Hello everyone,
Just came across this post, and just wanted to give my experience in dealing with the FAA. I was given my first class medical back in December 2019. Everything checked out, got my student pilot license, which I applied for right after receiving the medical, I applied for an IACRA account before even making an appointment for my first class medical. I filled out the student pilot license online. I made an appointment with my local FSDO office to file the application (this bypassed having to get an instructor to sign off and file for you, since IACRA does state that the FSDO can help you file for licenses and ratings, if I recall that right). Received my student pilot license from the FAA in February 2020, took my PPL test and passed, figured Iād take it before flight training so I wouldnāt have to worry about that anymore, just when I was about to start flight training for my PPL, mid-late March came and I received a letter from the FAA asking for more medical history paperwork for my headache/migraines, and anxiety that was caused by work, no prior history of anxiety btw, stopped flight training just to wait out the FAA decision. Had 60 days to turn everything in. Contacted Kaiser who is my medical insurance provider, and got everything under the sun that pertained to my headache/migraines, including history of prescriptions, and the anxiety situation (I even went back as far as 15 years). Also worked with my primary doctor, to write the FAA a letter that had wording that worked well with them pertaining to the headache/migraines (do your due diligence and do some research, this is what I did, and being an AOPA member is a really great resource for help with sending letters to the FAA, because WORDING IS EVERYTHING TO THE FAA). Also helped that my primary doctor really did an astounding job, as well as myself not having had a headache/migraine for the past year. Once I got everything (must have checked that packet like 100 times), sent everything off to FAA USPS certified mail, return receipt in late May 2020 (did this so I had a record of them receiving the packet, and when). Also made a copy of everything I sent them for myself, so I knew exactly what they were getting (always a smart thing to do, keep physical records for YOU, especially with the FAA or any government body/agency). Received my green light from the FAA yesterday afternoon in the mail, stating that the first class medical i received from my AME in December 2019 was valid, and that for every 12 months I renew I would just need to follow CACI requirements with my primary doctor and AME for the headache/migraines. Took exactly 27 days for the FAA to get back to me even during these times when everything is being delayed.
PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE! Heed the advice of others, and especially the mentors on this forum when they say including myself. DO NOT EVER LIE TO THE FAA or any government body. Yes, your medical records are private, but they can get to them if they think you are somehow withholding information, much easier than you think. I sent them everything under the sun, knowing that if they deem it a big problem, maybe it is, and itās just better to address it the first time. When you have to lie, you have to remember that lie, when your honest, thereās nothing to remember other than what you already know to be true.
Get YOUR ducks in a row, work with the doctors you have, and just make sure to keep copies of everything you are sending off to them or anyone for that matter, it allows you to know what they now have thatās considered public records.
Like they say, āMEASURE TWICE, CUT ONCEā. In this case just be truthful, and donāt cut corners! It always comes back to you in some manner anyway, and probably not in a good way at that.