Ed_Wischmeyer
Well Known Member
Over the past few months, I've learned a few things that will probably help other RVers avoid unnecessary troubles with the FAA medical folks.
My adventures started in December when I had an aura, as in optical migraine. This is a temporary blockage of a small portion of your vision, and it usually goes away on its own promptly -- as it did in my case. This is not uncommon and is usually not a big deal. (I'm 73 years old, somehow...)
The optometrist's receptionist said not to worry about it as I had an appointment coming up in a month, and that was sort of correct, but the optometrist was much more concerned.
He referred me to a cardiologist and I got the whole treatment: EKG, two week heart monitor, and an echo cardiogram. The optometrist also referred me to get the carotid arteries checked. My family doctor saw all these referrals and she in turn referred me to a neurologist and I got a brain MRI. They didn't find anything. Of significance, that is, some minor stuff but also age related cerebral atrophy. I tell my friends that means that my jokes won't improve. I was also got a field of view test, to make sure that there were no gaps in my vision. All these test results were normal. Not perfect, but normal.
In conversations with two pilot friends with cardiac issues, I heard interesting stories. First, that if the FAA wants test results to resolve any medical issues, those tests need to be less than 90 days old. Also, the FAA will not grant Special Issuance to BasicMed, only to third class or better. And one friend was told by the FAA Oklahoma City that he needed some cardiac test but, unfortunately, that test is obsolescent or worse and nobody around him performs that test any more. They also wanted test results from events dating back 70 years...
So, on BasicMed, the AOPA medical folks said that none of this had to be reported to the FAA. On the other hand, since I've had all these tests done, and they're all looking good, why not go for a second or a third class medical and put any possible issues to rest – especially if the FAA was to later decide that some expensive test(s) needed to be redone when it’s time for BasicMed renewal.
I went to a Senior AME and gave him all these test results. If I had wanted to pay for it, I probably could have gotten a First Class medical. Anyway, the information will go to the FAA on Wednesday, looking for oral approval to issue a second class. Worst case, they’ll take 90 days to review all the data, but in the meantime, I’m still well qualified for BasicMed.
The important part here is that he is not a plain vanilla AME, he is a Senior AME and knows the FAA system and people. He knows what phrasing to use to keep the FAA medicos from salivating at sloppy writing. This contrasts with the experience of a friend (mentioned above), who hired a big company to handle his cardiac condition with the FAA. They did nothing except submit all his information to the FAA without telling him, and without reviewing or explaining the information, IIRC. The FAA responded unfavorably in his case.
Your mileage will undoubtedly vary, but if you’re facing medical concerns that might threaten your flying, there are smart ways to handle the situation. And it can be expensive – with a discount, my Senior AME charged me about the same as five third class medicals, plus the fee for the Second Class. But he will see this through, whatever it takes.
You get what you pay for.
My adventures started in December when I had an aura, as in optical migraine. This is a temporary blockage of a small portion of your vision, and it usually goes away on its own promptly -- as it did in my case. This is not uncommon and is usually not a big deal. (I'm 73 years old, somehow...)
The optometrist's receptionist said not to worry about it as I had an appointment coming up in a month, and that was sort of correct, but the optometrist was much more concerned.
He referred me to a cardiologist and I got the whole treatment: EKG, two week heart monitor, and an echo cardiogram. The optometrist also referred me to get the carotid arteries checked. My family doctor saw all these referrals and she in turn referred me to a neurologist and I got a brain MRI. They didn't find anything. Of significance, that is, some minor stuff but also age related cerebral atrophy. I tell my friends that means that my jokes won't improve. I was also got a field of view test, to make sure that there were no gaps in my vision. All these test results were normal. Not perfect, but normal.
In conversations with two pilot friends with cardiac issues, I heard interesting stories. First, that if the FAA wants test results to resolve any medical issues, those tests need to be less than 90 days old. Also, the FAA will not grant Special Issuance to BasicMed, only to third class or better. And one friend was told by the FAA Oklahoma City that he needed some cardiac test but, unfortunately, that test is obsolescent or worse and nobody around him performs that test any more. They also wanted test results from events dating back 70 years...
So, on BasicMed, the AOPA medical folks said that none of this had to be reported to the FAA. On the other hand, since I've had all these tests done, and they're all looking good, why not go for a second or a third class medical and put any possible issues to rest – especially if the FAA was to later decide that some expensive test(s) needed to be redone when it’s time for BasicMed renewal.
I went to a Senior AME and gave him all these test results. If I had wanted to pay for it, I probably could have gotten a First Class medical. Anyway, the information will go to the FAA on Wednesday, looking for oral approval to issue a second class. Worst case, they’ll take 90 days to review all the data, but in the meantime, I’m still well qualified for BasicMed.
The important part here is that he is not a plain vanilla AME, he is a Senior AME and knows the FAA system and people. He knows what phrasing to use to keep the FAA medicos from salivating at sloppy writing. This contrasts with the experience of a friend (mentioned above), who hired a big company to handle his cardiac condition with the FAA. They did nothing except submit all his information to the FAA without telling him, and without reviewing or explaining the information, IIRC. The FAA responded unfavorably in his case.
Your mileage will undoubtedly vary, but if you’re facing medical concerns that might threaten your flying, there are smart ways to handle the situation. And it can be expensive – with a discount, my Senior AME charged me about the same as five third class medicals, plus the fee for the Second Class. But he will see this through, whatever it takes.
You get what you pay for.