Who qualifies? As of August 30, 2023, the FAA has created a new path to FAA medical certification for pilots called ADHD Fast Track. This new pathway is only applicable to pilots or applicants who meet the following criteria: Pilots or applicants who do not meet this criteria will be under the Standard Track. The […]
Understanding The FAA Special Issuance Medical Certificate
You have recently been denied a medical certificate by the FAA AMCD or your medical application has been deferred, due to a potentially disqualifying condition. Suddenly, your career or hobby as a pilot now has far more additional questions along with an overall sense of great confusion over your next steps. While there are a […]
Finding a HIMS AME and the FAA HIMS Program
What is a HIMS AME? Airmen who have ever been arrested for an alcohol related event such as a DUI or MIP, have sustained an injury where alcohol use was involved; or have self-admitted substance problems will most likely be asked by the FAA to work with a HIMS AME. There are only few instances […]
Military Pilots Transition to Civilian – Disclosing VA Benefits to the FAA
Pilots Disclosing VA Benefits to the FAA
Pilot Failed Random Drug Test
If a pilot failed a FAA random drug test, they will be subject to immediate action by their employer and the FAA. It may not necessarily mean the end of your flying career. Having an experienced aviation attorney guide you through the legal and employer processes can put you in the best position to return […]
Is Bipolar Disorder Disqualifying for a Pilot?
Is a bipolar disorder diagnoses disqualifying for a pilot? If you are a pilot and have ever been diagnosed with a bipolar disorder, whether or not the diagnoses was correct, you may have questions on your eligibility for FAA medical certification, and what information to disclose on your medical application. Was the Bipolar Diagnosis Clinically […]
How would the FAA find out about my DUI?
“How would the FAA find out about my DUI?” This is a common aviation law question we receive regularly from student pilots filling out the medical application for the first time, to veteran pilots who have held licenses and certificates for years. Each time a pilot files a medical application, the pilot authorizes the FAA […]
Other than drug or alcohol related convictions, what other crimes or convictions would I have to report as a pilot to the FAA?
Question 18W asks you to report convictions for non-traffic misdemeanors and felonies, those are convictions though, not arrests. Typically, what the FAA is looking for is a personality disorder that manifests itself by sober acts. The Aviation Medical Examiner (AME) will query the pilot and ask what the nature of the conviction was. Typically, they’ll […]
FAA Releases BasicMed Comprehensive Medical Examination Checklist
The FAA on April 24 released the official BasicMed Comprehensive Medical Examination Checklist that pilots who wish to fly under BasicMed need to fill out and have completed by the state-licensed physician performing the medical examination. The agency also published a link to AOPA’s Medical Self-Assessment: A Pilot’s Guide to Flying Healthy online aeromedical course […]
FAA RELEASES THIRD CLASS MEDICAL REFORM FINAL RULE
The FAA has released a final rule on third class medical reform, though it will be several months before pilots can fly under the new program that the agency has named BasicMed. eams of AOPA experts are examining the Jan. 10 announcement, which at first look appears to closely mirror the legislation signed into law on July […]
Medical Reform Legislation: The Pilot’s Bill of Rights 2
The Pilot’s Bill of Rights 2 would allow pilots flying recreationally in a wide range of aircraft to no longer obtain a third class medical certificate. The new bill would allow private pilots to make noncommercial VFR and IFR flights in aircraft weighing up to 6,000 pounds with up to six seats. Read more about […]
The Pilot’s Bill of Rights 2 legislation introduced in House, Senate
The Pilot’s Bill of Rights 2 would allow pilots flying recreationally in a wide range of aircraft to no longer obtain a third class medical certificate. The new bill would allow private pilots to make noncommercial VFR and IFR flights in aircraft weighing up to 6,000 pounds with up to six seats. A group of […]
Drinking Excessively Is Not Necessarily Alcoholism
A new study concludes that the vast majority of Americans who drink excessively are not alcoholics. Drinking excessively causes about 88,000 deaths every year, but the majority of excessive drinkers are not alcoholics, according to a recent government study. The Center for Disease Control found that nine out of 10 excessive drinkers were not actually dependent […]
FAA DUI Victory
Aviation attorney, Charles Barnett has secured a victory for one of their general aviation pilot clients accused of alcohol dependence by the FAA. The case involved a 30 year old pilot who had a DUI for driving his car with a BAC above .14999. The pilot subsequently received an Emergency Order of Revocation from the […]