Can I switch to Basic Med with a Class III application in review?

[Flying again!]

I have a question about if I can switch to Basic Med once my Class III paperwork is in with the FAA.

I did not want to wait until May for Basic med once my Class III expired on 28 Feb so I bit the bullet and completed the required forms in Feb. I am still waiting for my Certificate and all the FAA has been saying it was in the queue (for 7 weeks) and now in evaluation (for 3 weeks).

Background: In Nov 2015 I had a retinal detachment and had surgery to repair. My Class III expired while I was recovering. When I recovered I did the required test (field of view etc.) and submitted my application in Feb 2016. It was approved within a week and the Medical Certificate stated ?Not Valid for any class after 2/28/2017. The letter that came with it also said I had to resubmit the tests I did previously to verify nothing has changed.

So the Class III has not been denied and I am not under a Special Issuance, Waiver, etc. Can I apply for a Basic Med instead at this time or do I have to wait for the FAA to final approve my application (another XX months??).

Not sure why it only took 1 week for the initial approval and now over 10 weeks this time with nothing having changed in my health/vision.

Thanks

[RV7A Flyer]

Originally Posted by Flying again!

I have a question about if I can switch to Basic Med once my Class III paperwork is in with the FAA.

I did not want to wait until May for Basic med once my Class III expired on 28 Feb so I bit the bullet and completed the required forms in Feb. I am still waiting for my Certificate and all the FAA has been saying it was in the queue (for 7 weeks) and now in evaluation (for 3 weeks).

Background: In Nov 2015 I had a retinal detachment and had surgery to repair. My Class III expired while I was recovering. When I recovered I did the required test (field of view etc.) and submitted my application in Feb 2016. It was approved within a week and the Medical Certificate stated ?Not Valid for any class after 2/28/2017. The letter that came with it also said I had to resubmit the tests I did previously to verify nothing has changed.

So the Class III has not been denied and I am not under a Special Issuance, Waiver, etc. Can I apply for a Basic Med instead at this time or do I have to wait for the FAA to final approve my application (another XX months??).

Not sure why it only took 1 week for the initial approval and now over 10 weeks this time with nothing having changed in my health/vision.

Thanks

I sort of have to ask...what's the worst that could happen? They deny your Class III sometime in the future? Whatever they do with the CIII they were likely going to do anyway, and in the meantime, you can go fly under BasicMed.

And who knows? Maybe you'll end up being a test case and create some sort of precedent

[Pat Stewart]

I would say yes but I would call AOPA or EAA and get there feedback.

[John Owen]

Originally Posted by Flying again!

I have a question about if I can switch to Basic Med once my Class III paperwork is in with the FAA.

I did not want to wait until May for Basic med once my Class III expired on 28 Feb so I bit the bullet and completed the required forms in Feb. I am still waiting for my Certificate and all the FAA has been saying it was in the queue (for 7 weeks) and now in evaluation (for 3 weeks).

Background: In Nov 2015 I had a retinal detachment and had surgery to repair. My Class III expired while I was recovering. When I recovered I did the required test (field of view etc.) and submitted my application in Feb 2016. It was approved within a week and the Medical Certificate stated ?Not Valid for any class after 2/28/2017. The letter that came with it also said I had to resubmit the tests I did previously to verify nothing has changed.

So the Class III has not been denied and I am not under a Special Issuance, Waiver, etc. Can I apply for a Basic Med instead at this time or do I have to wait for the FAA to final approve my application (another XX months??).

Not sure why it only took 1 week for the initial approval and now over 10 weeks this time with nothing having changed in my health/vision.

Thanks

I would ask your AME to check on it or call your regional office directly. You run the (small) risk of having a denial on your record which isn't good with BasicMed. You are right, it shouldn't take this long, especially if everything was OK.

John
Senior AME

[Flying again!]

Originally Posted by John Owen

I would ask your AME to check on it or call your regional office directly. You run the (small) risk of having a denial on your record which isn't good with BasicMed. You are right, it shouldn't take this long, especially if everything was OK.

John
Senior AME

My AME said he couldn't get any info and suggested I keep calling OK City which I have been doing. Very frustrating!

[Pat Stewart]

The rule is last ten years and never had one denied or canceled and as of this moment you have not had that happen but I would still call AOPA medical, they will give you the best guidance.

[lr172]

The rules are very clear on what is not approved for basic med and from what you have described none apply to you. At this moment in time, there is no exclusion to you getting a Basic Med cert and legally flying.

The fact that you have a Class III application pending doesn't change anything. There is nothing in the legislation or the FAA AC that says you can't go Basic Med while an application is pending. However, if they deny your application, BasicMed no longer applies for you. Given that your tests last year were adequate and nothing has changed, you're probably OK. If you feel there is any risk of denial, you could investigate the possibility of rescinding your application to avoid the risk.


I feel for you. 4 years ago my AME messed up the printing of the certificate, which forced them to send it OKC. It took 20 phone calls and over 3 months to get my certificate, which of course was back dated to my exam date. Hello Basic Med, Good riddance Oklahoma City.

Larry

[Flying again!]

Thanks for the comments. I could not find anything to preclude me from applying under Basic Med. I'll call AOPA tomorrow and see if I can find a doc in the DFW area to do the Basic Med exam.

TJ

[lr172]

Originally Posted by Flying again!

Thanks for the comments. I could not find anything to preclude me from applying under Basic Med. I'll call AOPA tomorrow and see if I can find a doc in the DFW area to do the Basic Med exam.

TJ

I had good luck looking for Dr.'s that do CDL/DOT exams. You can find them on the internet. There is a large market for that and several advertise.

[TS Flightlines]

Quick plug here for John Owen---he gives GREAT ADVISE!!
Tom