stonescanfly

So I want to be a pilot, but I have Tourette's Syndrome. Will that stop me from passing a class 1 medical exam or anything? It isn't super bad or stereotypical. Mostly I'm just fidgety. It does include ADD and OCD but I mean I can drive just fine. I'm just worried that the medical examiner or an airline will see that I have a neurological disorder and automatically count me out. I do have allergy induced asthma also, but it hasn't bothered me for years and I don't even carry an inhaler anymore. Does anyone know if I would still pass?

Herik54555

Nope with what you listed you will not be able to obtain a first class...do some research on aopa.com

aviatorhi

It is possible to get a special issuance for certain things, but with what you have listed there is no way you would ever obtain medical certification. I almost certain a Class 2 or 3 would not be possible either.

For clarity let me say that if you have any one of those conditions individually then you could get a special issuance very easily based on how the disease or disorder manifests itself, but when you have all of them combined it becomes exponentially more difficult.

rickair7777

Based on what you describe, I don't think you could be certified for professional flying, and even private pilot would be a real stretch.

But the FAA allows pilots to fly small single-engine airplanes under "Light Sport Airplane" rules (LSA) which requires no FAA medical...your driver's license serves as the medical. You might want to research that.

HOWEVER...if you're interested in LSA, then DO NOT contact the FAA regarding medical certification. An LSA pilot can legally fly with a driver's license if he determines that he is safe to do so. But if you EVER apply for a regular FAA medical certificate and are denied, then you cannot EVER use LSA privileges until you get the denial over-turned...which might well be never in your case.

All that said, I'm not advocating that you fly LSA with your conditions...just because it's legal does not mean it's safe. I would recommend talking to an aviation medical consulting company about your situation and the possibility of doing LSA flying. They can provide advice on legalities, and more importantly help you determine if it's safe. If you can drive, there's a reasonable chance you can safely fly LSA. Best of luck.

lbfowlerjrmd

it's possible thru the HIMS process ... long and expensive and then for you only a 3rd class. If you are not on meds it would be easier and if no meds you could possibly upgrade to a 2nd class later. Passing the PnP part of the HIMS (seeing a aviation psychiatrist and a neuropsychologist and undergoing neurocognitive testing) is your hurdle. A little OCD is good for pilots!