Routine mental illness diagnoses no longer require automatic review by the FAA for any class of pilot certification, so long as certain criteria are met. The FAA has revised its guidance for AMEs on “Simple Anxiety, Depression, and Related Conditions,” but the main change is that the FAA can opt out of the process if the questionnaire doesn’t raise any issues and the AME isn’t concerned. This also means that pilots can receive treatment in most situations without being reported to the FAA.
The questionnaire covers serious mental health issues, including suicidal thoughts or self-harm, and whether the pilot has been hospitalized or undergone a court-ordered evaluation, and cautions AMEs to be thorough and sensitive in their assessment. all The item is “No”/Clear column“The AME may issue a note to Block 60 indicating that the AME has discussed the history of uncomplicated anxiety, depression, and related disorders and that no positive responses were found to the screening questions and there were no concerns,” the new guidance reads. Any single item ““Yes”/Shaded column, AME must be postponed (FAA emphasis).”
