Fit to Fly and new cardiovascular, neurological, and mental health conditions

If you have had a special issuance medical within the 10-year lookback period and your medical status is unchanged, you should be able to fly under the exemption provided you meet all the other qualifications, including being under the treatment of a physician for your medical condition. If you develop a new condition that requires a special issuance medical certificate you will have to apply for a one-time special issuance for that condition. The conditions are described in the legislation and are limited to an established medical history of the following:

• Cardiovascular: myocardial infarction (heart attack); coronary heart disease that has required treatment; cardiac valve replacement; and heart replacement.
• Neurological: epilepsy; a transient loss of control of nervous system functions without satisfactory medical explanation of the cause; and disturbances of consciousness without satisfactory medical explanation of the cause.
• Mental Health: personality disorder that is severe enough to have repeatedly manifested itself by overt acts; psychosis defined as a case in which an individual has manifested or may reasonably be expected to manifest delusions, hallucinations, grossly bizarre or disorganized behavior, or other commonly accepted symptoms of psychosis; bipolar disorder; and substance dependence within the previous two years as defined in FAR 67.307(4).

Pilots who have a clinically diagnosed mental health or neurological condition will be required to certify every two years that they are under the care of a state-licensed medical specialist for that condition. Details of how that certification process will work have not yet been determined. Pilots with a cardiovascular condition will still need to get a one-time special issuance, but successful completion of a clinical evaluation will satisfy the process for getting an Authorization for Special Issuance of a medical certificate with no mandatory waiting period.

If you've never held a medical certificate, you will need to get an FAA medical certificate from an AME one time only. For assistance, contact the AOPA Pilot Information Center at 800.USA.AOPA (872.2672) Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., Eastern time or email [email protected].