jrh
Well-Known Member
I'd like some advice on the best way to apply for a first class medical certificate with cerebral palsy.
I'm not sure if this will even be an issue, but I'd rather talk to people here on JC before talking to a medical examiner.
I currently hold a second class medical. I also have a very mild case of cerebral palsy.
For those of you who do not know, cerebral palsy is a condition affecting the central nervous system. Most people who have it have had it since birth. It essentially disrupts or blocks the signals from the brain to a person's muscles. It can range in severity from making a person hardly able to speak and wheelchair bound, to hardly any noticeable symptoms in day to day life.
For me, it hardly affects my life. I have low dexterity in my left hand. I can grip objects and push buttons, but I can't isolate my fingers well enough for activities like typing. I also have muscle tightness in my right leg and walk with a slight limp.
When I first started flying, I was able to get a 3rd class no problem. When I upgraded to a 2nd class, the AME just asked for a letter from my family physician stating that I live a normal life and have no known balance impairments. He said that for a 1st class medical I might need to get a statement from a neurologist stating I was safe to fly, but he wasn't sure (this AME wasn't authorized to issue 1st class medicals, so I would need to visit another AME in the future).
As it is now, when I reapply for medicals I check the "Neurological impairment" box and write in "Previously reported, no change". The AME hasn't asked any questions.
If I report it as such for a 1st class application, would there be any problems? Or would the AME see "Previously reported, no change" and not make a big deal out of it?
As a somewhat related issue, does anyone think the physical appearance of this condition would limit me in my career at all? While it would be nice if nobody discriminated in this world, it seems like a lot of pilots fit the "tall, athletic" physical profile. I've wondered before what passengers would think about a short guy with a slight limp marching out to their Citation or 737. Will not "looking the part" of an airline pilot hinder me?
I'm not sure if this will even be an issue, but I'd rather talk to people here on JC before talking to a medical examiner.
I currently hold a second class medical. I also have a very mild case of cerebral palsy.
For those of you who do not know, cerebral palsy is a condition affecting the central nervous system. Most people who have it have had it since birth. It essentially disrupts or blocks the signals from the brain to a person's muscles. It can range in severity from making a person hardly able to speak and wheelchair bound, to hardly any noticeable symptoms in day to day life.
For me, it hardly affects my life. I have low dexterity in my left hand. I can grip objects and push buttons, but I can't isolate my fingers well enough for activities like typing. I also have muscle tightness in my right leg and walk with a slight limp.
When I first started flying, I was able to get a 3rd class no problem. When I upgraded to a 2nd class, the AME just asked for a letter from my family physician stating that I live a normal life and have no known balance impairments. He said that for a 1st class medical I might need to get a statement from a neurologist stating I was safe to fly, but he wasn't sure (this AME wasn't authorized to issue 1st class medicals, so I would need to visit another AME in the future).
As it is now, when I reapply for medicals I check the "Neurological impairment" box and write in "Previously reported, no change". The AME hasn't asked any questions.
If I report it as such for a 1st class application, would there be any problems? Or would the AME see "Previously reported, no change" and not make a big deal out of it?
As a somewhat related issue, does anyone think the physical appearance of this condition would limit me in my career at all? While it would be nice if nobody discriminated in this world, it seems like a lot of pilots fit the "tall, athletic" physical profile. I've wondered before what passengers would think about a short guy with a slight limp marching out to their Citation or 737. Will not "looking the part" of an airline pilot hinder me?
