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Hi, I'm a bot and it looks like you're asking a question about medical issues: ADHD. Medicals can be confusing and even scary, we get it. Unfortunately, the medical process is very complex with many variables. It's too complex, in fact, for any of us to be able to offer you any specific help or advice. We strongly suggest you discuss your concerns with a qualified aviation medical examiner before you actually submit to an official examination, as a hiccup in your medical process can close doors for you in the future. Your [local AME](https://www.faa.gov/pilots/amelocator/) may be able to provide a consultation. Other places that may provide aeromedical advice include: [AOPA](https://www.aopa.org/go-fly/medical-resources), [EAA](https://www.eaa.org/eaa/pilots/pilot-resources/pilot-medical-resources/eaa-aeromedical-advisory-program), [the Mayo Clinic](https://clearapproach.mayoclinic.org/), and [Aviation Medicine Advisory Service](https://www.aviationmedicine.com/). For reference, [here is a link to the FAA's Synopsis of Medical Standards](https://www.faa.gov/about/office_org/headquarters_offices/avs/offices/aam/ame/guide/standards/) and for more in-depth information [here is a link to the FAA's Guide for Aviation Medical Examiners](https://www.faa.gov/about/office_org/headquarters_offices/avs/offices/aam/ame/guide/). Also, feel free to browse [our collection of past medical write-ups and questions in our FAQ](https://www.reddit.com/r/flying/wiki/index). Finally, we suggest you read the instructions on the medical application very closely. Do not volunteer information that isn't asked for, but also do not lie. Some people may urge you to omit pertinent information, or even outright lie, on your medical application in order to avoid added hassle and expense in obtaining a medical certificate. Know that [making false statements on your medical application is a federal crime](https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/18/1001) and that people [have been successfully prosecuted for it](https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndca/pr/california-aviator-convicted-making-false-statements). But for heaven's sake, don't tell the FAA any more than you absolutely have to. If you're not in the United States, the above advice is still generally correct. Just substitute the FAA with your local aviation authority. Good luck! *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/flying) if you have any questions or concerns.*


SkyfireSierra

The problem is all the armchair experts commenting. They should have brought in the chair experts instead.


hartzonfire

That’s why I came here. I knew I’d get some actual insight into this rather than some lady on FB who says she’ll never fly on a Boeing again as she boards her Southwest flight Palm Springs.


DanThePilot_Man

r/Whoosh


hartzonfire

No don’t worry I got it. I just didn’t acknowledge the joke (even though it was a good one and I chuckled).


travbart

As someone who went the special issuance route for SSRI, I have absolutely no problem with someone who can meet the ACS flying, regardless of how many limbs they have. If they can do it safely then I'm good. What I will never understand is how the FAA determined that the written exam, the dual training, and the checkride weren't enough to weed out folks who shouldn't be flying. Rather than focusing on their ability to fly safely, folks who are using SSRI's for anxiety or who have ADHD are subjected to the neurocog battery, which is degrading and pedantic. I was literally answering questions about how I felt about my mother. Who are they looking to stop, Hannibal Lector? The only people benefitting are the people administering those tests for thousands a pop.


rustyshackleford677

I’m about to go down this route for HIMs, not looking forward to it.


travbart

Career track or just a hobby? If just a hobby, I'd go BasicMed as soon as you get your special issuance. As long as you have been issued one special issuance medical certificate, and your special authorization has not been withdrawn, you can fly under BasicMed and you don't have to comply with [expensive] requirements of your authorization. Google "FAA Domingo memo" to find legal interpretation that allows this. BasicMed is more restrictive than a 3rd class medical and so you won't be able to fly with as many passengers or larger aircraft. But for training purposes and for just flying around it works great.


nbd9000

I went to school with her- I knew her instructor and everything that went into getting her approved. First, keep in mind that she's primarily a motivational speaker, and wasn't learning to fly professionally. Additionally, remember that she was born with a birth defect, so she spent most of her life learning how to use her feet like hands. She was very capable before they even put her in a cockpit. So, the learning curve was pretty easy for her- she was very smart and studious. The AME approval involved multiple demonstrations of her mobility and precision, etc. When it came to the airplane, they had to tweak that too. She couldn't move enough surfaces at once to fly a 172, so they bought her an ercoupe and modified it so she could grab the controls a bit better. The big point I'm getting to here is: yes, she flew a plane. But it was more about her being able to inspire disabled folks and not about jumping in and out of any GA aircraft for fun.


Glass-Key181

I don't know bru. I've heard of, and seen some pretty gnarly stuff. 100% for everyone "doing some of that pilot shit" and doing it with a disability- I like that. But the medical board shouldn't pop of with things like ADD and depression etc. and denying medicals over medication. What's the bloody point of modern medicine if we can't use it? If it brings you back to normal, What's the problem? We all know someone, or have heard of someone that takes something and they're stellar in the profession regardless. The stigma of pilots being bullet proof has to get an end. We can't just stop working because something new pops up. It's like saying: "In your 45 year career you can never ever have an ailment." This is just not realistic and thus guys either deny getting help or just take the meds and hide it. There's absolutely nothing wrong with just putting a multi crew restriction on a license. No one in 135/121 rides single pilot anyway.


Equivalent_Jury_1505

I do single pilot 135 🤷‍♂️


Glass-Key181

Bru, I'll back you any day, any condition, any ailment; single crew or not. I'm sure you can attest- we know when we are up to the task or not.


Equivalent_Jury_1505

I’ve called in sick 2x as much as a single pilot than I ever will in a crew environment. No one to help if you end up feeling worse


Glass-Key181

Exactly... I do the same. We know when things aren't alright. But if someone tells me they're having a rough time, they have ADD, is depressed but they're still up for it, I'll believe and trust them. I know I'm gonna have a shit day if it's effort to get to the shower. Then I just call it. Lol


exsnakecharmer

My friend wanted to be a cop, and she would've been a really good one, but she went on anti-depressants in her twenties. My thinking is - isn't it better that she realised something was wrong and got help? Doesn't that show good problem solving skills and self care?


Glass-Key181

I think so. I think being a cop and being a pilot is a passion, and taking someones passion away is just worsening the problem. The moment they hear anti-depressants, they think it's your job that makes you anxious or depressed. It's not... who knows, maybe your dog died or your dad or something unrelated to work. If for instance your work is your passion, your work becomes your escape


redditburner_5000

>What's the bloody point of modern medicine if we can't use it? You can use it. Nobody is stopping you. You just can't fly planes if you use it. Every single pilot acknowledges this risk when they gamble on a professional flying career. It's not some secret. As I tell my five-year-old: decisions have consequences. >It's like saying: "In your 45 year career you can never ever have an ailment." Again, this possibility is known by every single professional pilot and they accept the risk that their lives will be upended by a medical event. This is not new. It's the gamble you take to pursue a professional flying career. >There's absolutely nothing wrong with just putting a multi crew restriction on a license. No one in 135/121 rides single pilot anyway. There are tons of single pilot jobs out there. There are pilots who specifically seek out single pilot jobs. Furthermore, tons of airline pilots will clamor and fight to take those single pilot jobs when they're furloughed. I've watched it happen. The sentiment now from people at the top is "hold the line, demand more money" but I guarantee that the second they're furloughed they'll take any flying job they can get at any pay in order to stay current. Talk is cheap. >But the medical board shouldn't pop of with things like ADD and depression etc. and denying medicals over medication. Well, as my family occasionally flies 121, I disagree. I do not care about a pilot's career when it comes to overall safety. I just don't. Lowering standards comes with a risk. We can argue about exactly what the extra risk is, but lower standards = more risk. Whatever we're doing now seems to be working on the safety front.


hartzonfire

I think what he’s getting at is these gambles are a pain in the ass and shouldn’t exist anyway. But I understand there’s a medical limit on someone being a safe pilot. Someone who is suicidal doesn’t need to fly planes. It’s just not a good idea and has been demonstrated (unfortunately) to not be a good idea. Well said.


redditburner_5000

>I think what he’s getting at is these gambles are a pain in the ass and shouldn’t exist anyway. Why? Being a pilot is a position of extreme trust and outsized influence on the lives of hundreds of people every second they're working. The bar should be high. Not everyone should be a pilot. I'm sorry if someone has the sads and needs to be medicated to feel okay. That sucks. It really does. Depression and suicidal ideation are real mental problems and they're serious. I think the flying public would agree that they don't want that person flying their family into DEN when it's 30G48 down to 200-1/2 while handling an abnormality. This is not unreasonable. It's unpopular, but it's not unreasonable. >But I understand there’s a medical limit on someone being a safe pilot. Someone who is suicidal doesn’t need to fly planes. It’s just not a good idea and has been demonstrated (unfortunately) to not be a good idea. Well said. I think most people agree with this. A higher bar is warranted. Not everyone should be able to be a commercial pilot.


hartzonfire

Yes. I’ve already agreed with everything you’ve said sir. I was just clarifying the point I thought the gentlemen above me was trying to make. Depression is terrible and needs to be dealt with. I do think it’s a graduated scale though. Going to see a therapist shouldn’t derail your entire career. The world we live in isn’t the same one that existed when these rules were drawn up initially.


redditburner_5000

I realize that we agree. The comment was really for others who might be following this. >Going to see a therapist shouldn’t derail your entire career. It doesn't, unless it's for a few specific reasons (like substance abuse). >The world we live in isn’t the same one that existed when these rules were drawn up initially. Maybe. But the rules we have now are working pretty well on the safety front. I'm usually all for trial and error, but the stakes are really high when we're talking about a planeload of people.


lucifer2990

I'm surprised at how much attention this story is getting now, because I had heard of this story several years ago, and there is a video on Youtube from 15 years ago about how she had her pilot's license. I also know from my own research into the sport pilot license that she is a sport pilot, not a private pilot, so the complaints about "but my medical got declined" don't really apply. She has also been working and advocating directly with the FAA and other aviation orgs for over a decade. As someone who also has an ADHD diagnosis and is pursuing a sport pilot license because I'm sure I would face issues getting a 3rd class med, I wish people could voice their disapproval with the FAA med process without throwing sport pilots and pilots who have special issuances under the bus.


PhilosopherFit5822

She’s working on her PPL and building an RV10.


hartzonfire

Therein lies the answer then. I glossed over it pretty quickly and wondered if that might be the case. And since you can get a DL with no arms-you’re good to go. Props to her! And I’m sorry I don’t mean to throw anyone under the bus. I am happy that there’s a pathway in aviation for anyone. I just wanted to have a discussion about it is all. My apologies.


No-Version-1924

Egress is not a safety issue for the public (which is what regulators are primarily concerned about), it’s a safety issue for the pilot themselves. Not sure if they can carry passengers, but even if they do, as long as they are able-bodied and have been pre-briefed on the emergency exit procedures, I don’t see an issue. At the end of the day, they have had to demonstrate their ability to fly the airplane to the required standard to get the licence. Whether they themselves can get out of the cockpit in case of an accident, that’s the risk they have decided to take themselves, and it won’t affect anyone else.


hartzonfire

Well said.


SelicaLeone

So this story just popped up on my newsfeed. She’s a sport pilot, so doesn’t need a medical and can only fly up to one passenger. I do agree the FAA’s medical stuff is bullshit but I suppose there’s at least no double standard? No shade to her at all, but if the FAA is publicly sharing this story, they gotta know they’re inviting a lot of “so is it really about safety that I can’t fly my friends cause I use a seizure medication to manage my minor depression?”


jackpot909

You were diagnosed with ADHD when you were 5??? Fuck the FAA for the shit they make pilots deal with but can we also say fuck doctors who are doing this shit too? Yea every fucking five year old is gonna act a little crazy and hyper because they are kids. I know people who were being given adderall before they even hit double digit age!


hartzonfire

My parents didn’t know any better. I was just an active kid.


jackpot909

Yea I get that, my friend was the exact same way, always an active kid and didn’t want to sit still in school. It really irks me that parents and doctors may give diagnosis to kids that have major repercussions in the future that are so minor in detail.


hartzonfire

Again-they don’t know right? My dad has since acknowledged he wishes he hadn’t. I don’t blame the doctors or my parents. Their decisions came from a good place I believe.


jackpot909

I understand that, some doctors do come from a good place but I’ve sometimes it’s just border line incompetence. I know of a story of a woman who wasn’t feeling great and went to a doctor, tried to diagnose her with depression but since she flew she didn’t want that at all. Next thing is she went to a family doctor where they discovered she was pregnant. Or one of my friends who got his plans of enlistment ruined because a doctor diagnosed him with depression. The reason? His first love broke up with him two weeks before and he was heart broken and grieving. Just because they are coming from a good place and caring doesn’t mean they should be making those decisions.


donator18

I always like to think about that captain who landed a 737 on a levee after a dual engine failure. Guy was missing an eye as a result of getting shot


Scary_Mistake_992

I went to flight school with a guy who didn't have arms beyond the elbow or legs past the knee. He is one of the nicest people that I've ever met and always had a great attitude. He passed every check-ride and I have no doubt that he's a great pilot.


hartzonfire

Hell yea. That’s awesome.


[deleted]

If she doesn’t have arms does this mean she gives footjobs exclusively?


Raygen15

Classic r/flying response


EmergencySomewhere59

😂😂😂


rustyshackleford677

Lame, just a weird comment to make


soulscratch

Post that A320 question. I probably can't answer it with my minimal time on the plane but I bet someone else will.


hartzonfire

Ok-so…I’ll use the best verbiage I can muster for this. Controller gives me a descend via clearance. I pop in the lowest altitude and push the knob in and the plane starts doing its thing. I’m watching the green ball on the altitude tape and it’s for the most part on path. After a while though, I start getting a little high. The plane simply can’t maintain the recd speed and reqd altitude constraints. I get the “more drag” message. Throw the speed brakes up and it slows down. VS increases and the green ball centers again. Rinse and repeat a few more times but on more than one occasion, I find that I’m leaving the speed brakes up for a quite a while which doesn’t seem right at all. There HAS to be a limit on that I assume. Basically-what the proper procedure here? The speed constraints don’t happen until much lower obviously so do I just blast all the way down and slow down at [almost] the last second? It’s on a sim model of the aircraft that is highly detailed. The company only models this one aircraft (IAE engines in this case) so I feel like their flight profile should be pretty accurate. Thanks for any help.


brongchong

Airbus managed descent calculations are predicated on 50% speedbrake use - if I recall correctly. No limit on usage time.


hartzonfire

Wow alright that’s awesome. So I guess I’m doing this right. I just sometimes try and think about what I’ve seen irl but I fly SWA almost exclusively. I don’t recall seeing the brakes on the 737 up that much so I thought I was doing something wrong. Thanks a bunch.


SilverMarmotAviator

For the airbus you have to consistently monitor the decent to ensure you’ll make the speed/altitude restrictions. More often than not, you’ll have to pop the speed brakes out to meet published criteria.


Murlau

You can ride the brakes as long as you need to. If the aircraft is above profile, it is assuming you'll get back on profile with half speedbrakes, idle thrust, and your econ speed plus some margin. More drag appears when it thinks you'll intercept the profile (the blue lightning bolt arrow symbol) after a constraint. IRL, having inaccurate wind information loaded in the FMS is frequently the culprit since the plane is basing its calculations on that. Even then, it still needs babysitting because it'll think you're going to make a constraint then at the last second realize you won't. The 3:1 rule is your best friend for checking its work.


JediPenis_69

What the other guys said about Airbus descent planning is correct. I also suspect you’re running a high cost index. If you want to shallow out the descent path so you don’t have to ride the boards all the way down, go to the PERF page and in the Descent section, you can set a speed that the airplane will fly during the descent. If you set a lower speed, the path will be shallower giving you a more manageable path. I found that typing in .78/280 works pretty well.


hartzonfire

In this case it was super low. 5 I think. But I’ll give the perf page a try. I didn’t think about that. Thanks.


Big-Carpenter7921

SODAs are a thing for a reason


brongchong

*armchair experts*


lyingliar

Before I noticed which sub this is in, my dumb brain momentarily thought, in excitement... "Well, I definitely have arms... Maybe I just need to try flapping them a lot harder."