Third Class Medical Reform - Now Appears Likely

drunkenbeagle

drunkenbeagle

Gang Member
https://www.aopa.org/news-and-media/all-news/2015/december/09/third-class-medical-faqs

It would seem the House and Senate have both more or less agreed upon the language.

In my opinion, I think that it is a good compromise. It still requires seeing a doctor, and covers nearly all of the same medical concerns, and visits are at about the same frequency. For younger, healthier folks - it probably was in fact quite unnecessary to see an AME a week after your own doctor found no health issues. For the older pilots I know - they are more afraid of the paperwork with the FAA than the medical itself.

Won't change anything for me personally (or most of us here for that matter). Curious what everyone else's opinions are.
 
This is unfortunate really as it basically requires a third class medical every 4 years. I think it should have been pushed further to get rid of the 3rd class and I thought we were close. At the beginning of this process it appeared that the 3rd class was going to be eliminated and private pilots were going to be able to fly basically the same as a sport pilot. Now private pilots will still need to see a physician every four years who may not want to put their liability on the line by signing an FAA form. I have been flying under sport pilot lately because my medical has expired as I wanted to see what this "reform" actually brings.
 
JDRUNNER said:
This is unfortunate really as it basically requires a third class medical every 4 years.
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It doesn't - you can still get a 3rd class medical on the same schedule as before - which in my case would be every 5 years. So as long as there is no medical condition that would prevent you from flying, the visit to your regular doctor would be sufficient in lieu of the 3rd class medical. You would still have the same relief available through a special issuance that you do now as well.
 
JDRUNNER said:
Now private pilots will still need to see a physician every four years who may not want to put their liability on the line by signing an FAA form.
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Doctors sign forms all of the time allowing folks to return to work, allow physical activities, etc. I doubt it will be an issue. If anything, if I were to be using this provision, I would probably see an AME for regular physicals. Simply because they are more familiar with aeromedical issues.
 
Pilot with medical issues for the most part would never wish to have their primary physician be their AME. There are issues that you may tell your personal physician about but may not tell the AME because it may open up a can of worms that may ground you for a year or more. We need less FAA red tape and maybe we will get a little less.. we shall see.

After reading the FAQ's again, it says.

"Your physician will have to certify that he is unaware of any medical conditions that, as presently treated, could interfere with your ability to safely operate an aircraft."

How does non-pilot Dr. Smith have any idea of what it takes to safely operate an aircraft?
 
JDRUNNER said:
Pilot with medical issues for the most part would never wish to have their primary physician be their AME. There are issues that you may tell your personal physician about but may not tell the AME because it may open up a can of worms that may ground you for a year or more. We need less FAA red tape and maybe we will get a little less.. we shall see.

After reading the FAQ's again, it says.

"Your physician will have to certify that he is unaware of any medical conditions that, as presently treated, could interfere with your ability to safely operate an aircraft."

How does non-pilot Dr. Smith have any idea of what it takes to safely operate an aircraft?
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Ahhhh, are you saying folks should fly with known medical conditions that should be grounding but they are hiding?
 
Seggy said:
Ahhhh, are you saying folks should fly with known medical conditions that should be grounding but they are hiding?
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No, I am saying that you don't inform your AME that you have a hang nail because if you do blood tests and an x-ray will need to be performed before you get cleared.

The number of professional pilots who use an AME as their primary are almost zero.

I would be interested in what others think about this "reform"
 
JDRUNNER said:
"Your physician will have to certify that he is unaware of any medical conditions that, as presently treated, could interfere with your ability to safely operate an aircraft."

How does non-pilot Dr. Smith have any idea of what it takes to safely operate an aircraft?
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The list of disqualifying conditions from the FAA that you bring to him, presumably.

I think everyone agrees that there are conditions that in fact make you unfit to fly - uncontrolled seizures, intoxication, blindness - for instance. There are plenty of others that do not.
 
SpiceWeasel said:
Where is this provision? I take a daily allergy tablet and have never had any issues.
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He is exaggerating a little. Zyrtec or Benadryl are not acceptable to the FAA because of the sedative properties. Nearly all other allergy medications are acceptable.

Astelin (Azelastine), Dymista (Azelastine HCl / Fluticasone propionate), Claritin (Loratadine), Clarinex (Desloratadine) and Allegra (Fexofenadine) are acceptable to the FAA provided there are no adverse effects.

APPROVED INHALERS

Afrin (Oxymetazoline Hydrochloride)
Astelin (Azelastine) Case specific only
Atrovent (Ipratropium) Case specific only
Beconase (Beclomethasone Dipropionate)
Flonase (Fluticasone Propionate)
Nasalcrom (Cromolyn Sodium)
Nasalide (Flunisolide)
Vancenase (Beclomethasone Dipropionate)
 
SpiceWeasel said:
Where is this provision? I take a daily allergy tablet and have never had any issues.
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Like she said, I'm exaggerating ... some. I was on a weak dosage of an anti-spasmotic years ago for some intestinal discomfort and got the 6-month wing clip from the FAA despite the fact that it had no noticeable side effects. Currently I'm on a Klonopin a day for anxiety and would have to go off it for six months to be able to get a medical, even though there's no fatigue or other side effects (except being less-anxious) to speak of.

For a third class medical, I just wish they'd let people police themselves a bit more.
 
Why was this reform needed again? Is spending $120 every 5 years really that bad? Even if you have a potentially disqualifying condition the FAA is pretty fair with SODA's and Special Issuance's, It took me a year and a half to get mine but it was worth it and I understood the reasoning behind it.

The application is already an exercise of self disclosure.
 
drunkenbeagle said:
I think that is pretty much what this does, isn't it?
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It is, I remember being "coached" through my first application and warned that if I checked yes on a few items I would be in for a long road. I didn't care and wanted to do it right and get it out of the way.
 
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