I am going for my private pilot’s license. I will not be flying commercial planes, but I just want to be able to take a few day trips on my own and see the country w/out roads.
But, according to the FAA, you need a valid medical to get your pilot’s license.
Also according to the FAA, you can NOT get a pilot’s license if you have diabetes and are insulin dependent.
This means that I can still get my sport pilot license, but it has a lot of restrictions.
I cannot fly at night
I cannot fly into international airports
I can only fly one-seater planes (unless accompanied by a licensed pilot)
I can only fly “sport” planes (which are really small and don’t go very fast)
That’s all that I know so far- I’ve only gone to one class.
I’m concerned that if I wanted to take a friend up, I’d have to bring along a chaperone. That’s aggravating. I’m a full grown adult, and while I understand the complications and the precautions, I think there must be a way for me to prove that I’m capable of flying while being Type 1.
I don’t like that some organization is telling me what I can and cannot do.
Every diabetic is different and they don’t know me or my circumstances. I feel completely generalized.
[not happy]
So… anyone know what kinds of rules I can follow to appeal a medical denial?
If I get my sport pilot license (even w the restrictions) and then apply for my private pilot’s license, but FAIL the medical… they take away my ability to fly until I can pass the medical.
So, if I try and fail (at any time), I lose my wings because I don’t know about you, but Type 1 doesn’t go away. So… I have to be really careful.
I heard a story last year about a pilot in Canada with type 1 who managed to regain his license after diagnosis (I think he’s a commercial pilot, too), but from what I understand, it’s going to be an uphill battle - especially here in the States. I’ve only ever heard of type 1s being denied their licenses. I wish you the best of luck.
Well, something on your side, if you opt to fight this, is that managing type 1 is really so vastly different than even just 10 years ago! A lot of these “type 1 diabetics can’t (fill in the blank)” type things are really based on outdated information… if you can get them to consider you on an individual basis, and provide evidence that you’re managing your disease effectively (if you are), maybe you could get an exception made.
“The FAA has established a policy that permits the special issuance medical certification of insulin-treated applicants for third-class medical certification. Consideration will be given only to those individuals who have been clinically stable on their current treatment regimen for a period of 6 months or more. Consideration is not being given for first- or second-class certification.”
A third-class airman medical certificate is required to exercise the privileges of a private pilot certificate, recreational pilot certificate, a flight instructor certificate, or a student pilot certificate.
A third-class medical certificate is valid for the remainder of the month of issue; plus
24 calendar months for operations requiring a third class medical certificate, if the airman is age 40 or over on or before the date of the examination, or
60 calendar months for operations requiring a third class medical certificate if the airman has not reached age 40 on or before the date of examination. *
I retired from the FAA as a Air Traffic Controller for 15 years. Good Luck. I wish you much success.
I think you need 20/20 vision to fly a plane? Not sure if they mean 20/20 with glasses, but maybe not. I have heard flying a plane is safer than driving a car. Maybe you can appeal using that analogy? Type 1s are allowed to drive.
Thank you all for your advice.
I am still going for my sport pilot license for now. I’ve seen some new sport pilot planes that are two seaters and look super nice.
If / when I decide to upgrade to Private pilot, I will go deeper into the medical examination research. I’ve bought a few books about T1Ds who have flown around the world - solo. So, if they can do that, then surely I can take an hour flight to Coney Island without trouble?
Thanks again. I knew I could count on you guys to lift my spirits!
Although it sounds like you have a handle on this situation, I wanted to make sure you know about the long term implications of trying for a third-class medical. Right now, if you have never applied for or been denied for a medical, you can “self-certify” as being healthy enough to fly and still get your recreational permit. Once you have applied for a medical and been denied because of type 1, you can never again “self-certify”. Once you go the medical route, you can’t go back. It’s a total catch-22, and it’s unbelievably stupid, but that’s where we’re at. Unfortunately, I find myself in this latter category, and for the time being, it looks like I’m grounded.
There’s a great wikipedia article about this problem, and I would encourage you to read up before making any decisions.
Thanks Brett. Yes, I know of the Catch 22. that’s why I’m going to stay with the sport pilot license for now. Once I have everything more under control, I’m going to speak anonymously to a medical examiner (over the phone) to see what the stipulations are for me to pass the medical exam.
I have this site “favorited” on my internet: http://www.pilotswithdiabetes.com/pages/usa.html
“The Class 3 medical certificate allows solo flying for training and full privileges of a Private Pilot Certificate. To ensure safe flight, the pilot must adhere to pre-flight and in-flight blood sugar testing requirements that include a test half an hour prior to flying, each hour into a flight, and half an hour prior to landing. A pilot with Type 1 Diabetes must keep sugar levels within 100 – 300 mg/dl (5.5 – 16.6 mmol//l). If above 300 pilots must land and bring sugars back within range before flying again. If below 100, pilots must ingest 20 g of readily absorbable carbohydrate (e.g. sweet drink/soda, candy).”
Hope this helps you get your wings back!
Thanks for posting on here. I will always want more information from those that have experience with it.
I’m currently still in ground school.
I know! I mean, do I land over a tree? haha. I felt the same way. Not only that but a piece of candy is recommended to fix lows over a glucose tablet which is more concentrated and will not cause a spike? It’s really generalised, but at least it’s better than 10 years ago when the answer to T1Ds flying was simply “no.”
Wow, I haven’t heard about that site before, but I’ll definitely be taking a look.
The vague regulations are really frustrating. I wish the FAA would just outline exactly what constitutes “stable regimen”. I think it also depends a lot on the individual medical examiner.
I’ve gone through several appeals, been to an aviation-diabetes specialist, and taken my case to the chief medical examiner for my area (in OK city) with no results, but I’m still trying. I really love flying, and I don’t want to give it up just because of diabetes.
Yeah, that is really frustrating. I’m sorry to hear that. Really. That is my fear with even trying to get a private pilot license. I can deal with the sport pilot restrictions for now.
Dave _
It’s taken YEARS for me to get to my stability. And I still go over 200 and under 100, but… I’ve learned to live with that. At least I haven’t had any seizures and/or comas in the past four years. Now THAT’S cause for celebration! No Dka since 2005 either. (I guess that was just a bad year)
I know what you mean about being unstable. It’s really hard. I wish it was all cut and dry, but it’s not.
My brother in law as well had diabetes and his private pilots license- he flew with his brother all the time without a chaperone. He flew the Cessna (sp?). He went up with others as well. Melissa is right- there is a commercial pilot is Canada. I have read the article. Before flight his sugars need to be a 10.0. I will see if I can find the article for you and post the link.
yeah, I’ve seen success stories about maybe one or two T1Ds even in USA. Haven’t found anything that explaines HOW they got certified tho. Any help would be great!
Hi Marp,
Congratulations on wanting to learn to fly. It’s one of the great adventures you’ll have.
I’ve had type 1 diabetes since I was 14 and am a licensed pilot. I’ve had a Third Class Medical for 10 years. So I wanted to correct some of the info you’ve received here (I am also an aviation industry executive and work on regulatory issues)
It’s great that you begin as a Sport Pilot. Less expensive and you’ll be flying sooner. I’m a big fan of the LSA movement. However, don’t let your diabetes stop you there.
The FAA special issuance process is NOT onerous. It involves some paperwork. If you’re in good health and don’t have a history of passing out, you should be good to go. There are more than 400 type 1 diabetics with third class medicals. Here is a link to what you need to do: http://www.faa.gov/licenses_certificates/medical_certification/specialissuance/diabetes/
There’s a note on the page that you can fly as a “recreational” pilot without a medical. This is not accurate. Only the Sport Pilot level allows you to fly without a medical, providing you do not have a current denial on your records.
Finally, join AOPA or EAA and use their resources to review your medical files before you apply.
just be glad you aren't in Canada,their rules on diabetic pilots were last updated in 1992 before insulin pumps with continuous glucose monitoring sensors were available.
i suspect if they were to update their rules, pumps with cgms would take care of most of their concerns about pilots not knowing what their sugar levels are and passing out from lows.i know my pump screams at me if it even slightly goes low.
Please keep me posted on how this goes for you. Flying small planes has been a lifelong dream of mine. I am also faced with challenges due to unreasonable and nonsensical government regulations pertaining to my job. Sam
The FAA has a procedure for a special issuance class-3 medical for type-1 diabetics.
It is possible to do.
I am a licensed private pilot who developed type 1 diabetes after I became a pilot. I'm going through the process to get my medical certificate back now. The FAA will require:
1) Letters from your physicians demonstrating you can manage your diabetes well, that you can recognize the signs of hypoglycemia and treat it, and importantly, you have not had any unexplained loss of consciousness events recently. They will also require a cardiac stress test that shows no problems.
While flying , you will be required to test your BG before takeoff, 20 minutes before landing, and every hour in flight. You need to keep it between 100 and 300 while flying (they are concerned more about passing out and less about your long term health).
There is a good book about this by a pilot who flew around the world with diabetes -- see the web site:
