Oxford High School senior Charles Edmondson has broken the stigma around piloting with Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder (ADHD). From an early age, aviation has been a passion of C. Edmondson.
“I have always liked flying and being on planes for as long as I can remember,” C. Edmondson said. “My dad was a pilot in high school, so it always sparked my interest. I went on a discovery flight and knew that it was a path I wanted to take.”
Charles Edmondson’s younger brother, Mason Edmondson, has watched everything play out over the past year and is very optimistic about his brother’s future aviation career.
“He is handling it great,” M. Edmondson said. “He is in a better mood since he has been off medication.”
Pursuing the pathway to become a pilot is not the easiest. Due to FAA regulations, flying while on ADHD medication is not an option.
“The day I found out that I could not fly because of the medication was the day I stopped taking it,” C. Edmondson said. “It has been over 1 1/2 years since I was on medication.”
This decision would lead to some readapting to create a new sense of normalcy for C. Edmondson.
“It was rocky at first,” C. Edmondson said. “I just had to get used to not taking it; however, I feel like I have adjusted. I have maintained my grades and held a job for over a year.”
His family has been super supportive and flexible through the change as well.
“Everyone was helping, and he pretty much did it easily,” M. Edmondson said. “He stopped the day that we found out he should not take the meds.”
Without the structure that medication once provided, C. Edmondson had to accommodate himself to the adjustment. Thankfully, the structure of aviation school has actually helped him and acts as a new way to manage his focus and energy.
“I have just trained myself to focus more and pay attention,” C. Edmondson said. “Being excited to be up in the air and learning about flight school also helps me because aviation is something I really want to do, and when you are in the air, you have to pay attention.”
Charles Edmondson’s journey has also highlighted that the path to the skies for people with ADHD is filled with procedural requirements. He has learned how crucial it is to adapt and stay organized, especially when it comes to FAA standards.
“I would say that if you really want to fly, you have to find a way to maintain grades, test scores and have a clean driving record,” C. Edmondson said. “You have to figure out strategies that work for you to succeed. Also, the FAA requires a neuropsych evaluation with positive results to move forward with flying lessons. It is possible, it just may not be on the timeline that you want. You have to be organized in your communication with the FAA and follow their procedures.”
M. Edmondson is expecting a bright future for his brother and his career plans.
“In the near future he should be getting his private pilot’s license,” M. Edmondson said. “I hope that goes well along with everything else that comes in the future regarding piloting.”
Despite the minor roadblock, C. Edmondson feels confident about what lies ahead. He has high hopes for his future in flying.
“In five years, I will hopefully be a flight instructor at Delta State so that I can gain enough flying hours to be a commercial pilot,” C. Edmondson said. “My experience just makes me want to succeed more.”
