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weebeatmonkey
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04 Feb 2013, 3:08 pm

I am hoping to get a private pilots licence in the next few year would aspergers stop me from passing the medical.



answeraspergers
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04 Feb 2013, 3:15 pm

highly unlikely.



weebeatmonkey
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04 Feb 2013, 3:18 pm

thanks



eric76
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04 Feb 2013, 4:08 pm

I think that you can get the medical first before spending money on lessons. There is also, I think, some kind of appeal process in case you want a reconsideration on the medical if you fail it at first.

Considering the cost of the lessons, I would hate to go to all the expense and then find out that I couldn't get the medical.



Callista
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04 Feb 2013, 5:39 pm

Nope, AS won't automatically affect your ability to fly a plane.

Now, it's possible that some Aspies would not be able to fly; maybe sensory issues or reaction time or similar. However, since this is nowhere near universal, you will probably be able to try taking lessons and, if you prove able to learn to fly the plane, should be given a license.

The question when it comes to licensing pilots (and drivers, for that matter) is mostly "Can they operate this vehicle safely?", and if they can, then they get the license. Being labeled with one condition or another isn't an automatic out, not unless it's something like uncontrolled epilepsy, which naturally makes it unsafe to fly.


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eric76
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04 Feb 2013, 5:41 pm

My younger brother has to get a complete medical every year because of his diabetes.



eric76
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04 Feb 2013, 5:42 pm

Also, I think that some conditions might keep you from ever getting a commercial license even though you could get a private license.



chris5000
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04 Feb 2013, 6:34 pm

I think they go by your functioning and not just your diagnosis



Northeastern292
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04 Feb 2013, 8:06 pm

I believe that if you can prove to the FAA that whatever condition you have would not jeopardize the safety of yourself, your passenger or the general public, you should be fine. The FAA does give waivers on occasions.



kx250rider
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05 Feb 2013, 10:04 am

I planned at one time to get a general aviation license in the early 1990s, and I passed ground school, got cleared for everything, but did not have the money and time to complete the 40 hours flight time with instructor within the 2 years allowed, so I'll have to start over if I decide to go for it again. At that time, the only medical exam issues to stop anyone from getting their medical clearance was the regular physical; heart, blood pressure, etc. You can't have a history of seizures or epilepsy, or perhaps other physical problems which obviously might cause you to suddenly be unable to control the plane, but there were no psychiatric questions that I recall. Nowadays, I heard that you have to prove US citizenship and have no criminal record for drug trafficking, etc., and are not of any affiliation with a fundamentalist group or terrorism.

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05 Feb 2013, 11:05 am

Are pilots licences divided into needing a co-pilot and being able to fly solo? if so that might make a difference as far is medical reqirements are concerned. This is something that has peaked my intrest at times, never going to happen however we can dream can't we? Is the epilepsy issues black and white or can proving your past history as far is types of seizures (ones were you don't blank out 100%), distance of time from the last one and proving that there medicated and controlled etc. make a difference? That is the issue I see making more of a diffrence then AS itself.