I'd like to get back into recreational flying after getting over a very difficult time in my life related to alcoholism. If BasicMed certification is something I could easily obtain, I'd like to go for it. If not, then I'm going to forget the whole idea of flying again on my own. I just want to resume $100 hamburger flights, pattern work, renting a C172 from the local FBO, etc. like I used to do. Reading the BasicMed form, I would have to answer "yes" to question 18-O regarding "alcohol dependence or abuse" and imagine this sets off every red flag in their book.
Here's the background:
-Obtained a private certificate in the late 1990s, but have not flown since 2014. Last BFR in 2013.
-Always had 3rd class medicals with no restrictions other than wearing corrective lenses. Last medical was a 3rd class obtained in 2012. I am under age 40.
-Had some pretty serious alcohol problems in 2014 through early 2017. Attended inpatient rehab for a month in early 2017. Have been 100% sober since that time. Very active AA member. I have zero interest in returning to my old lifestyle and have made a lot of changes in my life since putting the bottle down.
-No history of DUI ever, no criminal record of any kind, not even so much as a parking ticket, no aviation related incidents. Never used illegal drugs in my life.
-I was prescribed a SSRI in late 2016. I took it for about a month and then stopped. I also took high blood pressure medication from around the same time until I quit drinking in early 2017. I take no prescriptions currently.
-Not sure if it ties into what the FAA takes into consideration, but I had a life insurance application denied in 2016 because they checked my medical records and found information relating to some outpatient urgent-care type visits I had in 2015-2016 related to excessive alcohol consumption.
-Moved to a new area a few months ago. Have not obtained a new primary care doc yet.
What will happen when I answer "yes" to 18-O when at the Doctor's office to obtain the BasicMed approval? Do I have any chance at this? What do you folks think? Once again, I am not interested in a long, drawn-out expensive "HIMS" battle, this is just a hobby, not my career, so without the BasicMed I'll just pursue my other interests. Or maybe just fly very infrequently, with an instructor along each time.
Thanks!
Here's the background:
-Obtained a private certificate in the late 1990s, but have not flown since 2014. Last BFR in 2013.
-Always had 3rd class medicals with no restrictions other than wearing corrective lenses. Last medical was a 3rd class obtained in 2012. I am under age 40.
-Had some pretty serious alcohol problems in 2014 through early 2017. Attended inpatient rehab for a month in early 2017. Have been 100% sober since that time. Very active AA member. I have zero interest in returning to my old lifestyle and have made a lot of changes in my life since putting the bottle down.
-No history of DUI ever, no criminal record of any kind, not even so much as a parking ticket, no aviation related incidents. Never used illegal drugs in my life.
-I was prescribed a SSRI in late 2016. I took it for about a month and then stopped. I also took high blood pressure medication from around the same time until I quit drinking in early 2017. I take no prescriptions currently.
-Not sure if it ties into what the FAA takes into consideration, but I had a life insurance application denied in 2016 because they checked my medical records and found information relating to some outpatient urgent-care type visits I had in 2015-2016 related to excessive alcohol consumption.
-Moved to a new area a few months ago. Have not obtained a new primary care doc yet.
What will happen when I answer "yes" to 18-O when at the Doctor's office to obtain the BasicMed approval? Do I have any chance at this? What do you folks think? Once again, I am not interested in a long, drawn-out expensive "HIMS" battle, this is just a hobby, not my career, so without the BasicMed I'll just pursue my other interests. Or maybe just fly very infrequently, with an instructor along each time.
Thanks!
