AOPA Turbine Pilot Magazine - November 2023 - 108

FLY WITH AOPA
MEDICAL LY SPEAKING /
Relief for ADHD applicants
New policy recognizes decision considerations
A R ECENT CHANGE to the FAA policy
regarding ADHD (attention-deficit hyperactivity
disorder) is published in the FAA
Guide for Aviation Medical Examiners.
The new guidance identifies certain histories
of ADHD and/or medication usage
that previously required an extensive,
expensive, and time-consuming review
process for applicants who reported the
history on the FAA Application for Airman
Medical Form 8500-8 (MedXpress).
The new decision considerations recognize
that not all applicants who report
a history of ADHD diagnosis or treatment
with medications require the extensive
evaluation that previously applied to anyone
reporting that history on the medical
application. This is the result of a comprehensive
review of literature by the FAA as
well as case history experience from the
large number of applications submitted to
the FAA over the past few years.
The guidance also includes key documents
to assist the applicant and the AME
in determining if a medical certificate can
be issued at the time of examination rather
than being deferred to the FAA. The key
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108
AOPA PILOT / November 2023
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AIRCRAFT FINANCING
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elements include no treatment or use of
ADHD meds for any reason in the past four
years; no symptoms in the past four years;
detailed records showing no instability in
academic, occupational, or social functioning
within the past four years, and no other
psychiatric conditions or diagnosis.
If an applicant does not meet those
specific criteria, the case will still be
deferred by the AME to the FAA for evaluation
using the existing protocol, which
requires psychological and neuropsychological
evaluation to identify the presence
of " aeromedically significant " ADHD. For
the standard track, ADHD medications
must be discontinued for 90 days prior
to the required evaluations that include
evaluation by a Human Intervention
Motivation Study psychologist or HIMS
neuropsychologist. Most cases are evaluated
by the FAA staff in Washington, D.C.
With the new procedures in place,
many applicants who meet the qualifications
for the fast-track issuance will save
thousands of dollars and many months of
waiting for a response. This change represents
the FAA's ongoing commitment to
AOPA PILOT
INFORMATION
CENTER HOURS
Do you have questions or
need information about an
aviation topic? Access the
team of aviation experts in our
Pilot Information Center. Call
800-USA-AOPA (872-2672)
Monday through Friday, 8:30
a.m. until 6 p.m. Eastern time,
with your questions.
Visit aopa.org/membership
to learn about upgrading
to our higher levels of
membership with Pilot
Protection Services coverage
included.
BY GARY CRUMP
Pilot Protection
Services
finding the proper balance between aviation
safety and providing as many people
as possible to opportunity to fly. The process
is bureaucratic, and it does take time
and money in many situations, but persistence
and patience will pay off in most
cases. Gary Crump is the director of
medical certification for the AOPA Pilot
Information Center.
aopa.org/pps
AV I AT ION F INANCE
Adam answers /
BY ADAM MEREDITH
President, AOPA Finance
Q I have an experimental
GlaStar that I built and have
flown for 20 years; can I
get an appraisal on that
from AOPA?
A AOPA does not offer
in-house appraisal services.
We utilize tools such as
VREF and Aircraft Blue
Book to determine value.
Experimental aircraft,
however, do not have
book values. VREF offers
certified desktop appraisal
services, but an appraisal
can be obtained from any
appraiser licensed with
the Professional Aircraft
Appraisal Organization
(appraiseaplane.org)
or American Society of
Appraisers (appraisers.org).
aopafinance.org
800-62-PLANE (75263)

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AOPA Turbine Pilot Magazine - November 2023

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of AOPA Turbine Pilot Magazine - November 2023