FAA Easing Rules for Mental Health Issues
#1
Thread Starter
Gets Weekends Off
Joined: Dec 2017
Posts: 2,014
Likes: 1
From: Retired NJA & AA
FAA Easing Aeromedical Rules for Mental Health Issues
-FAA is going to make it easier for pilots grounded for mental health issues to regain certificationhttps://www.ainonline.com/aviation-n...ource=hs_email
#3
New Hire
Joined: Jun 2023
Posts: 5
Likes: 0
Are there any current airline pilots that fly with a special certification for SSRIs?
I have been on the same dose of an approved SSRI for years, and would rather continue taking that same dose for the long term. Also considering a career change to aviation, and wondering if it really is not worth it if I choose to stay on the SSRI and go through Special Certification process?
Thanks,
- B
I have been on the same dose of an approved SSRI for years, and would rather continue taking that same dose for the long term. Also considering a career change to aviation, and wondering if it really is not worth it if I choose to stay on the SSRI and go through Special Certification process?
Thanks,
- B
#4
Thread Starter
Gets Weekends Off
Joined: Dec 2017
Posts: 2,014
Likes: 1
From: Retired NJA & AA
Are there any current airline pilots that fly with a special certification for SSRIs?
I have been on the same dose of an approved SSRI for years, and would rather continue taking that same dose for the long term. Also considering a career change to aviation, and wondering if it really is not worth it if I choose to stay on the SSRI and go through Special Certification process?
Thanks,
- B
I have been on the same dose of an approved SSRI for years, and would rather continue taking that same dose for the long term. Also considering a career change to aviation, and wondering if it really is not worth it if I choose to stay on the SSRI and go through Special Certification process?
Thanks,
- B
#5
Are there any current airline pilots that fly with a special certification for SSRIs?
I have been on the same dose of an approved SSRI for years, and would rather continue taking that same dose for the long term. Also considering a career change to aviation, and wondering if it really is not worth it if I choose to stay on the SSRI and go through Special Certification process?
Thanks,
- B
I have been on the same dose of an approved SSRI for years, and would rather continue taking that same dose for the long term. Also considering a career change to aviation, and wondering if it really is not worth it if I choose to stay on the SSRI and go through Special Certification process?
Thanks,
- B
https://bmcmedicine.biomedcentral.co...916-017-0972-8
Just because those people are able to GET an SI doesn’t necessarily mean they will KEEP an SI. You probably ought to have that conversation with your own physician before you drop a couple hundred thousand into getting an ATP you may not be able to keep using.
#6
New Hire
Joined: Jun 2023
Posts: 5
Likes: 0
I would make an appointment to see an AME, or spend the $$ to contact AMAS. Their Docs are experts on stuff like this. They have weekly calls with the FAA going over their clients cases. I don't know about others on here but I had to Google "SSRI" to even find out what you were talking about. AMAS: https://www.aviationmedicine.com/
Overall, clearly Special Issuance for Mental Health and SSRIs are approved on a case by case basis, however they noted that more and more airline pilots are going through the SSRI special issuance, and choose to maintain the Special Issuance for the long term because they feel better on SSRIs.
That information was extremely promising to me, and made me feel a whole lot better about going through the entire special issuance process. I work in another industry currently, however am training under basicmed (used to have a Class 1 Medical). Once I get (if I get) my special issuance, I'll hopefully be a Private Pilot by then, and can make the decision whether I want to jump into Aviation as a new career path.
#7
Prime Minister/Moderator

Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 44,841
Likes: 653
From: Engines Turn or People Swim
I work in another industry currently, however am training under basicmed (used to have a Class 1 Medical). Once I get (if I get) my special issuance, I'll hopefully be a Private Pilot by then, and can make the decision whether I want to jump into Aviation as a new career path.
#8
Line Holder
Joined: Mar 2015
Posts: 369
Likes: 0
Thanks AirBear - I contacted AMAS with my query and thought I would share the results.
Overall, clearly Special Issuance for Mental Health and SSRIs are approved on a case by case basis, however they noted that more and more airline pilots are going through the SSRI special issuance, and choose to maintain the Special Issuance for the long term because they feel better on SSRIs.
That information was extremely promising to me, and made me feel a whole lot better about going through the entire special issuance process. I work in another industry currently, however am training under basicmed (used to have a Class 1 Medical). Once I get (if I get) my special issuance, I'll hopefully be a Private Pilot by then, and can make the decision whether I want to jump into Aviation as a new career path.
Overall, clearly Special Issuance for Mental Health and SSRIs are approved on a case by case basis, however they noted that more and more airline pilots are going through the SSRI special issuance, and choose to maintain the Special Issuance for the long term because they feel better on SSRIs.
That information was extremely promising to me, and made me feel a whole lot better about going through the entire special issuance process. I work in another industry currently, however am training under basicmed (used to have a Class 1 Medical). Once I get (if I get) my special issuance, I'll hopefully be a Private Pilot by then, and can make the decision whether I want to jump into Aviation as a new career path.
#9
In a land of unicorns
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 7,042
Likes: 59
From: Whale FO
Contact Bruce Chien, www.aeromedicaldoc.com
He was one of the authors of the SSRI pathway for a medical. He will tell you exactly what you need, and the FAA listens to him.
He was one of the authors of the SSRI pathway for a medical. He will tell you exactly what you need, and the FAA listens to him.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post



