I’m on my second flying lesson, knowing very well I will be going through a similar situation. I was so close to giving up, but this video showed me I can prove I’m worthy of a medical even if it requires additional speed bumps along the way.
I’m so glad you found the video and were encouraged!!!!! Do not give up, follow the process, have patience, and do not give up (yes I said it twice!) thank you for watching!!!
I tried to reply to your other reply...but it disappeared. Check out my contact form on my website www.theaviationvault.com if you want to connect. Also, I recommend AOPA Pilot Medical services if you want actual paid help with getting your medical.
I am also in a similar situation. I was arrested but not convicted of a dui 8 years ago. Two months after the initial AME appointment I received a request from the FAA for all documents associated with the night of my arrest as well as court records. After submitting all of the requested documents I have been waiting for a response for 7 months and am still waiting. Videos like these give me hope that I am not waiting in vain and the dream of a life of flying can still become a reality. Thankyou for sharring your story!
Thank you so much for watching and reaching out. This is a long journey, and of course the waiting for the FAA is the hardest part. I am glad the video gave you hope. I am really thankful Casey was willing to share her story to encourage others. I hope you hear back SOON!!!
I'll share my experience to help others as well. I am also undergoing a HIMS AME process. My HIMS Neuro Psychologic w/ COG Screen took 1 day and cost me $2800, my HIMS Psychiatric appointment took a couple of hours and cost me $2000 and I am still doing random alcohol monitoring at least once a month. I am very close to getting an SI 1st class medical but the FAA still has my file. I have been pursuing all HIMS requirements since November 2022. Fingers crossed to fly again :) Congrats on her story.
Thank you so much for sharing your own experience to help others! It’s encouraging to hear you are also so close to your medical! And thank you again for sharing! It’s tough to do. Yet it helps encourage others.
@@evgeny921 Yeah, got my 1st Class Medical in early September. Took about 8 and a half months from my AME submitting my file to receiving my 1st Class SI. I know some guys that are with our Airline and they went to the HIMS Conference in Denver with the FAA and other Stakeholders. Sounds like there is a hierarchy of "importance" for these SI applications to be reviewed. Airlines and their HIMS Special Issuance applicants get the fastest turnaround times, Part 135 HIMS SI applicants get the next tier after the airlines and GA pilots/ HIMS SI applicants are looked at last which is a big reason for the 8 months wait. Thats a little bit of the info I got. Best wishes :)
@@hoskjr3868 thanks a lot for the reply! Do you know whether FAA is more hesitant issuing class 1 SI compared to class 2/3 SI? I.e is it harder to get class 1 si compared to 2 and 3?
@@evgeny921 Just realized you were specifically asking about the SI. I think it's pretty thorough regardless of 1st/2nd/3rd. The whole reason for the SI is because we are asking the FAA to allow us to operate using a medical certificate while we have a "disqualifying condition" (history of substance abuse/ mental health, or etc.) So, they are going to vet Special Issuances very thoroughly with regards to the "disqualifying condition" of each applicant. It's the 5th bullet on the back of the medical cert. (medical deficiency) if you have an old one. Hope this helps :)
I believe from my recollection of our conversation that it took about 2 years, possibly a bit longer or shorter (don't hold me to that estimate though.)
It depends..... in my experience. I am speaking of alcoholism and the FAA medical. They want to see AT LEAST 4 months of monitoring before you can move to the next step. Also when you add the FAA Psychiatric, and FAA Neuro Psych with COG then that shoots the cost up. I didn't really have $12,000 just sitting there for all of the FAA requirements. I was not a pilot for an airline so I had to pay for all of my requirements. You don't pay that all at once but as time goes on in this process it will come out to somewhere in the $10K to $13K range, in my experience. This will take me about two years but could have taken me a year and a half in a perfect world. I would say at least 18 months at minimum with all of that $$ already on hand and everything going your way. Since waiting on the FAA takes a while. After you complete everything, they want and your AME submits your SI package to the FAA; you are still talking 6 months or longer to receive your SI medical authorization. We submitted mine at the end of December 2023. I am still waiting on the FAA's response. Best wishes!!
Ok. This answer is good for late 2024. My HIMS AME (mine was for alcohol abuse) submitted my stuff to the FAA in Dec 2023. I just found out (Sep, 2024) that my 1st Class SI is Approved, and I can fly again. Hope this helps those of us in recovery stay positive and keep moving forward. So that's about 9 months for my case for SI Approval after my AME submitted my 1st Class Medical request to the FAA. That is after I was doing the alcohol monitoring every month (sometimes twice a month) the FAA Psychiatric and the FAA Neuro-Psychologic with COG screening (plus AA meetings and other requirements in the FAA Letter). After all that and the wait from the FAA it took me just under 2 years for me to start doing what the FAA wanted and to have my 1st Class Medical in hand. God is good and good luck to everyone who's twists and turns in life brought them this direction. Try NOT to think about the time this takes. Just do what you need to do for a firm return to sober living. In all honesty the time is a Gift and helps reinforce our resolve. Stay positive... you got this :)
I’m on my second flying lesson, knowing very well I will be going through a similar situation. I was so close to giving up, but this video showed me I can prove I’m worthy of a medical even if it requires additional speed bumps along the way.
I’m so glad you found the video and were encouraged!!!!! Do not give up, follow the process, have patience, and do not give up (yes I said it twice!) thank you for watching!!!
I tried to reply to your other reply...but it disappeared. Check out my contact form on my website www.theaviationvault.com if you want to connect. Also, I recommend AOPA Pilot Medical services if you want actual paid help with getting your medical.
@@LauraLaster747 thank you so much!!
@@user-cu2hq5cf5t you’re welcome!
I am also in a similar situation. I was arrested but not convicted of a dui 8 years ago. Two months after the initial AME appointment I received a request from the FAA for all documents associated with the night of my arrest as well as court records. After submitting all of the requested documents I have been waiting for a response for 7 months and am still waiting. Videos like these give me hope that I am not waiting in vain and the dream of a life of flying can still become a reality. Thankyou for sharring your story!
Thank you so much for watching and reaching out. This is a long journey, and of course the waiting for the FAA is the hardest part. I am glad the video gave you hope. I am really thankful Casey was willing to share her story to encourage others. I hope you hear back SOON!!!
I'll share my experience to help others as well. I am also undergoing a HIMS AME process. My HIMS Neuro Psychologic w/ COG Screen took 1 day and cost me $2800, my HIMS Psychiatric appointment took a couple of hours and cost me $2000 and I am still doing random alcohol monitoring at least once a month. I am very close to getting an SI 1st class medical but the FAA still has my file. I have been pursuing all HIMS requirements since November 2022. Fingers crossed to fly again :) Congrats on her story.
Thank you so much for sharing your own experience to help others! It’s encouraging to hear you are also so close to your medical! And thank you again for sharing! It’s tough to do. Yet it helps encourage others.
Hey, any update?
@@evgeny921 Yeah, got my 1st Class Medical in early September. Took about 8 and a half months from my AME submitting my file to receiving my 1st Class SI. I know some guys that are with our Airline and they went to the HIMS Conference in Denver with the FAA and other Stakeholders. Sounds like there is a hierarchy of "importance" for these SI applications to be reviewed. Airlines and their HIMS Special Issuance applicants get the fastest turnaround times, Part 135 HIMS SI applicants get the next tier after the airlines and GA pilots/ HIMS SI applicants are looked at last which is a big reason for the 8 months wait. Thats a little bit of the info I got. Best wishes :)
@@hoskjr3868 thanks a lot for the reply! Do you know whether FAA is more hesitant issuing class 1 SI compared to class 2/3 SI? I.e is it harder to get class 1 si compared to 2 and 3?
@@evgeny921 Just realized you were specifically asking about the SI. I think it's pretty thorough regardless of 1st/2nd/3rd. The whole reason for the SI is because we are asking the FAA to allow us to operate using a medical certificate while we have a "disqualifying condition" (history of substance abuse/ mental health, or etc.) So, they are going to vet Special Issuances very thoroughly with regards to the "disqualifying condition" of each applicant. It's the 5th bullet on the back of the medical cert. (medical deficiency) if you have an old one. Hope this helps :)
Does she ever say how long the whole process took all together?
I believe from my recollection of our conversation that it took about 2 years, possibly a bit longer or shorter (don't hold me to that estimate though.)
It depends..... in my experience. I am speaking of alcoholism and the FAA medical. They want to see AT LEAST 4 months of monitoring before you can move to the next step. Also when you add the FAA Psychiatric, and FAA Neuro Psych with COG then that shoots the cost up. I didn't really have $12,000 just sitting there for all of the FAA requirements. I was not a pilot for an airline so I had to pay for all of my requirements. You don't pay that all at once but as time goes on in this process it will come out to somewhere in the $10K to $13K range, in my experience. This will take me about two years but could have taken me a year and a half in a perfect world. I would say at least 18 months at minimum with all of that $$ already on hand and everything going your way. Since waiting on the FAA takes a while. After you complete everything, they want and your AME submits your SI package to the FAA; you are still talking 6 months or longer to receive your SI medical authorization. We submitted mine at the end of December 2023. I am still waiting on the FAA's response. Best wishes!!
Ok. This answer is good for late 2024. My HIMS AME (mine was for alcohol abuse) submitted my stuff to the FAA in Dec 2023. I just found out (Sep, 2024) that my 1st Class SI is Approved, and I can fly again. Hope this helps those of us in recovery stay positive and keep moving forward. So that's about 9 months for my case for SI Approval after my AME submitted my 1st Class Medical request to the FAA. That is after I was doing the alcohol monitoring every month (sometimes twice a month) the FAA Psychiatric and the FAA Neuro-Psychologic with COG screening (plus AA meetings and other requirements in the FAA Letter). After all that and the wait from the FAA it took me just under 2 years for me to start doing what the FAA wanted and to have my 1st Class Medical in hand. God is good and good luck to everyone who's twists and turns in life brought them this direction. Try NOT to think about the time this takes. Just do what you need to do for a firm return to sober living. In all honesty the time is a Gift and helps reinforce our resolve. Stay positive... you got this :)