I have 20 hours of flight time that i started a while back and am now going to go complete for my Private Cert. But here's the question:My daughter (14) has decided that she wants to learn also but she is Diabetic (Type 1) and im trying to read the rules and im not sure if they are saying she can or can not? Because (See Below) she "has" an established medical history or is it saying No! as in no she can have "No" history of it what so ever? just trying to read between the lines.Thanks for any input on the subject.

I don't know if this answers your question-but from aopa:After more than 10 years of effort by the American Diabetes Association and the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association, the FAA has changed its policy on medical certification for insulin-treatable diabetic mellitus (ITDM) pilots. Effective December 23, 1996, pilots with insulin-treatable diabetes became eligible for special issuance of medical certificates. According to FAA estimates, more than 1,600 pilots could qualify for medical certification under the new policy. "The FAA should be reviewing procedures that can ensure safety while allowing others into aviation," says Bob Warner of the Experimental Aircraft Association. "There are a number of people interested in the waiver, so having a standardized procedure is the way to go." The FAA will impose four restrictions on ITDM pilots: They are eligible for third-class medicals only; they may exercise only the privileges of student, recreational, and private pilot certificates; they are prohibited from operating an aircraft as a required crewmember on any flight outside of U.S. airspace; and they are required to comply with monitoring requirements while exercising the privileges of a third-class airman medical certificate. The FAA said it has no intention of extending special-issuance certification to first- or second-class medical certificate holders. The risk to equipment and life is too great for commercial operations to extend the policy, the FAA says. Only medically low-risk pilots are eligible for special issuance, and they must have no other disqualifying diabetes-related medical conditions, such as circulatory, cardiac, or optical problems. The FAA will require those pilots seeking special issuance to submit the results of a complete medical evaluation by an endocrinologist and ophthalmologist. The pilot's doctors must verify the patient has been taught to control his (or her) diabetes and has been on insulin treatment at least six months before submitting an application. "The best indicator of incapacitating hypoglycemia is a past history of it," says Joe LaMountain of the American Diabetes Association. "The guidelines require taking a thorough look at the pilot's medical history to make sure there is no history of recurrent hypoglycemia - two episodes within the past five years." ITDM pilots must be medically evaluated every three months and submit annual written confirmation of no significant complications associated with diabetes. The FAA also requires ITDM pilots to report any incident of hypoglycemia that involves cognitive impairment. They must also report any accident - either aircraft or automobile - regardless of whether the accident was a result of an episode of hypoglycemia. "The medical guidelines are stringent," LaMountain says. "We're separating the wheat from the chaff with the new policy. These people are going to be under the best control." If suitable conditions exist during flight, ITDM pilots have to monitor their blood glucose level and eat high-glucose snacks as necessary. Pilots must carry FAA-approved digital blood glucose monitors with memory, which a specialist will review at the three-month evaluation. Industry groups, including AOPA and EAA, hope that the three-month checkup will be eliminated once ITDM pilots demonstrate their safety. "The FAA has done their due diligence," says John Seibel of the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists. "The safest thing would be for the ITDM pilot to fly with another licensed pilot, but I think this policy is about as safe as you can get." The policy change comes after more than four years of research by an endocrinology consultation panel commissioned by the federal air surgeon. The panel developed a protocol for ITDM pilots, and the FAA received more than 800 comments on the guidelines, which were first released in December 1994. In spite of its support for the new policy, AACE expressed concern to the FAA during the policy's comment period. In-flight monitoring of blood glucose may overburden a pilot, the association said. Any increase in the likelihood that a ITDM pilot might fail to monitor his or her blood sugar would increase the likelihood of the pilot's incapacitation or impairment. That notwithstanding, "The FAA has cut the risk as well as it can," Seibel says. Most FAA observers regard the policy change as a step in the right direction. By recognizing that these pilots are capable of aircraft operation, the FAA shows it's behind the advances of modern medicine, observers say. Pilots applying for special issuance should contact the FAA, AAM-300, Civil Aeromedical Institute, 6500 South MacArthur, Oklahoma City, OK 73125. http://mywebpages.comcast.net/geofa/pages/Geofdog2.jpg

If she wants to fly, but not for a living, she won't have a problem. She can get all her ratings, Instrument, Multi, etc., but not Commercial. I personally think the FAA needs to catch up with the times on a lot of their rules. Don

Thankyou for the information!This will make her very happy!:-jumpy:-jumpyShe was going to go into the Navy (ROTC Now) and wanted to become a PIlot. But The Navy said Nope! No can do! So I figured this way I could finish my training and she could get her pilots Cert. so she could have her dream to become a pilot. Diabetes creates a lot of obsticles in life for her and i was praying that flying would not be one of them........Thanks Geofa and Donmo for the help!!:-jumpy:-jumpy:-jumpy:-jumpy:-jumpy:-jumpy:-jumpy:-jumpy:-jumpy

Hi Ed,One thing you might want to consider for her is glider flying. For powered flight she has to wait until she is 16 to solo. She can train in and solo gliders at 14 and it does not require a medical. It's a great way for a son or daughter to start out in learning to fly and then transitioning to powered airplanes as they are closer to the age when they can solo in them. You learn a lot of basics in glider flying that are valuable later on in powered flying.I've known a number of people that started to teach their kids in powered airplanes at too early an age only to have them loose interest because they got to a point where they could have soloed but they were not old enough yet.Regards,Ed Weber a.k.a tallpilot

Ed,Might not be a bad idea to consult your local AME as well. Good luck, I hope it all works out.

Ed,I had a student with diabetes last year and the FAA was able to issue him a medical. You will have to get your daughter a waiver from Oklhoma City directly. My student had to get his medical vdenied from an AME first, and then request the waiver directly from Oklahoma City. The AME should know how to do that; if not, give a call to the local FSDO.The waiver is good only for a 3rd class medical. That is, she won't be able to get anything past that. She can however get all the licences she wants, even the ATP; because one only needs a 3rd class in order to take a practical test. The higher class medical is only required to exercice the privileges...I think one of the requirements for the waiver is that she can't have fainted for at least the past 2 years, or something like that. the FSDO should be able to tell you. You also want to have go to an AME as early as possible when she hits 16, because it takes months for Oklahoma to process the waiver. I will look if I can find an AC circular on that and will post it on here if I find one.AlexCFI/CFII/MEI

Thankyou all very much for the information. It is greatly appreciated!Enjoy your Sunday!

Thanks for the idea's tailpilot!Glider never crossed my mind................Thanks again.............

Hi Ed, I started flying with a gliders licence and I have a blast ever time I go up in a glider. I fly commercially now but I sill love gliding. I think she will love it as well as you. As for the medical part, I hold a canadian pilots licence and I am not familiar with the FAA rules. Best of luck for her and happy flying.