FAA Medical Question

T182T wrote

I have always had a First-Class medical, not because my aviation
activity (PPL/IR) requires it, but mostly in case I don’t get in to see
the doctor in time, so it derates to a second class instead of leaving
me grounded.

Waste of both time and money. For Private Pilot operations, 1st, 2nd, and
3rd class medical certificates all have exactly the same total valid time.

Bob Moore ATP/CFI (with a 3rd class medical)

On 14 Jul 2010 22:01:53 GMT, Bob Moore
wrote:



Waste of both time and money. For Private Pilot operations, 1st, 2nd, and
3rd class medical certificates all have exactly the same total valid time.


Yeah, but ...

When I lived down south, I had an AME with license #17. He was 78
when I first met him and 88 when he turned his shingle around. His
teen-aged daughter worked in the office. You do the math. If you
couldn't bend over and touch your toes, he'd slam both palms face down
on the floor and say, "like THAT". Marvelous man.

His advice (since a 1st class and a 3rd class were the same price !!)
was to go for the first class on the off chance that some yoyo will
involve you in an accident and you will be able to prove that you were
in 1st class shape not too many months ago.

Just for my 8% of two bits.

Jim

In article ,
says...

His advice (since a 1st class and a 3rd class were the same price !!)
was to go for the first class on the off chance that some yoyo will
involve you in an accident and you will be able to prove that you were
in 1st class shape not too many months ago.

Just for my 8% of two bits.

Jim



I agree with this. As pilots, we are goal and performance oriented, and we
go for what we can get!
A First-Class medical is a goal all of us can establish early, but none can
maintain indefinitely, so why not keep it as long as we can? It is cheap,
compared with other certificates we hold.
For me personally, I prefer the obligatory ECG. Just as I enjoy and pursue
advanced ratings and qualifications. Keep the learning curve high and avoid
getting behind in your game. In medical terms, go for First Class until you
no longer qualify for it. For me, despite this little snafu, I’m looking at
another couple of decades!

On Fri, 16 Jul 2010 23:41:56 +0200, T182T wrote:

A First-Class medical is a goal all of us can establish early, but none
can maintain indefinitely, so why not keep it as long as we can?

I've followed this as well, and I'm healthy enough that I've no concerns
about it.

However, some of the older pilots I know have warned me against this
practice. The concern is apparently that the more in-depth examination
might expose something that would be disqualifying - once known - even
for a 3rd class medical.

I've mixed feelings. On one hand, I'd hate to lose my medical by "over
testing". On the other hand, I'd hate to be caught aware of a medical
problem that could have been detected earlier.

- Andrew

Andrew Gideon wrote:
On Fri, 16 Jul 2010 23:41:56 +0200, T182T wrote:

A First-Class medical is a goal all of us can establish early, but none
can maintain indefinitely, so why not keep it as long as we can?

I've followed this as well, and I'm healthy enough that I've no concerns
about it.

However, some of the older pilots I know have warned me against this
practice. The concern is apparently that the more in-depth examination
might expose something that would be disqualifying - once known - even
for a 3rd class medical.

I've mixed feelings. On one hand, I'd hate to lose my medical by "over
testing". On the other hand, I'd hate to be caught aware of a medical
problem that could have been detected earlier.

- Andrew

If you get a real physical from your private physician and he/she finds
something, you have the chance of getting it under control to FAA standards
by the time your next FAA physical comes around.

If it is found during your FAA physical, you are screwed.


--
Jim Pennino

Remove .spam.sux to reply.

On 7/14/2010 1:23 PM, T182T wrote:
I have always had a First-Class medical, not because my aviation
activity (PPL/IR) requires it, but mostly in case I don’t get in to see
the doctor in time, so it derates to a second class instead of leaving
me grounded. That happened this year for the first time, because my
doctor told me she is retiring, so I need to find someone else.

I have moderate arterial hypertension (about 160/110 uncontrolled)
which is well controlled (130/85) with a calcium channel blocker
(verapamil, 360 mg/d). This condition is unchanged throughout all the
years I have been flying. Also, because I am over 40 and I always get a
first-class medical, it means I have an EKG every year, and these have
always been perfectly normal.

My problem is that my AME has always considered this well-controlled
condition to be not serious enough to bother with the FAA procedures,
and not worth declaring. So all these years I have declared that I am
not taking any medication, when this is not in fact true. My question
is, now that I have to change AME, is this the time to "come clean" with
the FAA and declare this condition? I have never lied to the medical
examiner, she is the one who suggested I not declare it, stating that I
do not have a serious medical condition or a higher chance that the
average person to have a health-related incident when flying. If I
don’t say this to the new AME then it becomes me who is not telling the
truth, and I know the FAA takes a dim view of this. On the other hand,
if I come forward with it then it becomes obvious there has been a
"white lie" for many years. I am also concerned for the AME. Even if she
is now retired, I’m concerned another doctor could find fault with her
method, even though she has always been very thorough, and my exams have
rarely lasted less than 2 hours with all the tests and questionnaires.

Question for those who really know - What’s the best thing for me to do?


You know that there is only one answer that will do.
And you know that the FAA can handle single declared medicines to
control blood pressure, when they are declared.

Brian W

Originally Posted by T182T

I have always had a First-Class medical, not because my aviation
activity (PPL/IR) requires it, but mostly in case I don’t get in to see
the doctor in time, so it derates to a second class instead of leaving
me grounded. That happened this year for the first time, because my
doctor told me she is retiring, so I need to find someone else.

I have moderate arterial hypertension (about 160/110 uncontrolled)
which is well controlled (130/85) with a calcium channel blocker
(verapamil, 360 mg/d). This condition is unchanged throughout all the
years I have been flying. Also, because I am over 40 and I always get a
first-class medical, it means I have an EKG every year, and these have
always been perfectly normal.

My problem is that my AME has always considered this well-controlled
condition to be not serious enough to bother with the FAA procedures,
and not worth declaring. So all these years I have declared that I am
not taking any medication, when this is not in fact true. My question
is, now that I have to change AME, is this the time to "come clean" with
the FAA and declare this condition? I have never lied to the medical
examiner, she is the one who suggested I not declare it, stating that I
do not have a serious medical condition or a higher chance that the
average person to have a health-related incident when flying. If I
don’t say this to the new AME then it becomes me who is not telling the
truth, and I know the FAA takes a dim view of this. On the other hand,
if I come forward with it then it becomes obvious there has been a
"white lie" for many years. I am also concerned for the AME. Even if she
is now retired, I’m concerned another doctor could find fault with her
method, even though she has always been very thorough, and my exams have
rarely lasted less than 2 hours with all the tests and questionnaires.

Question for those who really know - What’s the best thing for me to do?

I am a nurse/private pilot and have come across a product that was developed to fight type 2 diabetes, b/p, cholesterol, and obesity. I have used this for a year, and lost 50lbs. I have a non-pilot friend who has gotten off statins, metformin, nitro and b/p meds., with this fiber/vitamin based product. All natural.
I would strongly recommend trying this to any pilots who are looking to fight these problems, stay off or get off meds, and retain your medical.

I urge you to message me. Everyone needs to know about this stuff. It is NOT a scam, or gimmick. Mary