Aviation Blog

February 9, 2021 | Pilot Law

TSA Imposes Fines Against Travelers Without Masks

Did you know that the TSA imposes fines against travelers without masks? In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) looks to curb the spread of the coronavirus by imposing fines against travelers for not wearing a mask while in the public transit domain.

February 4, 2021 | Pilot Law

FAA HIMS Step Down Protocol

In August of 2020, the FAA introduced the HIMS step down protocol for airman who hold a medical certificate pursuant to a special issuance authorization for “substance dependence.” In theory, the step down protocol works two ways for airmen on a “substance dependence” special issuance. In some regards, the new protocol works to eliminate the […]

December 9, 2020 | Pilot Law

FAA Medical Certificate Denied for Substance Dependence Part 2: Increased Tolerance

Has your FAA medical certificate been denied for “substance dependence?” If so, reference the previous article regarding the FAA’s criteria for “substance dependence.” You can read that article here: FAA Medical Certificate Denied for Substance Dependence: Part 1: Criteria for “Dependence” – The Pilot Lawyer This article will address the first and most problematic of […]

December 4, 2020 | Pilot Law

FAA Medical Certificate Denied for Substance Dependence: Part 1: Criteria for “Dependence”

Has your FAA medical certificate been denied for “substance dependence?” The first thing to know is that the Federal Aviation Administration (“FAA”) has a different definition of “substance dependence” than does the rest of the medical community. Specifically, the medical community typically evaluates whether an individual has a “substance use disorder” by determining whether that […]

December 3, 2020 | Pilot Law

Selecting a HIMS AME

Selecting a HIMS AME for your FAA medical certification can be a daunting process. What is a HIMS AME? What does a HIMS AME do? A HIMS AME is a senior Aviation Medical Examiner which has undergone the necessary training in the “HIMS” program in order to monitor airmen for certain medical conditions. “HIMS” stands […]

November 15, 2020 | Pilot Law

FAA Medical Denial for ADHD

Have you received a FAA medical denial for ADHD? Let’s analyze how you got to a denial and what can be done to appeal the denial. 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. Specifically, those questions are […]

November 14, 2020 | Pilot Law

How to Prevent a FAA Medical Denial?

How to prevent a FAA medical denial is a question frequently asked of The Ison Law Firm by airmen. What is the most critical step to preventing a FAA medical denial? Preparation. Time and time again, airmen will complete their Form 8500-8, get examined by their Aviation Medical Examiner (“AME”), pay their fee to the […]

August 12, 2020 | Pilot Law

Your FAA Medical Denial

Your FAA medical denial is not the end of the road for your flying career. Did you know that most FAA medical denials are not “final denials?” In other words, most FAA medical denials are subject to considerable “reconsideration” and potentially even review by the National Transportation Safety Board. To that end, not all FAA […]

July 3, 2020 | Pilot Law

Unreported Conditions on Your FAA Medical Application

Yes, unreported conditions on your FAA medical application could lead to serious consequences. Maybe it was an accident. You didn’t really read the questions. You misunderstood the question. You were afraid to report something that could lead to denial of your medical application. If the FAA discovers an unreported condition, including DUI arrests and VA […]

January 18, 2020 | Pilot Law

Three Steps to Avoid a FAA Medical Denial

There are three steps to avoid a FAA medical denial, whether you’ve been flying for years or this is your first FAA medical application. As you probably already know, a pilot’s license is only as good as the medical certificate that you hold. If you’re an ATP, student pilot, or just interested in getting into […]