[Arichards12]

Hi all

So my wife bought me a test flight recently which is now booked and I am hoping that if I enjoy the trial Inwill carry on to get my ppl. However I have a medical query that I have tried to find and answer too but am struggling. I have a condition called fibromyalgia, short explanation is that I get pain in joints etc for no reason and no limitations of movement etc. it's treated with a drug called gabapentin, which is a non opioid and is not a nefopam which I now is not allowed. I don't want to start paying out money if I am going to be denied a medical. Is there anywhere I can get a definitive answer before paying out money on starting to gain my ppl. Thanks in advance.

[PaulB]

I'm not a medic but gabapentin has been asked about before. the news isn't positive

Gabapentin, pregabalin and carbamazepine prescribed for neuropathic pain and valproate for migraine prophylaxis are disqualifying for EASA medical certification because of the risk of unacceptable side effects.

http://www.caa.co.uk/default.aspx?catid ... geid=13850

There's a previous thread in the GA forum here

viewtopic.php?f=1&t=90123

You may need to talk to an AME (Aviation medical examiner) about alternatives that are allowed. There are a number of AME's here (I'm not one).

[A le Ron]

Where are you based? There are, as Paul says, several AMEs on here. FlyingDutch covers the southern Midlands, Dodo the Deep South (Sussex etc) and I'm in Yorkshire. A full list can be found on the CAA website. I suggest you contact your most local AME directly.

[Cheney Jawa]

Can highly recommend FlyingDutch.......

[Arichards12]

Thanks for the replies. I have emailed a local AME just to check but from looking at the previous thread that was put on here it looks like the medication is a non starter. I haven't had any of the symptoms described on the threads, in fact the complete opposite, my kids call them my happy pills as I seem to be fairly pain free and in a very good mood all the time. Looks like the trial flight will be it then given the health benefits for me personally of the medication.

[flybymike]

What about an NPPL which doesn't require a full medical, just a GP counter signature? Remember also that the the CAA are consulting to remove any GP/AME involvement for national licence holders.

I often think that the most infuriating thing about medical issues is that the side effects of the medication are a far bigger problem than the underlying condition itself.

[Mike Currill]

I think your last sentence is absolutely correct.

[riverrock]

As suggested by fbm, you can get an NPPL (allowing you to fly either a microlight or a small "normal" aircraft) with a GP signature. If you meet DVLA Group 2 standards (ie - professional driver) you can almost certainly get it with no additional restrictions. If you can't - but can still drive a car, you can get it with restrictions. See http://www.caa.co.uk/default.aspx?catid=49&pageid=12133

However not all GPs will do this, so your best bet would be to talk to an AME who can guide you through it.

[Keef]

Flybymike: very much so! My GP is much more pragmatic: "The general recommendation is that you should take statins. My advice is to avoid the nasty things unless you absolutely need them, which you don't."

One of my relatives was put on carbamazepine - with some very strange effects. We confiscated her car keys. The warning leaflet in the pack says "This medication may impair your thinking or reactions. Be careful if you drive or do anything that requires you to be alert." I suspect it affects different people in different ways, but I'd not want to fly while "under the influence".

[Arichards12]

Thanks again for al the comments. So let me get this right the NPPL only requires my GP to sign off and allows me to fly within the UK with non paying passengers ie family, friends etc

[riverrock]

If there is nothing in your medical history which would stop you reaching a DVLA Group 2 standard for professional driving, you can obtain a National PPL without any medical limitations. If you have a past history of significant illness but meet the Group 1 standard for private driving, you will only be able to fly either solo or with another 'safety' pilot qualified on your aircraft type.

So with the above assumptions, yes.

[flybymike]

Thanks again for al the comments. So let me get this right the NPPL only requires my GP to sign off and allows me to fly within the UK with non paying passengers ie family, friends etc

Your "non paying passengers" are allowed to share the direct costs of the flight with you.

[GrahamB]

Thanks again for al the comments. So let me get this right the NPPL only requires my GP to sign off and allows me to fly within the UK with non paying passengers ie family, friends etc

After April 2018, the range of aircraft that will be permissible to fly on an NPPL becomes much more restrictive.

When you have the chat with the AME, you should talk about whether an LAPL would be open to you, as that is pan-Europe, and won't suffer the same restriction after 2018.

[aileron.abi]

Hey there, I am really interested to see if you completed your PPL?! I am 20 and was recently diagnosed with Fibromyalgia and have found it so incredibly hard to find information out there regarding the condition and getting a medical, let alone people with the condition and same aspirations. I hope you achieved your flying goa;s!

[Iceman]

@aileron.abi, the original poster hasn't been active on the forum for 9 years so you probably won't get an answer from him. However, the AME @Flying'Dutch' is still active here.

Iceman