Originally Posted by METO Guido

Per your attachment. Thank you for reporting it Col.

Originally Posted by sealandair

..if I lied about it I'd always be looking over my shoulder for the rest of my career, which isn't how I want to spend it.

Originally Posted by sealandair

But the FAA has updated its regulations with certain diseases, depression being one of them, and they will allow pilots to fly even if they currently take anti-depressants.

Originally Posted by sealandair

Where did you find that table? It's one I haven't come across yet. I've been reading through 67.401 and looking at the FAAs guide for AMEs though. There's also a SODA listed in 67.401, and if my condition is "static", I wonder if I'd be eligible for one of those. It really doesn't matter in the long run, since SI or not it shouldn't be a big hurdle to getting hired as rickair mentions. Might take the FAA 2-3 months to pick up a deferred 1C application, but if I do apply to the regionals I'm looking at least 6 months out so I can study up and get current, so that should be plenty of time to get the paperwork going. What I'm interested in is how much ADDITIONAL time, if any, it takes to grant an SI, vs a SODA, vs a regular approval if they're satisfied with me and my doc's paperwork. And if a HIMS Ame were required plus additional psych testing, what I might be looking at in additional costs. I bring up HIMS because the FAA puts depression in the same category of illnesses as substance dependence, and if I understand the regs right, pilots who fly while currently taking SSRIs have to see a HIMS Ame, even if they don't touch booze or drugs.

Originally Posted by JohnBurke

Again, this is NOT something you should navigate on your own.

Originally Posted by Excargodog

I wish it were different for you, but I doubt that it will be.

Originally Posted by METO Guido

No, you don't. Nor 'should' you have a need to.

Airmen, less perfect ones like me that is, don't necessarily always DO what's required. Specifically, when the cure is worse than non-compliance. Crewmembers at every major airline take their own lives every year. More than gets attention. Anyone even track what part of these cases untreated depression is clinical?

Originally Posted by sealandair

Nor do I plan to. I'm in the early stages of preparation and just collecting as much data as I can, kind of like I was writing a research paper, which I have a fair share of experience in. I already know an AME will have to defer the application, and I also know the FAA wants to see as much documentation and letters from docs as you can possibly provide. Applications that get sent without sufficient paperwork will only be delayed further and that's the part I'm trying to avoid. I'm also not going to fork over thousands to a place like Leftseat to "speed my application through", when I think the claim is false, costs too much, and something that me, my doctor, and AME can put together ourselves. I do appreciate your input though, and in no way do I expect this to be a cake walk.

Originally Posted by Xdashdriver

I highly recommend using AMAS or another reputable complex-case AME. Many AMEs aren't familiar with the intricacies of all the FAA protocols. The good complex-case ones will know exactly what the FAA needs to see and will put all the packet together BEFORE you ever get an exam done and deferral. That way only one submission needs to take place without a lot of back and forth and wasting more time.

Originally Posted by sealandair

Thanks. AMAS... that's a newer service I've heard about but not familiar with, and if I hear good things, maybe try them. Doesn't AOPA have something too?

Originally Posted by sealandair

Re AMEs... yeah I will definitely seek out a HIMS one. While mine isn't technically a HIMS case, they'd at least be lots more familiar with what the FAA will want, and about SIs in general.