Flying Lessons After Leukemia
 

Hey all. My son is 15 and has a couple of months left on his chemo treatments for B Cell ALL (leukemia). He has expressed an interest in taking flying lessons. Now, before all the "tell him to run for the hills, far away from being a pilot" jokes, for now he seems to want to try it out and simply take some lessons at the local airport. The problem is finding information on his situation.

Most of the information I can find is on already being a pilot and then getting cancer. I'm looking for information on the reverse, for his position, to see what restrictions/limitations he may have after his treatment is over while starting to pursue a private pilot license. Do any of you have experience with this subject and can help point me in the right direction? Thanks so much.

First off, glad your son is doing well and nearing the end of treatment! No personal experience in what you’re asking but I’d assume as long as he can hold a medical he should be good to go. Maybe chat with your AME and ask him/her where to start?

Also, my AME specializes in getting pilots back to the line after tough illnesses, so if you run into roadblocks feel free to PM me and I’d happily share his info. Could be a good resource.

If you’re in the Orlando area, I know an AME that would also be able to help your son. He’s extremely knowledgeable and proactive in obtaining and preserving medical certifications.
PM me and I can send you his contact info.
Glad to hear your son and your family are nearing the end of your ordeal.

The FAA OKs people with
 

CHRONIC lymphocytic leukemia.

https://www.faa.gov/about/office_org...l_classes/cll/

Don’t see why they wouldn’t permit someone with ALL in remission.

Ninety percent of those remissions will be total cures. And the statistics are getting better all the time. I’m saying a prayer your son will be one of the cures. In the meantime, keep good records and remember he doesn’t need a physical until he’s going to solo.

First all, thank you all for the well wishes. It means a lot.

I am grateful for the replies. Talking with my AME would be a good first step.

I was guessing that as long as he can pass a physical for a student license then he should be okay, after he is off his treatments and feeling strong enough to try to fly.

Thanks again.

Hi Sireks,

To shed a little light on the certification process after chemo, I believe the FAA will require a two year monitoring period before issuing a medical. Then, another possible complication will be any medications that he will be taking to keep his ALL in remission. It's certainly possible to obtain a medical, but it might take awhile.
I got this information from my AME after I was diagnosed with CLL and was told I needed chemo.
I am very glad to hear your son is doing well and at the tail end of his treatment.

He could train initially to be a sport pilot. Sport pilots can still carry a passenger and travel on cross country flights, using smaller aircraft. They don’t need a medical certificate. Then later, if his cancer has been in remission and he wants to earn more advanced certificates, he can see about getting a medical. If he trains for the sport pilot certificate with a regular CFI, vs. a sport pilot instructor, all his training will count towards more advanced ratings in the future.

Thanks again all. This seems to follow what I've been told so far. I put in a call to my local FSDO and spoke with them. What I was told there was that he can do just about anything, up until the point he needs to pass any kind of medical, which would most likely be his student certificate. Once he applies for one, and being honest with his medical history, and what, if anything, he is currently taking, his medical will be reviewed in Oklahoma for a "yes" or a "no." Then he will be able to keep flying, or not.

When he finishes with chemo in May, he will never have to take it again. Of course if later in life there is a relapse or a new cancer, then that will be a separate issue. But for now, it will be his post treatment, or healing, that will determine what he takes (pain killers, calcium supplements for his bones, insulin, etc.) and what has to be approved. But as far as specific cancer treatment, there will be no more for him. For now, we are not quite sure what that all will be, but we have a pretty good idea. So we are now going to start asking about flying on those medications and what that means for him.

Again, thank to all of you for input. I do appreciate it.

Prior cancer illness not a limitation for a full professional flying career or flying for personal enjoyment. I’ve been cancer free for 22 years. My cancer diagnosis did not prevent me from entering naval aviation after recovery and a short monitoring period, and it has not impacted my ability to fly professionally. Makes for a good interview story too, although I wouldn’t advise people to seek out cancer if they are short on interview stories. My advice to your son is to focus on physical, mental and emotional recovery first, then go flying. Good luck!

This and all of this ^^^
The gotcha with Sport Pilot is that you cannot ever had a Medical denied.
So it’s not like hey I got denied by Oklahoma and now I’ll go be a Sport Pilot.
That won’t fly.
So start out with Sport Pilot then go through the medical application process and before he gets denied you need to make sure he can continue as a recreational Sport Pilot.
Mind you get can still go fly anything and everything he likes but he will not be able to be the only pilot on board.
So if for his birthday you want to give him a flight in a T-6 or something else extremely cool you can do so.

*When you call the FSDO record with whom you have spoken and detail what they said.
I hate to suggest it but the person with phone duty that day may not be the most knowledgeable on the subject matter.
You’ll he better off calling Oklahoma medical division directly and on follow up calls ask for the same person.