ADHD Pilots
 

I found this website a few days ago while doing some research for a friend of mine. It was started by Dr. Tyghe Nielsen, and the goal of the website is to get the FAA to decide each ADHD medical on a case by case basis. If you read his story it is similar to many of the posts on APC.

I know it's a long shot, but hopefully the FAA will change their policies sometime in the near future.

I need a drink. You're serious?
fbh

Yeah, I'm one of the lucky ones. With less then a year treatment over my lifetime, I was deferred to the FAA with need of further information and a battery of tests. The letter of information they require is long and extensive, requiring many tests to be preformed by a psychologist which is not cheap. In my case which I will be preforming the tests next month, the cost to me is another $2000 out of pocket, not covered by insurance since its a voluntary set of tests. While taking these tests there will/is no guarantee that the FAA will allow special issuance. That does not include the previous amount spent on the original doctor saying I'm asymtamatic in reguard to ADHD and basically it was a trial. IF you need hotspot, I can pm you the information that your friend may wanna look into since I found it to be problamtic to find someone with knowledge in the set of tests they requested in my area. I was given the 30 day time-frame to have the tests done but they gave me an extension, due to the fact the list is long. Actually if you have an AOPA account, on there you can see some of the basic testing requirements(in my case it fit very similar to what the original deferment letter said).

What type of medical?

I didn't have to take any additional tests, but I did submit my 6 inch thick file from my doctor. I was surprised he let me make copies of all that stuff. It had everything dating back to second grade. It really kind of gives you a good look at yourself as a child through an adult's eyes. Man I really needed that stuff lol.

Could not of set it better!

The FAA already does decide on a case-by-case basis. I had three students that went through the process. In all three cases they had overbearing parents who thought that the fact that they couldn't sit still at age 7 was a problem. That stupid pill is pushed to a ton of parents who's kids never needed it and now that they're growing up they're finding out how much it screwed them.

Hopefully you guys will think twice before doping your kids up because they were being kids.

AOPA has a good medical bureau that helped the two that ended up getting their medicals (one was a First Class). I'd highly suggest spending the $39 on a membership. They have a good list of banned drugs and why they're banned as well.

I couldn't sit still long enough to read the article. :D

Pulllleeeese!
We all have ADHD. That's why we became pilots!
Think of it.
1) Focus on preflight (2 mins.)
2) Focus on taxi (3 mins.)
3) Focus on T/O (1 min. )
4) Fall asleep brain-wise for 2 hours
5) Focus on approach (4 mins)
6) Focus on landing (30 sec.)
7) Focus on taxi (3 mins.

Find food for dinner (no time at all)

So, all we care about is less than 15 minutes of being cognizant. Out of 24 hours.

Yup, we are a focused group.

Learguy

Learguy,

I like the way you think. I did see an article (I wish I could find it now) about how people with ADD meet most of the positive aspects of piloting. You don't need meds, you need four thottles baby!