Are you like me and wonder what the actual process is for getting help? I’ve never been great at understanding the legal jargon in the FAR-AIM…nor have I met someone outside of the lawyer world that is.
I was lucky enough to speak with an airline pilot who walked me through the entire process from the first-person point of view. This pilot self-grounded and took a 6-month medical leave for anxiety, depression, and colitis. This pilot then shared the arduous experience with me in the hopes it could help someone else who is afraid to do step 1. To which I said:
“Thank you. Thank you for being incredibly brave. We’re all afraid of step 1. I think this will help more people than you think. If it helps just 1 we’ve succeeded.”
This story has a fairy tale ending because he is back flying the line for a few years now as a healthier, happier and safer airline pilot. Remember the post titled "Healthier, Happier & A Safer Pilot?"
A PILOT’S FIRST-PERSON PROCESS
1. Admit you might benefit from professional help and self-ground. Put your health first.
2. Tell your HR department, follow the rules, and go get it! (Make sure to see a counselor, therapist or doctor that is familiar with the aviation regulations. Call AOPA’s medical line for confidential answers to your questions – 800/USA-AOPA (872-2672)
3. Spend 6 months getting treated on medical leave. This pilot became a simulator instructor in the meantime – no medical required.
4. Feel better, and get the doctor who treated you to sign off on it.
5. Begin the special issuance process with the FAA. This pilot used Aviation Medical Advisory Service (AMAS) who is on contract with the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA).
6. Get a cognitive screening from an AME – similar to the airline new hire cog. screen.
7. Get letters from a board-certified psych and your chief pilot
8. File the paperwork – around $2500…ouch.
9. Wait for the FAA PI# and follow up as needed. This specific pilot waited 1.5 years total: 6 months of medical leave + 1 year waiting for the special issuance. (Can we shorten that timeline?!)
This pilot recommends a specific HIMS AME that is based in Wilmington, NC. I’m in the process of reaching out to make sure this AME is ok sharing their information.
Have you gone through something similar? Share your story with us, it can help thousands of pilots that are afraid of step 1 because they don’t trust the process. Maybe yours was different; tell us how. Join our POSI <3
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