Really important question for a person who get's seizures and a job?
Ok so, I have epilepsy, the kind I have isn't really severe I only get them for about 10 to 15 seconds.
The job I would like to do when I grow up, is be a Pilot for a commercial airline, or a Air Traffic Controller, so I was wondering if I could do any of those jobs.
So please answer this. It's really important for me.
Thank you
Tags: Pilot, air traffic controller, Epilepsy, commercial airline, Human Interestcan you do air traffic control if you have seizures
{ 8 comments… read them below or add one }
it probably wouldn’t be a very good idea. sorry:(
i would deffinatly not wanna be on ur plane if u have seizures… or be controlled by a guy who has seizures… umm get a job as a game designer or something that doesnt involve peoples lives…
i don’t have enough info to answer your question accuratly. That being sais there are a lot of people with epilepsy that lead normal productive lifes with the aid of medications. Good luck.
for sure! as long as the seizures are controlled for over a year. Its really not that hard anymore and with co piolets and all the tecnology…you will not have a problem with seizures or flying when you get older!
I wish I could give you the answer you want to hear, but as the regulations stand today, epilepsy of any severity is a disqualifying condition for all levels of FAA medical certification.
The only way to get the required medical certificate for being a pilot is to get what’s called a Special Issuance Certificate. These certificates are issued on a case-by-case basis and require extensive documentation. This probably means several years without an epileptic episode, followed by extensive neurological testing. Even going through the special issuance procedures, it isn’t very likely that you’ll be able to get a first or second class medical certificate required for commercial operations.
If you still get occasional seizures, it’s probably best for you to consider other career options. If your seizures have subsided (completely), you can look into what it would take to get a medical certificate, but keep in mind that this is a long and tedious process that may not result in what you want.
In the FAA’s medical guidelines epilepsy is grounds for you to fail the medical examination. That being said, there can be exceptions for certain conditions if you can prove to the FAA that it isn’t endangering, which will be tough to do with epilepsy. To fly commercially excluding flight instructor, you must have a current class 1 medical certificate. Here are the guidelines.
http://www.faa.gov/licenses_certificates/medical_certification/
sorry, w/ epilepsy, you are disqualified from receiving an airman’s medical certificate. You must have this to exercise the privileges of your pilots certificate. No special issuance for this condition.
The reg is as follows:
§ 67.109 Neurologic.
Neurologic standards for a first-class airman medical certificate are:
(a) No established medical history or clinical diagnosis of any of the following:
(1) Epilepsy;
(2) A disturbance of consciousness without satisfactory medical explanation of the cause; or
(3) A transient loss of control of nervous system function(s) without satisfactory medical explanation of the cause.
(b) No other seizure disorder, disturbance of consciousness, or neurologic condition that the Federal Air Surgeon, based on the case history and appropriate, qualified medical judgment relating to the condition involved, finds—
(1) Makes the person unable to safely perform the duties or exercise the privileges of the airman certificate applied for or held; or
(2) May reasonably be expected, for the maximum duration of the airman medical certificate applied for or held, to make the person unable to perform those duties or exercise those privileges.
I hate to burst your bubble. I really do, As things stand right now, there is no way you would pass the medical to get your commercial pilot’s license. I had a Friend who was a top fighter pilot and had earned the highest respect of us ground crew and his fellow pilots. He developed Epilepsy late in life and was promptly grounded. I happened to witness him having a grande mall seizure, had he been flying a jet when that happened, he would be dead, even he said that when he recovered a few days later. Having said all that, medical science is making break through every day, and perhaps when you are in a position to pursue this, it will indeed be very possible for you.
You must log in to post a comment.