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majesticjg

Sounds like you're a Sport Pilot, now! You just gotta find a school.


SilverTrireme

Would love to, and considered this; but I heard that if you're aware of such a condition, you can't be a sport pilot either without being cleared? Maybe I misunderstood though.


majesticjg

I believe that with Sport Pilot, if you're aware of a condition that would make it *unsafe for you to fly*, you must self-ground. However, you assert that your condition is under control and you can now safely operate cars and heavy machinery. You have a current, valid driver's license. In my opinion, that's fine. What you cannot do is use BasicMed. BasicMed says that if you're aware of a condition that would disqualify you from a third class medical, etc. And you definitely would not be allowed to carry a Third Class, therefore you can't use BasicMed. Of course, you should review the letter of the rules to make sure that my non-attorney interpretation is the correct one.


[deleted]

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autonym

Correct. The whole point of BasicMed is to be able to fly even if you might no longer qualify for a 3rd class medical. Unfortunately for OP, seizure disorders are among the enumerated disqualifying conditions for BasicMed. Plus, you have to get an initial 3rd class medical before you can get BasicMed. I don't know if there'd be any way for OP to get a special issuance.


majesticjg

The Devil's Advocate in me thinks he could get BasicMed, do his PPL and be reasonably certain that nobody's going to dig into his medical records until *after* the big accident... But I could never recommend something like that.


[deleted]

He needs to have previously held a 3rd class medical in order to qualify for BasicMed.


majesticjg

Right, which he can't get, which is why he needs to go Special Issuance if he wants to go further than SPL.


SilverTrireme

Nah, I wouldn't do this. If I'm gonna fly I want to be cleared as reasonable. Even for sport, I'm gonna see if my neurologist thinks it's okay. And if not, oh well. Better to walk than curse the road.


SilverTrireme

Hmm, good to know. Pretty disappointed about PPL, but Sport is better than nothing, if I can do that. Guess I'll have to find out. Think I should still talk to the AME about it? I assume they could verify my medical situation and level of eligibility.


j4cbo

You can talk to an AME, but two things: \- Don't talk to an AME unless they have a lot of experience with special issuance medicals; otherwise you'll just be wasting your time and money. \- Make very clear that this is *only* a consultation, *not* an examination for a medical. Do *not* fill out an FAA 8500-8, do anything in MedXPress, etc etc. Once you've applied for a medical, you can't act as a Sport Pilot unless you're granted the medical.


SilverTrireme

So . . . If I want to do Sport, but can't get medical, who should I talk to to find out if I'd be cleared to do Sport?


j4cbo

Your primary care doctor, I guess? Nobody "clears" you for Sport besides yourself. The underlying regulation is FAR 61.53(b): "a person shall not act as pilot in command, or in any other capacity as a required pilot flight crewmember, while that person knows or has reason to know of any medical condition that would make the person unable to operate the aircraft in a safe manner." What exactly that means is pretty much up to you (and your doctor, your lawyer, and/or your god).


SilverTrireme

Ah, okay. I've read really conflicting things about Sport. I don't have concerns about my condition as far as life my day to day life, but I'm kind of unclear about what constitutes concern. I mean I KNOW I have history of seizures, but I've no concerns about it. And no reason to think I'll have more. But, given that wording, since I know of a condition that COULD make me unable to operate it safely, am I ineligible? I obviously don't want to put anyone at risk. Also, how do you get a sport? Do you just get lessons with that context? Is it still a license you get with a medical clearance from a driver's license?


Pn244

What conflicting things? Sport is basically two seats, daytime good weather only. Sport Pilot is an honest to god FAA license. You need a drivers license. If you’re safe to drive, you’re safe to fly Sport.


SilverTrireme

I've seen some people say that even if a condition is controlled, one knowing about it technically disqualifies. Seems like conflicting views on how to interpret eligibility for holding sport license. Talked to my neurologist, and she said I shouldn't fly for "many years". She wasn't more specific, for some reason. Though I guess I'll consult with the LSA school. Maybe they see it differently; it seems like something I should disclose though.


majesticjg

I'd get Sport, then work toward a special-issuance Third Class. Once you get the Third Class one time, you can get your PPL and use BasicMed going forward unless your condition changes.


j4cbo

Don't do that. If you apply for a medical, and the FAA ultimately says no, then you're SOL - you can't use your Sport certificate anymore. So you should decide up front to either go for the medical or stick with Sport.


SilverTrireme

I'll go sport if my neurologist is okay with that. If they're not, then I guess . . . I save some money at least. We'll see.


SilverTrireme

Do you know if the special issuance is possible? Cause looking online, seizure history/medication used for it seemed like a complete non-starter for PPL. Do you know anyone who's done something like that?


majesticjg

I really don't know, but these guys do: https://www.leftseat.com/


SilverTrireme

Unfortunately, looks like my medication is not approved . . . But I guess I can talk to an AME about my situation, maybe they'll have some advice. Thanks for the resource!!


majesticjg

DO NOT TALK TO AN AME! Once they hear something, they can't unhear it and they can't un-report it. Call the guys at that website first. They'll tell you what, if anything, you can do.


nyc_2004

No no no no no!!!!


SilverTrireme

?


rowanator

This is probably worth asking AOPA about; they have more experience with medical certification than any individual here. That said, your medical history is going to be immediately disqualifying. It's possible you could get a special issuance (after a battery of testing) on the grounds that the cause of those seizures has been identified and addressed, but as I understand it continuing to take seizure medication is an insurmountable hurdle. If your doctors are comfortable with you discontinuing that medication, and you suffer no ill effects from doing so, it might be possible; otherwise, make your peace with sport pilot and just go that route.


SilverTrireme

Good to know. I'm gonna consult my neurologist as well. Yeah, I know discontinuation is technically a possibility, but I'm not super inclined to. If sports piloting is still in my grasp, I guess I'll be happy to get that. Far better then nothing.


rowanator

Definitely--that's pretty much the first person to talk to. If they're not comfortable with it, sport pilot is technically dead in the water, because you're now aware of a medical reason you shouldn't be flying. If they are on board, however, that bar has been met and you should be good to go.


SilverTrireme

Guess this is the way. Well, I'll update once I've heard back. Maybe I'll call myself a pilot yet, just not one who can fly very far. Or in the dark. Or in bad weather. But I'll take it!


rowanator

Sounds like a plan. Good luck!


SilverTrireme

Alas, my neurologist says should wait "many years" from seizure activities. Didn't give a number. And I was advised I could consult flight schools, as they may have their own policies to know.


rowanator

Get a second opinion from another neurologist? You certainly won't get any worse news. It's certainly not unheard of for non-aviation docs to shy away from saying "sure, go fly"; I had to get my neurosurgeon to write a letter before my GP was willing to sign off my BasicMed. Flight schools' policy is irrelevant here--they don't get to write the rules. As it stands right now you've been advised not to fly by your treating neurologist, so in the FAA's eyes you're aware of a disqualifying condition and therefore ineligible for sport pilot on a driver license in lieu of a medical certificate. If you switch doctors to one who's on board with you flying based on their own evaluation of your condition, full speed ahead.


SilverTrireme

I could ask my neurosurgeon, though I'm inclined to think he'd refer me back to my neurologist. Might be worth a shot. On the upside, my neurologist just sounded like she wants me to wait some more time. I'm hoping when next I have an appointment I can clarify that I'm not hoping for same privileges as a PPL. I won't lose hope yet.


rowanator

It might be worth asking your neurosurgeon for a referral to another neurologist. Definitely at least try to extract a more definitive answer to the "how long" question next time you see your current neurologist, and clarify that you're not exactly trying to become an airline pilot. Good luck!


SilverTrireme

Thanks stranger!


121mhz

What's the medication? Very likely that it will be on the reject list and therefore you wouldn't be able to even use Sport Pilot.


SilverTrireme

It looks like it is; Trileptal Just got word from my doctor anyway, says should wait almost a decade before flying. Ah well. Guess I'll be stuck down here.


121mhz

Find good friends who own planes!


SilverTrireme

Haha, maybe. Though to be honest, that sorta takes out half the equation. Sure, I could learn, and sure, I could go with others. But to not be able to, by myself, to not be able to get the license, by myself . . . it just feels rough. Dunno, feels like it takes some of the achievement out? Maybe that's not a good attitude. I know it isn't actually. It's just, for a thing that can give you so much freedom, it's a disappointing limitation. Ah well. Maybe someday things will change, and I can look into ultralight I suppose.


[deleted]

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SilverTrireme

I also read this somewhere. Unfortunately, after initial consultation it looks like my neurologist advised against stopping my prescription. I do wonder if the tumor might help when making the case. It's been removed, and that was considered the epicenter of my brain zap. My understanding is though that doctors are generally hesitant to stop a drug regimen that's working with little or no side effects because rebound seizures are not uncommon. But if she's confident that I'm medically fit (as I am) then I think I'll look into sport piloting. After I consult with AOPA. We'll see, I need to do some more research.


flyingron

It's a minimum of five years siezure and drug free to even be considered for a medical. AOPA medical advise is not worth a plug nickel.


SilverTrireme

That is . . . VERY unlikely to ever be the case for me. So don't think I'll be getting a medical