Originally Posted by flyguy78

I am following up on the original post I started in February 2010. The FAA medical certification office in Oklahoma City has denied my medical twice. I wrote a reconsideration letter to an FAA Examiner requesting her to commit, in writing, what it will take for me to receive my flight medical. I even requested to go through a Substance Abuse Process in its entirety to see if that would get them to reconsider my current denial. They forwarded my file to the Federal Air Surgeon in Washington, DC. What are my options at this point? Will the Federal Air Surgeon reply in writing, a process to go through, such as counseling or a treatment program, so that I can receive my medical through the Special Issuance Program?

Originally Posted by atpwannabe

The FAA made the same determination in my case. My medical app was denied. Although it was a setback, it didn't mean that I wouldn't be able to get a medical. There were certain criteria that had to be met on my part.

It was suggested that I pursue a medical under the Special Issuance program. Contact the FAA and ask for the name of an AME in your area that sponsors potential and current airmen under the SI program. The SI program coordinator for the AME will instruct you to get a HIMS evaluation. The coordinator should be able to provide you with the names of the doctors that perform this evaluation that are in or close to the area where you live, so that you won't have to travel very far. You will be instructed to enroll in an Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) that deals primiarly with alcohol and drug abuse issues. This program is usually 6 months long. Within the I.O.P., you will be required to attend a men's group meeting 2-5 times a week and meet with an addictions counselor about 3 times a week depending upon the treatment facility. Since I had already had over a year of sobriety when I enrolled in my I.O.P., I only attend one men's group meeting per week and meet with the counselor once a week. However, I do attend on average 2-3 AA meeting per week, along with Bible Study and other Spiritually based gatherings, such as worship service etc. It will be suggested that you start attending AA meetings on a regular basis, get a sponsor, work the steps, get involved. This statement will make much more sense later on. Trust me.

Now, once your I.O.P is complete, you will undergo another HIMS evaluation. All reports from your I.O.P., your 2nd HIMS eval and any other pertinent letters of support from a therapist, your parents and yourself, should accompany your new app for medical certification. The AME that completes your 2nd examination for the certification for the airman's medical wll forward all of this info to the Medical Appeals Office in OKC for approval. If they are unable to make a determination in your case, it will then be forwarded to Washington DC to be reviewed and a final decision rendered. My I.O.P. ends in March. I wll get my second HMS eval done in the first week of April. Once the results come back from the HIMS, I will go to a local AME and apply for medical certification again. He will then send everything off to the FAA.


One thing to keep in mind. Out of say 200,000 applicants, only 0.2% are out and out denied. That's only about 400. The reasons vary from the person not pursuing the issue any further after a first denial or it is determined that relapse (recitivism) is a problem.

My advice to you is not to pursue the unrestricted medical. YOU WILL LOSE THE APPEAL. Instead, meet and exceed the criteria that the FAA has set forth for the Special Issuance program and enjoy a healthy, meaningful and well deserved career. Btw, you can be enrolled in SI program from 1-5 years.


atp

Originally Posted by Csy Mon

Go to some other country and start over again.
I did, been there, done that.