Fox3close

When I was 18 and taking lessons, I took a class 3 medical and checked off "no" for almost everything in the medical history checklist. Call it what you want, but the AME gave me the class III and didn't ask any questions. I did not disclose that I had my appendix removed in a surgery the previous year.

I am planning on going in for my FAA class I in a couple weeks. My question is - can the FAA penalize you for reporting previously unreported medical history?

PerfInit

Assuming positive intent and you "forgot", to disclose, probably wont be a big deal. On the flip side, intentional falsification is very serious, and can lead to revocation of every pilot certificate one has. Having said that, the "intentional" part is very difficult to prove. The FAA holds the burden to prove Intentional Falsification by preponderance of the evidence. I honestly don't know whether they "look back" or compare previous forms you have filled out.

TonyC

I cannot recall ever staying in a hospital, so for years and years, I answered No to that question.

Along came MedXpress, and my AME felt like he needed to pay closer attention, and a form with all No's stood out to him. "Didn't you have your tonsils removed?" he asked. Sure, when I was a kid and I reported that ages ago. "Did you stay in a hospital for that?" I don't know, but I guess probably so, I just don't remember.

Remember, "Previously Reported" got an overhaul with MedXpress. I now mark 2 items as Yes and include the remark, "Tonsillectomy as a child."

AME is happy, never heard a whisper from the FAA.






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rickair7777

For ancient childhood history that you simply forgot about, probably no big deal.

But the intentional aspect is HUGE...in addition to revocation of certificates, that can lead to prison time, and this has happened recently.

Given the fact that the omission was very recent, it would strain credibility that the pilot "forgot" about it.

The good news is that a healed appendectomy is not a disqualifying condition, so you could probably get away with just reporting it next time. Where the FAA really gets annoyed is when pilots get caught flying with a known disqualifying condition and/or lying about it on their medical app.

If in doubt you could contact an aviation medical consulting company for advice on how to handle this.

But whatever you do, I would not admit to *intentionally* not disclosing the condition...you'd need a lawyer for that.

Fox3close

Thank you everyone for the insight. @rickair7777 @tonyc @perfinit
Best,
Fox3close

TonyC

I tried to determine from the post how long ago the omission occurred. All I could establish as FACT is the omission occurred when the poster was 18.

I don't know how old he is now. 19? 39?

Either way, I agree the best course is to report it on the next application. Just the facts, nothing more.

If the AME notices the discrepancy, simply acknowledge the omission was a mistake that is now being rectified. "I mistakenly omitted the procedure." No need to elaborate on the details, or the mindset. I made a mistake, and this is the correction.

Whether it was last year, or twenty years ago, that's the best you can do.






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