So I frequent another transgender board but this one seems to have a larger diversity so it was about time to join.

I sort of start my transition or attempt to next month but that is just electrolysis and can't even think about hormones for a few more years when I'm done having kids.

So I hit a wall today that I never even thought about being there. Apperently the FAA is pretty discriminating against giving aviation medicals to transgender people. Worse case it could take months to get cleared and possible suspension of medical certificate privileges until air surgeon can review the case. If my medical gets suspended for more than a month I can probably say goodbye to my job.

Any pilots in here that have gone through the process? I have resources on how to go about it but I like to hear firsthand expirences if I can.

Kinda feeling sad about this at the moment.

Hi Insideout,

Glider pilot here, who got their medical but hasn't transitioned.
I haven't gone through this process, hadn't even thought about it to be honest. I thought that being transgender would be no issue, since I don't quite see how it could affect your flying (although obviously any major surgery would need proper healing time...)...

I'm sorry I can't tell you more but I'm going to hang around some and see if there's some other people who know more about it.

I am a pilot and a CFI.  I have gone through the process.  At the moment the first time you report it, the process is

https://www.faa.gov/about/office_org/headquarters_offices/avs/offices/aam/ame/guide/app_process/exam_tech/item41/amd/grs/

I did it with one letter from my Primary Care physician and the other letter from a psychologist.  I had no medical for 4 months because of the backlog   When they approve it, it appears that everyone now is getting a special issuance.  However, I personally know someone who has a regular medical and not a special issuance.

If you are not on HRT yet, I wonder if you can get pre-approved before you start HRT submitting the same documentation as above.  It would be worth it to call them anonymously and ask if that is possible so that are not without a medical for a period of time.

Thanks for the replies it does shed some light on what I have researched.

So after you go through the process for the first time and get a special issuance, do you have to do the same thing every year for a second class? Or is it like normal process after that?

Yeah I doubt that you can get pre approved cause reading the FAR's it sounds like it does not matter if your on HRT or not. It sounds like they want to treat it as a mental thing and be evaluated but I could be wrong on that.

Im going to do some more digging. These people have been a good resource so far http://transgenderpilots.org/

If I plan well enough I can take enough vacation to get 5 weeks off but beyond that I might have to take a unpaid leave of absence if its going to be longer than that.

This sucks   

It is a similar process each year.  When they issue the special issuance they list the specific requirements in the letter for the next year.  It's is slightly different than the AME guide, but in the end it is two letters from the same people.  It seems that there is some variation on what is in the letter for each person.  From what I hear the requirements in the special issuance letter will be needed each following year.  I have not experienced that yet, but I will next year.

I have a second class, but I don't think that matters much.  I would still have to have the same letters every year if I did 1st or 3rd class.  Although for a third class I will assume I would have to send in the letters directly to the FAA yearly  instead of my AME I use.

The transgenderpilots.org is a good place.  I only found it a month or so ago.

You can always call the FAA anonymously as well.  I have several times.

There are companies that specialize in getting speedy medicals pushed through.  It is for pay, but there are lots of professional pilots that cannot afford to wait for a special issuance to be approved.  Usually not for being transgender, but it worth looking into.

All good information... Lots of trouble ahead of me I can see but anything worth doing is not easy.

I will probably call the FAA on a phone unrelated to me and ask some questions. I need to call AMAS and see what they can do. A $1000+ every year for medical is just stupid but it beats losing my job or taking unpaid leave.

I bet that really kills a lot of private pilots. I stopped flying almost 14 years ago due to uncontrolled HBP and PTSD from 9/11. (Horrible to be in Manhattan that day.) $1000 per year is a big hurdle along with plane ownership or renting to those who fly for fun.

Well a $1000+ would be for hiring someone to push your case along and take out as many delays as possible. A private pilot could go through the process much cheaper with only having to pay their physician and therapist plus the fee for the medical which is around $100. I imagine anyways, I'm just basing it off of previous information.

For me being a commercial pilot it's my livelihood and it better to pay high numbers and have little delay than be out of work. It just sucks all around. I want to try and be part of the change for the FAA but there are so few transgender per population and aviation is even smaller. The FAA does not do anything quick.