ADHD and being an airline pilot
Posted by Otterlytoony@reddit | flying | View on Reddit | 14 comments
Hi. I recently have been interested in shifting my career goals. I’m super excited at the prospect, but I’m worried about getting a medical and passing the adhd testing because ive heard its all very difficult. Ive been diagnosed since i was little and been on meds for years. i have been on them off and on the last 3 years and havent really taken them much at all the last year, but am a little sad to have to stop taking them forever if i become a pilot because they help me feel so normal and productive. I feel that with enough practice and repetition and lifestyle changes i could do the job and manage my adhd with enough discipline. But then i get in my head that i wont be good enough either lol. Im a 25 year old female. My dad has been a commercial airline pilot here in the US for a long time. ill be taking a discovery flight in july to see if its really something i want to pursue. i also need to do more research on what flight school entails and all the little things an airline pilot does as part of their day to day job. ill luckily have my dad to guide me and answer a lot of question. But i wanted to ask you guys if you had any tips or thoughts or anecdotes on my whole thing lol. Any words of encouragement or advice? Anyone gone through this with adhd? what was the outcome? hopefully saying all this doesnt get me blacklisted or something from the industry… let me know if i need to remove it if so 💀
adii100@reddit
https://www.hunterinafarmersworld.com/p/adhd-is-there-an-upside-to-the-risk “I told my pilot seatmate on that trans-con flight the story and he laughed; he had a dozen like it to share with me. It turns out many pilots (particularly fighter pilots) and flight instructors are adrenaline junkies or, as modern psychiatry would argue, “afflicted with ADHD.” As are skydivers (I did that, too, and broke my back). And Scuba and Free divers. And race-car drivers. And…well, you get the idea.“
jaylw314@reddit
"Modern psychiatry" would NOT argue that.
Flavor_Nukes@reddit
It depends on the person. I taught someone who had really bad ADHD. Someone who came off their meds to get a medical certificate, and unfortunately needed them badly. He got through his PPL with a lot of effort and training on how to focus in the airplane. We mutually decided that he would not continue past his PPL though.
Flying is not for everyone. I genuinely hope that you can have a successful career. But if you need meds to function, it's better to put yourself over a job.
Otterlytoony@reddit (OP)
Yes that makes perfect sense. I obviously wouldnt continue if i thought major issue would arise, assuming i get pass the adhd testing to start schooling and get a medical. I definitely want to make sure me and the people around me remain healthy. and that its something i wont be miserable doing. i wish there was a way i could simulate being a pilot for a day and seeing what kinds of mental games have to happen each day just to know ahead if time out of curiosity!
MehCFI@reddit
Unfortunately if ADHD meds are critical to your functioning you cannot get a medical. If it’s been several years off the meds you may qualify for the ADHD fast track pathway, however since it’s been recent you’re looking at a challenging, long, and expensive process to medical approval.
Your health comes first, always. And it sounds like to take care of yourself flying may not be the pathway. Look into some of the other aviation career pathways- dispatch, ops, management, etc.
Otterlytoony@reddit (OP)
I can function fine without them, i just get worried!! But I’m definitely going to be taking my time to decide and take care of myself and keep an close eye on myself over the next few months to change my lifestyle, manage any symptoms even better, discipline, and make sure i would excel in the field before committing to it!! :) really LOCK IN lol
EliteEthos@reddit
If that is all it takes for you to improve your life, why not do it either way?
You sound disappointed that you aren’t taking medication for your whole life… do you want that?
Otterlytoony@reddit (OP)
I think that if i can feel just as good without meds this is the perfect motivator and with good reason! ive been in kinda a “gap year” trying to figure things out, and have found that this career path is much more tailored towards what i want, so i figure what the heck, why not try, if it goes no where, ive at least improved as a person and would be the best ive ever felt. i think its just given me the push i needed. i hope i dont sound too silly. but im trying to better myself this year in all aspects!
datcrazybro@reddit
I went through it about a year and a half ago. It’s really not that bad. I scheduled it a month out and don’t think I got any sleep in the two weeks leading up to it. It’s really not that scary and would’ve been kinda fun if my career didn’t depend on it. You can start working on lumosity and other brain training apps and the Wisconsin card sorting test. Don’t tell the people doing the testing that you researched and prepared, I admitted to it to the lady administrating the test and she said if I told the main psych it would’ve been kind of a big deal. Seems pretty stupid to not research a test that costs upwards of $5,000 but that’s not the way they’ll see it. Message me if you have any other questions. It helped a lot to talk to someone who had already done it.
Otterlytoony@reddit (OP)
This really makes me feel better!! I can get a bit worries before things, but then during and after im like why was i worried?! so i really appreciate it! ty for open dms too 🙏ill def be practicing and taking better care of myself as of late so that i can be on my A game no matter what! Also the fact its so expensive is sooo crazy. i hear you can retake it if you fail a section right? were u ever on meds?
ShootyLoots@reddit
I'm diagnosed with ADHD and was taking meds. I also take an SSRI. I took the ADHD cogscreen and then went through the SSRI Initial Certification process. Received my SI last month and it is good for any class at my HIMS AME's discretion.
The FAA has an official ADHD Fast track that will give you info on the process. Based on what you wrote here you most likely won't qualify for the fast track.
I can't speak to the specifics of the cogscreen (NDA) but it's testing your cognitive ability with a focus on aviation related tasks.
The unfortunate reality to you question: it will depend on how severe your ADHD is and exactly which areas it presents.
Are you distracted easily? Do you forget details? How is your short term memory for things like radio frequencies and multistep checklists? It might be a difficult process.
You should get your medical sorted before you start your flight training, and work with an AME familiar with the process. Don't go straight to the medxpress application. Schedule a consult with the AME first.
aftcg@reddit
If you want to talk to a professional that will give you the best info, wingmanmed.com will give you a free consultation
rFlyingTower@reddit
This is a copy of the original post body for posterity:
Hi. I recently have been interested in shifting my career goals. I’m super excited at the prospect, but I’m worried about getting a medical and passing the adhd testing because ive heard its all very difficult. Ive been diagnosed since i was little and been on meds for years. i have been on them off and on the last 3 years and havent really taken them much at all the last year, but am a little sad to have to stop taking them forever if i become a pilot because they help me feel so normal and productive. I feel that with enough practice and repetition and lifestyle changes i could do the job and manage my adhd with enough discipline. But then i get in my head that i wont be good enough either lol. Im a 25 year old female. My dad has been a commercial airline pilot here in the US for a long time. ill be taking a discovery flight in july to see if its really something i want to pursue. i also need to do more research on what flight school entails and all the little things an airline pilot does as part of their day to day job. ill luckily have my dad to guide me and answer a lot of question. But i wanted to ask you guys if you had any tips or thoughts or anecdotes on my whole thing lol. Any words of encouragement or advice? Anyone gone through this with adhd? what was the outcome? hopefully saying all this doesnt get me blacklisted or something from the industry… let me know if i need to remove it if so 💀
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