Mental health is a private struggle for many of us, but in the aviation sector, you will be required to undergo a mental fitness assessment to receive or renew your FAA medical certification. For many aviation professionals, concerns around their mental fitness and its implications for their flying career are very real, so make sure that you familiarise yourself with the information in this article as we explore how conditions are evaluated, what to expect during your examination, and where to find the support you need.
FAA medical requirements
Your mental wellbeing and personal struggles are entirely private and the ways in which you manage these challenges is also private – but when it comes to ensuring the safety of your crew, fellow pilots, and passengers, your mental state becomes a matter of public safety.
You must be able to demonstrate your capacity to act under pressure and take responsibility for your specific duties, and certain conditions can affect this. The FAA has specific mental health requirements for each class of medical certification, and each medical includes the following:
⦁ Class 1: Required for airline transport pilots. Applicants must be free from any psychosis, bipolar disorder, and severe personality disorders, must pass an assessment for any history of substance abuse, and must complete a thorough evaluation of any psychiatric conditions.
⦁ Class 2: Necessary for commercial pilots and air traffic controllers, and similar to Class 1, applicants must not have any significant psychiatric disorders outlined in Class 1, or any substance dependence or abuse history.
⦁ Class 3: Designed for private pilots and recreational pilots, and follows the same strict standards as the other Classes.
If you have concerns around your ability to pass these medicals, then it is important that you do not become discouraged. The FAA put out a statement recently stating that they encourage pilots to seek help and be as honest as possible with their medical examiners regarding their conditions “since most, if treated, do not disqualify a pilot from flying”. The statement also emphasised that “only about 0.1% of medical certificate applicants who disclose health issues are denied”, and the main purpose of these medicals is to assess your fitness to fly – not to prevent you from doing the job you love based on conditions that you cannot control.
Preparing for your FAA medical
If you have recently received an unforeseen diagnosis, or you have finally been able to put a name to the symptoms that you have been noticing for years, then it is important that you are as honest as possible with your Aviation Medical Examiner (AME).
Ahead of your medical, there are several steps to take, including obtaining detailed reports regarding your diagnosis, treatment history, progress notes, and current mental status, and it is also important that you take the prescribed medication to manage your condition. You should also bring a list of all medications you are taking, including dosages, to the assessment, and make sure that you are able to discuss your condition openly with your AME.
It is also recommended that you explore the FAA guidelines regarding your specific condition, as the FAA has made it clear that there are very few conditions that will prevent you from passing the assessment and that the majority of them are treatable, and knowing what to expect can reduce anxiety and help you prepare better. However, you must familiarise yourself with the following conditions, as applicants with any of them must be denied the certification or deferred:
- Attention Deficit Disorder
- Bipolar Disorder
- Personality Disorder
- Psychosis
- Substance Abuse
- Substance Dependence
- Suicide Attempt
Accessing the support you need
The AME’s job is not to catch you out or make you uncomfortable – their only purpose is to evaluate your ability to carry out your duties and maintain a safe environment for both passengers and professionals. With this in mind, it is essential that you are completely honest about your mental health history and current status during the medical, as concealing information can lead to complications and potential disqualification.
This clear communication and transparency regarding any symptoms or concerns will also help the AME to provide you with the best possible advice and support following your examination. This includes guidance regarding the acceptable medications and some FAA-approved alternatives, if necessary, as the AME has recently added 3 more medications to its ‘conditionally acceptable’ list of medications that applicants can take and maintain the necessary standards for certification.
Booking your next FAA medical
You are required to prove your mental fitness, just as you are required to prove your physical fitness, to access the certifications that you need – and the team at Heathrow Medical respects how daunting these private discussions can be, which is why they carry out patient-focused FAA assessments with the utmost respect for your privacy at their FAA-approved Aero-Medical Centre.
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