will a special issuance medical affect being hired?

D

damonK

New Member
I just finished my PPL, and am seriously considering going on with my eye on a career in aviation.
However, it gives me great pause that I have a special issuance medical for migraines.
This is not a medical question, as I already have the medical certificate.
My concern is if that SI will make me less attractive to employers in an already highly competitive industry.
It states very clearly in the limitations section that the medical is "Not valid for any class after (date)"
I was wondering how hiring works. Do they require you to submit all of your documentation (license, medical, etc...) during the interview portion, or only AFTER being offered a position? Will having the limitation matter at all?
I have spoken to several people who have insisted that as long as I have the proper medical it will not be an issue, but I can't help but be concerned that they (flight schools, instructors, AOPA) are serving their own interests by encouraging me to go on.
I've been browsing this forum for a while and I've seen some highly knowledgeable posts, so I'm hoping someone can give me some well-informed opinions/information. It would be of great help to me in my decision.

Thank's!
 
ASpilot2be said:
Shouldn't be a problem. There are lots of airline pilots with special issuances.
Click to expand...

I know quite a few working pilots with a special issuance;however, I know some airlines do their own medical testing independant of the FAA medical.

I have a special issuance though (working on changing that).
 
To my knowledge a Class 1 medical is a Class 1 medical special issuance or not. I wouldn't see it being a problem. As for airline interview medicals, they are in my experience a non event. You may have to do some blood work or even an EKG (regardless of age) but otherwise they are just a Class 1 medical. IMO they are as much about protecting the company from worker's compensation claims as they are about evaluating your health.
 
Thank's to everyone for responding!

One concern of mine about this:
ASpilot2be said:
Shouldn't be a problem. There are lots of airline pilots with special issuances.
Click to expand...
is I've read that if you are already employed as a pilot and then develop the need for a special issuance, that is not a big deal. But that if you're starting from scratch and trying to get hired with one, it might make a difference. No idea how reliable that information is however. It is very difficult to find cold hard facts about this specific issue which is frustrating as it is a tremendous time and financial investment to work to the point where one may even begin interviewing. It would be terrible to find out after everything was said and done that it is in fact going to handicap my job search.

I've also read around that it is not a problem for the companies who hire you starting out, but that many major airlines will in fact have a problem with it. Even if I can get hired at a small outfit to start, what's the point if advancement isn't much of an option.

It's really too bad that my "migraines" require a special issuance. They are minor with no associated visual or other physical effects ever (except pain). With the (FAA approved) medication I have to control them, they are simply a non-event in my life. It's like anyone else who gets a headache and just takes aspirin to deal with it, except I have to take a prescription to get rid of mine, and report it at my FAA medical exams :disgust:
 
That you've already jumped through the hoops and gotten the SI proves that you hold the 1st class, so it's not something that would be a factor in hiring.
 
I always was interested in the legality of airlines doing their own medical exams. My theory is that it wouldn't be legal for an airline to deny you employment based on a medical condition that is not DQ per the FAA or one that was cleared by the FAA (ie, SODA or SI.) Thusly, I believe these company medicals are checking the same thing an AME would look for, in essence because they don't trust the thoroughness of some medical examiners.

Sent from my SPH-D700 using Tapatalk
 
I have an SI that says that limits my medical to 12 months. It hasn't affected my career at all. I just have to spend a little more cash and time every year getting it done every year. I have an eye problem too. I personally recommend Doc Forred. I use him and he is by far the best AME I have ever used.
 
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