FAA Medical Certification, and how military hours and ratings translate to FAA ratings.

[U-Aviation]

I assumed you were interested in FAA medicals because you wanted to transition eventually from a military pilot to the airlines or some sort of commercial flying. Others on this site can speak authoritatively about DoD screenings far more than me. I’ve never heard of anyone who needed to go through HIMS to fly GA aircraft. I don’t think that’s a thing.

Speaking only from a general aviation/commercial aviation prospective. I think you are over thinking this. Especially if these mistakes are all in the past. Best thing you can do if you want to pursue aviation (independent of or in concurrence with the military) is consult an AME and speak with a CFI. Also, organizations like EAA and AOPA offer members access to extremely knowledgeable experts who can assist in getting and maintaining your medical.

 

[propanelord]

I assumed you were interested in FAA medicals because you wanted to transition eventually from a military pilot to the airlines or some sort of commercial flying. Others on this site can speak authoritatively about DoD screenings far more than me. I’ve never heard of anyone who needed to go through HIMS to fly GA aircraft. I don’t think that’s a thing.

Speaking only from a general aviation/commercial aviation prospective. I think you are over thinking this. Especially if these mistakes are all in the past. Best thing you can do if you want to pursue aviation (independent of or in concurrence with the military) is consult an AME and speak with a CFI. Also, organizations like EAA and AOPA offer members access to extremely knowledgeable experts who can assist in getting and maintaining your medical.

Apologies; Yes, that was intelligent and logical on your part. Regardless of my end goal as far as what aviation would likely look like for me in the civilian twilight of my life, yes, I would like to be capable of Class 1 Certificate civilian flying. To generate money flying as a civilian in any way that isn't CFI/CFII, you typically need a class 2, so I consider the potential of never or being unlikely to ever get at minimum class 2 to be a real tragedy. Obviously I can probably get a class 2 or even class 1, there's just presumably a lot of drama to even have a shot at a class 2. Like I said, I got all that information about HIMS from an AME who is allegedly really good. I will continue to talk to him, although part of why I made this post was just to make sure he didn't say anything egregious that made ya'll take a double take. You always wanna attempt to fact-check people as best you can when you've got this much riding. I'll consider getting a second opinion too, assuming that's a normal thing to do. I'll look into the Experimental Aircraft Association and the AOPA, I didn't know there were generous people out there willing to do this.

Like I said earlier, to be a AirGuard/AirFR pilot, with the exception of lateral transfers (navy pilot, USCG pilot, Army pilot, or USMC pilot switching to AFR/AirG) you have to already have an FAA rating 99% of the time to get selected by the AirGuard or AirForceReserve unit leadership. I still heard mixed things about the USN/USMC SNA age ceiling, but I imagine I'm getting close to said ceiling. It may be 28th birthday. I also heard FAA pilot rating(s) helps with SNA in a minor way, and separately, I am concerned about trying to get a class 1 FAA certificate while a military pilot and having to leave work all the time to do rehab and the other shit the FAA requires. It sounds like a good way to get negative command action. Anyway, I'll do some more research, sounds like I'll be getting an FAA rating of some kind long before I can hope MEPS to let me in. You've all been really helpful, thanks for letting me bounce these ideas off you, it's really generous!!! I did recently get a traffic ticket for expired tags, so my days of being a bozo aren't completely behind me, but that's not a crime, thank god. No, I haven't had any tremendous bozo behavior since the week of my eighteenth birthday, and I enlisted shortly after that. No NJP or Courts Martial or 6105, thank god. Knock on wood

 

[MIDNJAC]

I'd suggest that you generally chill the F out dude. Also, an MIP or whatever when you were 18 isn't going to have any bearing on an FAA physical10+ years from the date you might possibly commission, which is not a certainty, nor is it right now. And yes, those of us who still fly in the navy reserves also have to get a separate FAA class 1 for the airlines every 6 months , no exceptions. Even those of us who are not exactly LT's anymore. It doesn't convert, even if you are a 4 star, sorry.

 

[propanelord]

I'd suggest that you generally chill the F out dude. Also, an MIP or whatever when you were 18 isn't going to have any bearing on an FAA physical10+ years from the date you might possibly commission, which is not a certainty, nor is it right now. And yes, those of us who still fly in the navy reserves also have to get a separate FAA class 1 for the airlines every 6 months , no exceptions. Even those of us who are not exactly LT's anymore. It doesn't convert, even if you are a 4 star, sorry.

I also wasnt sure if maybe the path to Class 1 certificate was easier. @Fins Out already told me how it is, but thank you both.

I can only tell you what the AME said, and he said my marijuana and alcohol possession civil violations from 8 and a half years ago mean I need Alcoholics Anonymous and 12 months of urinalysis to ever get class 1 or even a class 2. He had a lot of typos but supposedly he is an elite superHIMS hero of an AME. He had a lot of typos, so maybe he had been drinking, but he said that in recent years, Congress has authorized Federal Air Surgeon discretion in attempting to eliminate all aerial alcohol incidents and the rules have been tightened a lot. His words, not mine.

I think if you were at the doctor or with medical-military people like I have been dealing with, you would be flipping out too. Telling me I can't go to MEPS station because I had leukemia a month ago, accusing me of lying about it, when I haven't had anything other than a physical in years, and I've never had cancer. The whole medical circus; Biggest clown show I've ever dealt with. Even though I had commentary/talk back, I can offer you an aye, Sir. I will chill out for now

 

[MIDNJAC]

I also wasnt sure if maybe the path to Class 1 certificate was easier. @Fins Out already told me how it is, but thank you both.

I can only tell you what the AME said, and he said my marijuana and alcohol possession civil violations from 8 and a half years ago mean I need Alcoholics Anonymous and 12 months of urinalysis to ever get class 1 or even a class 2. He had a lot of typos but supposedly he is an elite superHIMS hero of an AME. He had a lot of typos, so maybe he had been drinking, but he said that in recent years, Congress has authorized Federal Air Surgeon discretion in attempting to eliminate all aerial alcohol incidents and the rules have been tightened a lot. His words, not mine.

I think if you were at the doctor or with medical-military people like I have been dealing with, you would be flipping out too. Telling me I can't go to MEPS station because I had leukemia a month ago, accusing me of lying about it, when I haven't had anything other than a physical in years, and I've never had cancer. The whole medical circus; Biggest clown show I've ever dealt with. Even though I had commentary/talk back, I can offer you an aye, Sir. I will chill out for now

I hear your stress. I'd only suggest to you to keep your eyes on the closest alligator to your canoe, the commissioning and getting into naval aviation. You'll spend 10+ years there if you get in. Once you do that, worry about these other things. A million things can change between now and then. You're talking 10-15 years from now. Plenty of time for those concerns of yours to not matter anymore to the FAA. I think you're gonna be just fine brotha

 

[propanelord]

I hear your stress. I'd only suggest to you to keep your eyes on the closest alligator to your canoe, the commissioning and getting into naval aviation. You'll spend 10+ years there if you get in. Once you do that, worry about these other things. A million things can change between now and then. You're talking 10-15 years from now. Plenty of time for those concerns of yours to not matter anymore to the FAA. I think you're gonna be just fine brotha

I'm not sure any USMC recruiters wanna help me and I dont want to start asking any others unless my recruiter gave me license. Who wants to touch a human quagmire?

Maybe the Navy recruiters are more hungry? What are they called? Aren't their recruiters ensigns?

I like being a Marine, but how many years am I supposed to try to be a Marine SNA? I'm out of time.

MEPS station won't let me in. my recruiters advised trying a different recruiter that is in a different MEPS area, but that could backfire too, and im not sure how much driving that would require. My recruiter PCS'd and was replaced. The new replacement recruiter said forget about NAMI, you'll never be a pilot, wait until the leukemia stuff isn't as recent and call me back in two years. I went "I've never had leukemia. Didn't your predecessor clear that up?" He went 'oh uhh, well, call us back in two years, I'll still be here, by then the MEPS leadership will have PCSd, and forget about ever being SNA, not happening, you can try to be a marine corps ground officer."

I figured if I got a PPL, earned my degree (done), and fixed my medical records in Genesis and civilian, they'd maybe see how motivated I am and try to go to bat for me with MEPS and I could try to learn how DODMERB works on my own time instead of MEPS (good luck. DODMERB is as illusive as a chief warrant officer during formation)

I think the worste combination of things has all gone wrong that I'll die trying, but I don't plan on giving up anytime soon

 

[Mouselovr]

I know it likely may oftentimes pay dividends for military pilots to start to convert their ratings before they leave active service)

Not your initial question, but I don’t see this discussed much on the forum and how time sensitive it can be to do efficiently.

Technically, you can convert anytime post winging with a passing exam + paperwork, but it’s a huge hassle

It’s very important to do the conversions post winging. At least for helicopter naval aviators, there’s one opportunity to do it easily bc the guy in Whiting knows exactly how to list our weird military checkrides.

A lot of folk skip it bc theyre tired and coordinating a PCS. So they don’t dedicate the time to the conversion exam/FAA guy then get road blocked later on trying to study for the test/FAA guys have no idea what an “INST 1390” is

 

[propanelord]

Not your initial question, but I don’t see this discussed much on the forum and how time sensitive it can be to do efficiently.

Technically, you can convert anytime post winging with a passing exam + paperwork, but it’s a huge hassel.

It’s very important to do the conversions post winging. At least for helicopter naval aviators, there’s one opportunity to do it very easily bc the guy in Whiting knows exactly how to list our weird military checkrides.

A lot of folk skip it bc theyre tired and coordinating a PCS. So they don’t dedicate the time to the conversion exam/FAA guy then get road blocked later on trying to find time for the test/FAA guys have no idea what an “INST 1390” is

To be fair, for those of ya'll signing 8 or ten year active-duty contracts, you don't have much incentive of logical reason to do it right when you wing, do you? BUT, I presume you really wanna do it sooner than later, and then do a couple upgrades as you build hours, correct? You don't want to wait until after EAS/ECC, or even, you probably do not want to wait until your last 365 days of active duty, better to get it done earlier, yes?

Thank you for the advice!

 

[Mouselovr]

To be fair, for those of ya'll signing 8 or ten year active-duty contracts,

Naval aviator, 8 years
AF 10 years

incentive of logical reason to do it right when you wing, do you?

Incentive is the FAA guys in the local area know how to write out the checkrides appropriately for the full qualifications. Here in SD, I’ve had some friends bring their stuff in and them have no idea what to do with our gradesheets.

Also, it’s not uncommon for folk to fly on the side in the later parts of their career to build hours. Can’t do that without the FAA civilian licenses.

For you, this is very far down the line. But something to keep in the back of your brain.

 

[propanelord]

Naval aviator, 8 years
AF 10 years


Incentive is the FAA guys in the local area know how to write out the checkrides appropriately for the full qualifications. Here in SD, I’ve had some friends bring their stuff in and them have no idea what to do with our gradesheets.

Also, it’s not uncommon for folk to fly on the side in the later parts of their career to build hours. Can’t do that without the FAA civilian licenses.

For you, this is very far down the line. But something to keep in the back of your brain.

Thank you, sir. Very good to know. Yes, very much a cart-in-front-the-horse situation. Although I would very much be that guy, if-I-made-it, to start the process the day after I got winged. Flying GA on leave-and-liberty with the old heads at the municipal airport is a big deal, as is trying to convince the guys at airshows to let you fly their Corsair or their B-17 or PBY Catalina. Magnetos and radials are conventional landing gear are way cooler than anything at the MCAS or NAS.