FAA FIRST CLASS MEDICAL (PILOTS ONLY)!!!!!!?

In the United States, you are required to disclose your history of epilepsy for the medical (along with many other aspects of your medical history, including all kinds of diagnoses and treatments), so it doesn't matter whether the doctor checks for it or asks about it.

Epilepsy is normally disqualifying, but in some special circumstances, especially for Rolandic seizures that last occurred at least four years prior, or isolated febrile seizures, a medical can be issued. In every case, you must furnish adequate documentation to the FAA and convince the agency that you are not subject to seizures now and don't require medication (the medication itself can be disqualifying, even if it controls the seizures).

If you do obtain a medical, you still have to get over the hurdle of being hired. Some employers may have reservations about hiring someone with a history of epilepsy, even if he has a medical, usually for reasons of potential liability or insurance. On the one hand, the airline can claim that the medical proves that there is no risk (and it may even feel forced to overlook the condition if the medical has been issued), but on the other hand, a pilot with no history of epilepsy may still be preferable to a pilot with such a history, medical or no medical.

The FAA's concern, obviously, is that you might have a seizure in flight. Your objective, if you want a medical and a job as a pilot, is to prove beyond any reasonable doubt that you are not at risk of seizures today. That's going to be pretty difficult if you had seizures for years and were medicated for them, but the FAA has the discretion to give anyone a medical if it deems that the person can safely fly.

There is a lot of discrimination against epileptics and a lot of overcaution. At the same time, though, it is generally true that one cannot guarantee that a person who has had epilepsy or unexplained seizure activity at any point in life will not experience it again. That's what makes government authorities nervous when it comes to operating vehicles. Aviation, in particular, disqualifies people for all sorts of reasons, many of them even harder to justify than exclusions for epilepsy. But some jurisdictions even exclude epileptics from getting a driver's license, and sometimes it is hard to see the real justification for this, depending on the individual case.

Sorry James but you're probably not destined for this line of work. The FAR's are quite clear on this issue:

FAR 67.109 Neurologic.

Neurologic standards for a first-class airman medical certificate are:

(a) No established medical history or clinical diagnosis of any of the following:

(1) Epilepsy;

(2) A disturbance of consciousness without satisfactory medical explanation of the cause; or

(3) A transient loss of control of nervous system function(s) without satisfactory medical explanation of the cause.

(b) No other seizure disorder, disturbance of consciousness, or neurologic condition that the Federal Air Surgeon, based on the case history and appropriate, qualified medical judgment relating to the condition involved, finds—

(1) Makes the person unable to safely perform the duties or exercise the privileges of the airman certificate applied for or held; or

(2) May reasonably be expected, for the maximum duration of the airman medical certificate applied for or held, to make the person unable to perform those duties or exercise those privileges.

HOWEVER, what is said in the medical examiner's handbook that is not stated in the regulations is that these are initially disqualifying conditions and an applicant may make an appeal. Unfortunately only a very few waivers get issued to former epileptics and then only if you are clinically certified to have been seizure-free for at least 10 years. That in itself could be expensive. 31 still isn't too late to start a flying career, but getting to a major airline would be a marginal proposition if you can't even start your training until then. A regional airline job and other types of commercial flying may be doable, but you're going to have to be patient. Look at the bright side, it gives you 10 years to get a really good education and a job where you can save the money required for commercial pilot training.

The bottom line is this: make an appointment with an aviation medical examiner to discuss the issues and the possibility of ever getting a 1st or 2nd class medical before giving up.

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I don't think you would be able to get a first class medical with the epilectic background. Right now you would not even be able to get a third class since you haven't been off medication long enough. For a special issuance you would also need to have a current EEG and a letter from a physician verifying you no longer have any evidence of epileptic activity.

However, there is another option. You can fly as a sport pilot which will allow you to do training, solo flight and even carry a passenger. This license does not require a medical if you qualify for a driver's license. However, if you have been denied a medical certificate then you are not eligible for sport pilot priviledges. So, flying can be part of your future but commercial flying is probably not part of it. Sorry....

While the actual exam is usually a cursory checkup, a major component of issuing a medical certificate is a review of your medical history. Any history of any of 15 disqualifying conditions requires a review by the Federal Air Surgeon for special issuance of any class of medical certificate. Epilepsy is one of the 15 conditions.

An AME will not be able to issue a medical certificate, but he/she will be able to point you in the right direction to get started with the certification process. Be prepared for a long process, including a full medical history and most likely additional tests. Seeing how you just stopped taking the medication, there will probably be a significant waiting period to make sure your condition has stabilized. Even then, you may or may not qualify for a medical certificate allowing you to fly commercially.

Don't worry about spending thousands of dollars on your ratings. You won't even be allowed to solo until you have a valid medical certificate in hand. You can take introductory flights with an instructor and make sure it is something you really want to do, but then be prepared an uphill battle with the FAA.

First Class Medical Duration

A drug test is not part of the FAA medical exam. Just knock it off forever and you'll do OK. Your employer, on the other hand, probably will drug test you.

Consider it a blessing. You just avoided a life of poverty and abuse by your employers. I LOVE flying, but HATE my job. I mean HATE my company. Worst company I have ever worked for. There really are only about 3 good airline companies and EVERYONE wants to work for them. So, go be a dentist and make about 2 times as much money as me in your lifetime.

Let's forget about the medical condition and make this easy. Flying is absolutely wonderful but what it cost to learn and with all the sacrificing you have to do it just doesn't pay enough now days

Ask any commercial airline pilot. (If they haven't been laid off yet)

with an epilepsy in your medical history, there's no way you'll be able to get your first class medical.

sorry.

OK, I WON'T ANSWER THE QUESTION>

Your Caps Lock is stuck on.