Med exam
 

I am doing Form 8500-8 for my medical exam and just want to make sure that since I am not a pilot yet I need airman and student pilot certification. Right?

DO NOT SUBMIT YOUR FORMS TO FAA
 

Im not sure of your question, but I did want to to consider waiting to submit your forms UNTIL you go see the doctor for your medical. Let him look at them to make sure things are correct and there are not any problems you may not know about.

You may be in perfect health and this isnt an issue - but there is no benefit to submit them before your exam.

I'm going to have to look at this again, as I did submit mine earlier this evening.
I thought the submit was so the AME can pull it. Then, the AME submits the final copy.
This is the first time I've done this since it has become required.

Dan,
My doctor said to let him look at them first. I have a couple things that most likely will not be an issue but if not presented with the proper documentation, have the possibility of further review. If there could be anything, let the doctor do a review first.

Just did it
 

I just went through the process last Tues. My examiner's nurse said to fill out the 8500-8 online and come to the appointment with the confirmation number. I misread box 17b and checked yes when I should have checked no. The nurse said a lot of people make that mistake so read the question closely. It was no big deal for them to correct.

Question 18 about your medical history lists about 25 medical conditions. It's probably a good idea to talk with an expert if you think you may need to check any of them "yes". If you take any prescription drugs that may lead to more questions from the examiner. In the past I've had to produce a note from my regular doc as a result of a prescription drug I was on. Not suggesting you mislead anyone, just good to get advice. I owned up to having been motion sick before (fishing in The Gulf). Explained that I've never "lost my cookies" in a plane and the examiner was OK with it.

Be sure to take your near vision glasses if you need them for the eye test. My examiner asked me about sleep apnea also. (as in "Do you snore?") I don't think it's on the form, but he said the FAA is concerned about it since roughly 0% of pilots seem to be afflicted with the disorder. John

I've heard this enough now that I have to ask... What is the big hard on about sleep apnea and snoring and what are they trying to tie it to?

I've snored like a rhinoceros since I was 16yrs old. My late chocolate lab snored louder than me yet he could swim across Lake Havasu and back twice before I could even get the boat in the water.

What gives?

This is not how it works
 

The way it is supposed to work is that once you come in the door for an FAA medical the exam is started, it's too late to reconsider. You could of course schedule an exam with an MD to just chat, then schedule an appointment for your FAA exam. The FAA now requires that you fill in the form, on MedXpress.gov, BEFORE you appear at the MD's office. Bring the confirmation number with you to the exam. BTW, this web site only works with Internet Explorer, not Safari.
For a student you do not your medical until you are ready to solo, but it's a good idea to get it earlier, just in case there is a problem.

You need to understand that giving 3rd class medicals is incredibly lucrative for MDs. Every year I get 4-5 postcards from AMEs soliciting my business. Now, all the evidence indicates that these exams are a complete waste of money, and there is some pressure to eliminate them. So the medical establishment keeps dreaming up new things to try to justify continuing the exams. Sleep apnea is just the latest. Some years ago they were trying to get colonoscopies mandatory.

Correct Bob. Because the results of a medical can be long lasting, it needs to be planned carefully. It is a test. If you don't prepare properly, you may never fly as PIC again.

I'm on a Special Issuance and went thru this on my last exam. The AME can use the confirmation number to open your form either for review or the exam. If he opens it in exam mode the clock starts and it has to be dispositioned, either issued, deferred or denied. But he can open it for review instead and then just shelve it or flush it if something turns up. You can either walk away and go LSA or fix things and create a new form for another go at it.