing so, hopefully, you will avoid unnecessary delay. If you have failed to report your use of Wellbutrin on your FAA medical application, a FAA medical attorney can give you counsel on how to rectify your omission.
If you are concerned about obtaining your FAA medical certificate on Wellbutrin, call the FAA attorneys at The Ison Law Firm. We are happy to evaluate your case and discuss with you a plan for presenting your case to your AME or the FAA. Aviation law is all we do. Nothing else.
by The Pilot Lawyer | Jun 23, 2023 | Podcast
SSRIs are an anti-depressant. If you are just an average person taking it, no one seems to care.
But, if you are a pilot and trying to fly, sirens seem to go off at the FAA. The FAA considers this a “serious medical” condition, and this might impact your ability to be a pilot.
What good is being a well-trained pilot if you can’t even fly and make a living?
There is hope!
You still can fly if you take SSRIs, but only if you understand the loopholes and the disclosure requirements.
In this episode, you’ll discover all about SSRIs and the FAA. The FAA goes through the application with a fine-tooth comb, so you want to avoid giving them too much information or too little.
Tune in to discover how to get your application approved faster so that you can finally fly – especially if you take any antidepressants.
Listen now.
Show highlights include:
- Why the AME will defer your application and deny your certificate if you use Prozac (even though it’s approved on their website) (2:54)
- The 4 disqualifying SSRI medications that the AME frowns upon and impacts your ability to fly (3:59)
- Use these 2 secret loopholes to get you to fly again if you are still taking SSRIs (4:52)
- The only 4 conditions that the FAA will approve SSRIs so you can continue to keep your license (6:16)
- What does “clinically stable” mean to the FAA and why this might delay your ability to fly for another 6 months (7:31)
- The 5 antidepressants approved by the FAA so that you can finally get back in the air (8:01)
- Why having a “risk for recurrent” symptoms can end your career as a pilot (13:13)
For more information or to get in touch with us, go to https://thepilotlawyer.com/contact/
by The Pilot Lawyer | Jun 16, 2023 | Podcast
The FAA is one of the largest government agencies in the United States. And, as you are aware, anything associated with the government moves at a snail-like speed.
Which means…
Your review can take as long as 6 months—and that’s if you are lucky enough to understand their complicated process.
Unfortunately for you, your ability to fly rests in their hands. And you can’t get paid while they drag their feet. and you are sitting at home not flying and not getting paid while they drag their feet.
This is why you need the help of professionals that understand the loopholes and have built relationships within the FAA to help speed up the process.
In this episode, you’ll discover how to speed up your application, so that you are not at the bottom of the barrel.
Want to start your review process and get your medical certificate as soon as possible?
Listen now.
Show highlights include:
- The “Line Hopping” technique to get your application to the top of the FAA’s queue (9:53)
- Two novice mistakes applicants make when submitting their review that makes the FAA take months to get to it (10:26)
- The three-week delay that can be avoided if you do this quick application technique (10:36)
- The 30-second trick when submitting your application that helps you avoid three-week delays (10:36)
- Have more than one medical issue? Here’s how to submit your application with the FAA so you can hit the air 6 months sooner (21:23)
- The sneaky “timed out” trap that delays your medical certificate (23:42)
- The “nudge” letter that gets the FAA to move and start processing your application so that you start traveling the world (25:53)
For more information or to get in touch with us, go to https://thepilotlawyer.com/contact/
by The Pilot Lawyer | Jun 9, 2023 | Podcast
The FAA and the AME work together to make sure they catch pilots with different conditions and a common one is sleep apnea.
Sleep apnea raises red flags. It can impact the pilot’s ability to fly and can lead to other health issues, according to the FAA.
That’s the bad news.
The good news?
You can continue to fly with sleep apnea or a history of it if you deal with the FAA correctly.
In this episode, you’ll discover how to navigate the FAA and its overwhelming procedures when it comes to dealing with pilots that have a history with sleep apnea.
Listen now.
Show highlights include:
- How to answer question18 on your medical application if you have sleep apnea and want to keep flying (3:30)
- Why disclosing sleep apnea history to the FAA is crucial (be careful this can impact your medical certificate) (4:41)
- How the AME secretly works with the FAA to make sure you disclose sleep apnea (and how this can delay your flying time) (5:18)
- The insidious way FAA monitors your sleep apnea on your AME tests (and what this means to pilots with a medical history) (7:48)
- What this “integrated” AME screening assessment means to you and your history with sleep apnea (8:14)
- The serious repercussions if the FAA discovers a pilot did not disclose sleep apnea (and how you can avoid this) (9:16)
- How you can get treatment for sleep apnea so that the FAA will let you fly (27:10)
For more information or to get in touch with us, go to https://thepilotlawyer.com/contact/
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