Hello Dr. Forred, I hope all is well with you.
I've recently discovered JetCareers.com and thought I might be able to use your expertise in regard to my situation.
Without further delay, here goes: A little background information. I'm 21, a junior at Auburn University, and I've been waiting for around a year to begin flight training (to get finances / save money etc.)
Well the time has come and this past Friday I went to go see Auburn's AME for my first class medical. I realize that a first class med. isn't necessary for training, but I wanted to be assured that I didn't have any problems that would present themselves many thousands of dollars later. As far as physical health goes, I checked out just fine, but there were a few issues in my history that caused my medical deferment and that is where your expertise comes in!
When I was 15 years old, I opted to leave home and attend the Alabama School of Math and Science (you live in a dormitory during high school). Around my senior year down there, I started to really struggle with the academics about the time that I had the whole broken heart, dumped by the first love routine going on. Needless to say, my cage was rattled. A lot of people can get away from their problems at school by going home and being with family at 3pm. Not me. I was down there in the thick of it day in and day out with my closest family over 3 hours away. My pediatricians response was to diagnose me with anxiety/depression and place me on Wellbutrin. This was in Janurary 2004. As time went on, things got better and I ended up graduating with flying colors, however, my doctor wanted me to continue taking meds for depression early into my collegiate career. I ended up taking the meds until early 2005, though my medical records state that it was through the middle of 2005, so we might as well just call it 1.5 years. Fast forwarding over 3 years to present day, I have had zero problems since coming off the medication and have flourished in most every aspect of my life.
To add an additional curveball to my situation, on Halloween night of 2006, I made the extremely foolish mistake of smoking and subsequently being charged with possession of marijuana II (the smallest degree chargable, a misdemeanor). I was not behind the wheel of a vehicle at the time, so vehicles played no role in the incident. I plead youthful offender to the charge and underwent drug rehabilitation at a court ordered clinic where I passed all drug tests and have remained clean since.
My AME didn't really vest much interest into the pot charge since I had the documentation to prove that I had gone through the requested programs and had no issues since, but said that he would have to defer the medical due to my taking depression meds for the 1.5 years (I think he has to if it was longer than 6 months). So he has in his possession: my medical records, a letter from my adult doctor (who is also an AME) which gives her recommendation that I be able to begin flight training due to my extended absence and lack of need for medication, and all the court related paperwork related to my legal issues. He sent all of this information off to the FAA on Tuesday, and I guess my real question is what do you think the outcome of it may be??
My AME said "it isn't a question of
if you get your medical, but
when" and that he would "go to bat for me". He also said that he thinks I have provided enough material for the FAA to clear me, but that we'd just have to wait and see.
If you have any insight or thoughts as to what I might expect or what you have seen done in situations similiar to mine, I would greatly appreciate it!
Sorry for the long winded post, but I wanted to provide you with all the details!
BaronPete