A buddy has A.D.D. & wants to fly......?

[falcondriver]

I buddy of mine has ADD and takes medication for it and has a 1st class medical and a handle full of type's. I would say go get the medical and go gor it.
FD

 

[Batman Fan]

I'm certified with every learning disability there is. I'm a Jet FO with an upgrade comming within the next few months. No problem unless you let it be one.

 

[Batman Fan]

In fact I don't think anyone can tell I have any learning problems unless they check my spelling. I don't think ADD, dsylexisa, or anything else should be a reason to stay out of the flight deck. I heard about a guy who had a Private Pilot Certificate and could not use his legs. A wheelchair could not stop that guy.

 

[TonyC]

If the guy can get a medical (first class) he shouldn't have any problems. The FAA may need some info on it when he goes for his medical but if he can get a clearance for the first class he won't have a problem.

I wish I had a medical application form in front of me so I could see if there's even a place where he would report it, given that he takes no meds for it.

Given that the condition is not so severe as to require medication, and given that he has graduated from high school (I'm assuming) I'd say that the ADD might even be an advantage. Sounds like a strong interest has driven him to study quite a bit already. It's OK, Dad, he'll do just fine.

 

[Neolight77]

My husband had ADD as a kid. He was diagnosed at 13 and prescribed a medication called "CYLERT" for it. By 18 he no longer needed the medication and has gone from someone who couldn't pay attention to a Captain with multiple degrees. Something about Cylert (as opposed to that awful Ritalin) is that it helps you learn to concentrate. Once your mind "learns" to focus you don't need the medication any more.

Your friend may consider that as an option for a few years before learning to fly. AMEs won't let you fly with that medication--you have to quit before you start in aviation.

It can definitely be done, and ADD is a real condition. It's just tremendously over-diagnosed.

 

[Longhorn]

I agree with smacktard, have him take the faa medical to see if he passes. Hey speaking of, i took a writen exam for recurrent last week and passed. I thought it was tough, kinda like some of my math classes in school, which happens to be in california where that movie actor is the fearless leader. I thought he was great in most of the movies that I saw him in but could have done better if he more options to choose from like in the store. I mean you can go from isle to isle looking for a certain brand of food and all you see is different brands. Its so hard to find what you are looking for in the store unless you really know what you are looking for. I went to the store last night and got a ticket for speeding, the cop asked where I was going and I told the store. he let me off with a simple ticket that should not cost that much. I have to go to court next month to fight it.

uhhh...what was I talking about

 

[350DRIVER]

Icy,

Excuse the sarcasm from some, I would surely tell them to be positive and speak with a ame. I do not think safety would be a factor- surely tell him not to give up on the dream.

3 5 0

ps> who the he!! cares what you did at what age? I am 25 so do I get a cookie for what I have done thus far? I thought so...

 

[LongBoarder]

He should have ADD

I dont know a 22 yo red blooded american who does not have ADD, not to mention someone who wants to be a pilot. One might argue that we are all a little ADD, OCD, TRU, MPI, TBO, DAS... and so on.


LB

 

[livinadream]

Hey man
your friend has got to go for it......sounds li






wow, I saw flashing lites



sounds like its his calling. I have a buddy who got tested twice, he flys for the friendly skys if ya know what I mean. Everybody got a little ADD in them. They also say 6 out 5 pilots are dislexic (is that how ya spell it?)

 

[spinproof]

...well since flying is generally described as an "endless aray of bordom puncuated by a short period of stark terrror" would this be a healthy pursuit by one with Adult Attention Deficit Disorder?

NO!

....but then again ATC would be the place to go!!!!

 

[wms]

If it does disqualify him for flying, it's a requirement for management. Not being able to focus on an objective and changing course mid-stream for no good reason are mgmts best qualities.

 

[ms6073]

Anyway, he is 22 and when he was a kid (I think around 13 or so) he was tested and the school told him he had Attention Deficit Disorder (A.D.D.). He was never treated with any medication and I guess the only record of it is at the school that tested him.

I would think that the answer to the orginal question is easily found under part 67 of the FAR's:

Section 67.107: Mental

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

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

(1) A personality disorder that is severe enough to have repeatedly manifested itself by overt acts.

(2) A psychosis. As used in this section, "psychosis" refers to a mental disorder in which:

(i) The individual has manifested delusions, hallucinations, grossly bizarre or disorganized behavior, or other commonly accepted symptoms of this condition; or

(ii) The individual may reasonably be expected to manifest delusions, hallucinations, grossly bizarre or disorganized behavior, or other commonly accepted symptoms of this condition.

(3) A bipolar disorder.

(4) Substance dependence, except where there is established clinical evidence, satisfactory to the Federal Air Surgeon, of recovery, including sustained total abstinence from the substance(s) for not less than the preceding 2 years.

Section 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.


I think the guy should go for it as well. I did not read in the original post of there being any additional "clinical" or otherwise "official" diagnosis since the time that the person in in question in the original post turned 18. If there has not been a need for additional treatment or further clinical intervention since this person turned 18 (much less since he was 13), then I do not see any reason to even report this on the inital application for medical certification. On the other hand, if this is a problem that manifests itself in such a manner as to pose a hazard during flying, seems to me that it would easily be discovered during the flight training process!

 

[Ty Webb]

Don't send the guy to get a First Class!

Are you guys nuts?

The first thing the guy should do is get an evaluation from a NON-AME. Find out if he even has this disorder! There's probably a good chance that he doesn't even have it . . . and if he does, he will be talking to someone who specializes in this disorder.

If he goes to an AME and says he has a history of some disorder, the AME may or may not be qualified to determine if he has it, but if he goes and self-reports that he has some condition based upon some evaluation ten years ago, he will have opened up a can of worms and left a paper trail that may be very difficult to fix later.


My advice would be to go to a specialist first, get cleared, THEN go to an AME.

 

[TanJMcAdams]

I thought all pilots had ADD. A little ADD is a requirement so you don't get fixated on an emergency.

 

[Ace757]

There was a girl at my school that had ADD when she was young, took medication for it, but she has been off of it since she was 12. She was denied a medical from the AME. To get her medical she had to appeal to the FAA, and have some FAA Dr. run a whole bunch of tests on her. They found that she didn't have ADD, and they then issued her a medical.