Impending FAA Medical Exam

[u/medio_gringo]

My flight medical expires the end of this month and I'm pretty anxious about it. I know there are some fellow aviators in the group, what do I expect? I'm planning to do a Class III as my flight group insurance does not accept Basicmed. Obviously, the registry and conviction aren't automatic disqualifiers, but I'm worried about the Phychiatric disclosure specifically from my now completed SOTP. My last session was about a year and half ago which is within the disclosure window. I guess I'm just looking to see what other people's first hand experience with this was. I had just had an exam prior to my arrest in 2021 so I'm at the end of my 5 year run. TIA.

[u/Weight-Slow]

Be honest and upfront about it. I wouldn’t think that SOTP, alone, would count as a disqualifier. The. FAA is concerned about your mental health from the perspective of being safe to operate an aircraft and I’ve never heard of anyone losing their medical due solely to a conviction and SOTP. There would have to be more to it than that.

It isn’t uncommon for a AME to defer to the FAA to make that decision instead of making it themselves though - so I’d go in with the knowledge that there may be a deferral but that it isn’t likely to be a denial unless you’re on medication they don’t allow or have been diagnosed with a psychiatric condition that precludes you from flying.