The Aviation Medical Examiner (AME) may request months of CPAP data. Insulin-dependent diabetes may require special issuance.

For a broad reference, see the Airplane Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) database on health conditions that may affect medical certification.

https://www.aopa.org/go-fly/medical-resources/health-conditi...

Call the FAA yourself and ask. They have a hotline for medical related questions. I have had heart related issues in the past and AMEs gave me conflicting answers about the way forward but the FAA is the source of truth

If you insist on having an airman medical certificate becaue you're already a rated pilot and need it to make money, then special issuance makes sense.

But if you're not a paid pilot, you're better off not going down that route, since once you're on record as having a deficiency, that's a permanent concern to the FAA. And if they decline the special issuance, you're also not eligible for the drivers license medical.

I would advise nobody with issues who wants to fly for hobby reasons to go down the PPL route since you can get banned for failng a medical. There's almost no upside and huge downside to risking that.

Definitely agree. In my case it was use of antidepressants. I thought the whole country is basically doing them so surely that’s not a problem when I went to an FAA AME for the PPL 3rd class medical. Well now I’m fucked for life apparently. There only 3 antidepressants they accept for a special issuance with costly on-going tests each year. Even if I’m off them entirely it’s still a problem.

I did witness an AME re-approve a commercial guy with a DUI though while in the waiting room. Good on you, FAA.

Well, the Hummel is an all-metal ultralight that looks like a real airplane, so try that route.

Thanks for the DUI anecdote. Great that he got re-approved, but that can be retracted anytime.

Just to recap - the FAA assumes if you get an airman medical, you might try to carry passengers, so their medical rules are maximally strict.

I would bet you can get a third class medical. Go to an AME, they’ll ask you to get letters from your other doctors.

I'd recommend avoiding trying to obtain the PPL with those medical conditions, since there will be a lot of paperwork, and the goalposts can be moved on you.

The 2 better options are:

1) Do some research on Sport Pilot and LSA planes. No FAA medical or PPL required, just a valid drivers license.

2) Get involved in the ultralight community, ask around about training, and buy a Hummel. No FAA medical or license required, but I'd recommend doing PPL-level training for safety reasons.

Just for those reading along: all FAA licenses require demonstrating mastery of the aircraft to certain tolerances. PPL has pretty basic requirements that get you from Point A to Point B, but no acro or IFR, so it doesn't make you an ace. But a PPL is still a world away from an untrained ultralight pilot.