Medical Question - ADHD
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Medical Question - ADHD
Hi, my name is Ben, I am extremely keen on becoming a pilot ever since i first went in a plane 7 years old. Since that age I got flight simulator and mastered how to fly on it with ease, mastered all the autopilot controls they provided. By 11 I have joined a virtual airline in which I flew to destinations from airports I was assigned to.
I have since started flying lessons, but I have got one large obstacle in my way. I suffered from ADHD for my whole life I have in the last year come off medication for it and can control it, but would this be a problem? I can see how it would but is there certain things that mean you can fly like being off medication for it for a certain amount of time.
Please reply, it'll be very helpful,
Ben.
I have since started flying lessons, but I have got one large obstacle in my way. I suffered from ADHD for my whole life I have in the last year come off medication for it and can control it, but would this be a problem? I can see how it would but is there certain things that mean you can fly like being off medication for it for a certain amount of time.
Please reply, it'll be very helpful,
Ben.
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Hello Ben,
Welcome to PPrune! I dont know the answer to your question, but I wanted to respond as I have experience of family and friends with ADHD. I see you are very keen and committed to do what you enjoy, and wish you every success, so I'll outline some points which hopefully will give you some avenues to look down..
A commercial pilot needs a 'class one medical certificate', without his license is invalid, this is issued by the CAA at gatwick, and renewed every year. There are quite stringent criteria for this medical, and its renewal, involving any conditions you may have or had in the past. I hope you can understand why as one could potentially be in charge of hundreds of peoples lives. I'm not sure how or where ADHD would fit into this. So, I would suggest posting in the medical forum bit, as there who activley post who'll be able to guide you better, this may have been anked before!
However! A Private Pilot only requires a class 2 medical certificate. This is valid for up to 5 years dependant on your age, or any conditions that may need monitoring..It is issued by a CAA authorised medical examiner, and you dont need to go to Gatwick. With a PPL you still can fly quite bigh twin engine planes, in clouds, and airways, in europe etc.. You just cannot be paid for it and cannot do public transport.
...And! Even more promising a pilot who only wishes to have a National PPL, has an even less stringent medical. Ive been told that this NPPL medical cert is issued by your GP. It roughly equates to the same medical certificate to that of an HGV drivers medical. With an NPPL you are limited to single engine planes, in the UK.
Ben there are a few options available to you, and I hope you find a method to satisfy your flying bug! Im a commercial pilot now, but everybodies journey is frought with hoop after hoop you have to jump through! Its never easy, and obviously some people meet more barriers than others.
Also a health warning, people on here can get a but childish, and watch out for the grumpy boots! Theres a wealth of information on here if you use the search function too!
HTH
Hernando
Welcome to PPrune! I dont know the answer to your question, but I wanted to respond as I have experience of family and friends with ADHD. I see you are very keen and committed to do what you enjoy, and wish you every success, so I'll outline some points which hopefully will give you some avenues to look down..
A commercial pilot needs a 'class one medical certificate', without his license is invalid, this is issued by the CAA at gatwick, and renewed every year. There are quite stringent criteria for this medical, and its renewal, involving any conditions you may have or had in the past. I hope you can understand why as one could potentially be in charge of hundreds of peoples lives. I'm not sure how or where ADHD would fit into this. So, I would suggest posting in the medical forum bit, as there who activley post who'll be able to guide you better, this may have been anked before!
However! A Private Pilot only requires a class 2 medical certificate. This is valid for up to 5 years dependant on your age, or any conditions that may need monitoring..It is issued by a CAA authorised medical examiner, and you dont need to go to Gatwick. With a PPL you still can fly quite bigh twin engine planes, in clouds, and airways, in europe etc.. You just cannot be paid for it and cannot do public transport.
...And! Even more promising a pilot who only wishes to have a National PPL, has an even less stringent medical. Ive been told that this NPPL medical cert is issued by your GP. It roughly equates to the same medical certificate to that of an HGV drivers medical. With an NPPL you are limited to single engine planes, in the UK.
Ben there are a few options available to you, and I hope you find a method to satisfy your flying bug! Im a commercial pilot now, but everybodies journey is frought with hoop after hoop you have to jump through! Its never easy, and obviously some people meet more barriers than others.
Also a health warning, people on here can get a but childish, and watch out for the grumpy boots! Theres a wealth of information on here if you use the search function too!
HTH
Hernando
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Thanks for a very detailed reply, I have written to a couple of websites one of which was the CAA, and also BALPA. There are lots of things to do in which to become a pilot. I am yet to hear back from the CAA, after that the next "hoop" would be A levels, which is almost easy compared to things i have got coming up in becoming a pilot. My biggest concern and I am probably not the only one, but money is a big problem. I was told that sponsorship are increasingly rare these days, but there has to be a way to be a pilot otherwise no-body would be able to fly. I am leaving my college in Easter and getting a full-part time job and spending the earnings from that on my PPL. I will look further into the medical certificate class one.
Quick question, What do you have to do to gain the medical certificate?
Quick question, What do you have to do to gain the medical certificate?
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I found a thread on this forum, somebody had ADHD just like me and was on tablets like I was but would have been denied a medical if he was still on it, so I suppose that answer my main concern.
thanks for the reply Hernando.
thanks for the reply Hernando.
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ADHD Problem? Or Not! HELP! Agh
Yes Please does anybody know the answer to this question, i noticed a thread in which somebody mentioned it, but it was very very brief, would i be able to fly, i have got ADHD but i have stop taking pills for a year now to "control" it. Please i need help on this as i cant "get rid" of this. I can and i start planning how to achieve beign a pilot in more depth or basically cry lol...
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You need to talk to these people:
Medical Department
CAA Safety Regulation Group
Aviation House
Gatwick Airport South
West Sussex RH6 0YR
To obtain a medical certificate involves having a medical examination. For the simplest licence it covers just basic stuff but for a professional flying licence the requirements are far more stringent, especially with heart, eyes, ears and general health.
Medical Department
CAA Safety Regulation Group
Aviation House
Gatwick Airport South
West Sussex RH6 0YR
To obtain a medical certificate involves having a medical examination. For the simplest licence it covers just basic stuff but for a professional flying licence the requirements are far more stringent, especially with heart, eyes, ears and general health.
Hi Ben,
It might be worth just asking your GP if he would be prepared to sign a declaration to say that he doesn't know of any reason why you shouldn't drive a HGV. This is the basic requirement for a NPPL and would give you a quick guide for a minimum requirement.
If he would, then at least you can get your NPPL which would allow you to fly up to three passengers in the UK. If he won't, then I would have thought it was unlikely that the CAA would give you a Class 1 medical but I could be wrong. However, if you are allowed to drive a car, you can still get a NPPL and fly solo or with other pilots.
Good luck. p1
It might be worth just asking your GP if he would be prepared to sign a declaration to say that he doesn't know of any reason why you shouldn't drive a HGV. This is the basic requirement for a NPPL and would give you a quick guide for a minimum requirement.
If he would, then at least you can get your NPPL which would allow you to fly up to three passengers in the UK. If he won't, then I would have thought it was unlikely that the CAA would give you a Class 1 medical but I could be wrong. However, if you are allowed to drive a car, you can still get a NPPL and fly solo or with other pilots.
Good luck. p1
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oaky thankyou for giveing me some good response i will take it up with my GP and see whether i can get the medical, I cant see any reason why not, and have started saving to get my NPPL now so it wouldnt be too long. Is the medical assement included as part of the NPPL course? or do you have to do this seperatly?
When I do my next flying lesson woudl it also be a good idea to ask my instructor about this?
Ben.
When I do my next flying lesson woudl it also be a good idea to ask my instructor about this?
Ben.
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I have spoken to the CAA and the licensing people (brief name) and ADHD will not be a problem at all, so to anybody else wondering about ADHD, DO NOT WORRY! 
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I have a son who is ADHD, medically diagnosed, I flatly refused for him to have medication, and we worked thru his problem by playing a lot of sport (to burn off steam) keeping him focused by helping him study for his licence, encouraging him (the whole family) to speak slowly and most of all to THINK before action..He is now a A320 Skipper, happy, content, still burns off steam with every water sport imaginable, never failed a Sim, and can (hopefully) look forward to a long and happy career...I would not hesitate to fly with him, and as a Check and Training Captain for some decades, think he is a competent and capable Airline Pilot. So young Ben keep your dreams alive, you will not be the first Pilot with ADHD nor the last... Good Luck young fella...
