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Buyer Test Flight
- Thread starter JBHansen
- Start date
Isn't that an LSA? And can't pilots of those things use a driver's license for a medical?
I'm a bit unsure - but I think they can.
Dave
I'm a bit unsure - but I think they can.
Dave
- A person using a current and valid U.S. driver's license must comply with each restriction and limitation imposed by that person's U.S. driver's license and any judicial or administrative order applying to the operation of a motor vehicle. That person must also meet the requirements of 14 CFR 61.23(c)(2), which states the following:
- Have been found eligible for the issuance of at least a third class airman medical certificate at the time of his or her most recent application (if the person has applied for a medical certificate);
- Not have had his or her most recently issued medical certificate (if the person has held a medical certificate) suspended or revoked or most recent Authorization for a Special Issuance of a Medical Certificate withdrawn; and
- Not know or have reason to know of any medical condition that would make that person unable to operate a light-sport aircraft in a safe manner.
They can if they haven’t applied for a 3rd class and failed/been denied.
That is why anyone that doesn’t have a specific need to have a 3rd class (for most of us the only reason would be to fly outside the boarders of the lower 48), they should really consider switching to basic med or fly under sport pilot rules if the aircraft they fly will allow.
I'm a doc in Ohio who does Basic Med exams. The most important thing you can do is NOT apply for another FAA medical certificate. If you do have a condition that results in the denial of a new certificate, you can't go Basic Med.
I agree with the other comments in this thread. If you are still legal to drive in California, AND you self-assess as not having anything that will actually interfere with or make it dangerous to fly, then you should go Basic Med. You would need to take the on-line course hosted by AOPA and learn how to be able to declare yourself fit or not-fit to fly, then find a willing doctor. Essentially, Basic Med is about self-regulation.
FAR Part 67 was written by doctors who didn't have much aviation experience, as most of the issues listed there really aren't important to pilots. The congressmen who wrote the Basic Med regs had even less idea of what they were talking about and set very low standards -- None. If you legally qualify, there's no way to fail a Basic Med exam except for the physician's opinion.
Here is the statement that said physician signs:
I certify that I discussed all items on this checklist with the individual during my examination, discussed any medications the individual is taking that could interfere with their ability to safely operate an aircraft or motor vehicle, and performed an examination that included all of the items on this checklist. I certify that I am not aware of any medical condition that, as presently treated, could interfere with the individual's ability to safely operate an aircraft.
Note how different this is from FAR Part 67. That lists conditions, which if are or were ever present, prohibit the issuance of an FAA certificate by the AME. (You might get a special issuance in 2027 or 2028, unless OK City gets gutted by the new administration, then all bets are off.)
Hope this helps. If it's still safe for you to do so, keep flying!
-dbh
"Lost my medical" can cover a lot of ground but usually means cardiac, neurological, psychological, or substance-related. All of these are retrievable via Special Issuance but that can be expensive and a huge bureaucratic hassle such as only a government agency can create. It's incorrect to believe that a pilot can just have their medical revoked, then automatically drop back to Basic Med or Sport Pilot and fly on. One still has to get the Special Issuance.
I accept your observation and would like to clarify/elaborate on my previous comment. If a pilot develops a medical condition that prohibits flying based on an FAA Certificate (e.g., ever having had a kidney stone), then they may no longer perform crewmember duties (unless they get a Special Issuance.)
As far as I am aware, the FAA does not hunt down every airman's current medical records and issue revocations. They will deny a renewal application if there is a disqualifying condition disclosed in the process, hence my original admonition to not make any new applications. In other words, there is a difference between developing a medical condition that renders the FAA certificate no longer applicable, versus having the FAA actually revoke/deny said certificate and thus go through administrative hell to get it back (been there; done that). In the former, you go get Basic Med. In the latter, you have to get a Special Issuance.
In all cases, it's up to the pilot to be honest with themself and not fly if not safe. Basic Med is advisory, FAR Part 67 is administrative in the way that this is implemented.
hope that helps,
-dbh
AIM 8-1-1 (a) (3)
Caution: The CFRs prohibit a pilot who possesses a current medical certificate from performing crewmember duties while the pilot has a known medical condition or increase of a known medical condition that would make the pilot unable to meet the standards for the medical certificate.
On the other hand, if they have not had their medical certificate revoked nor a new application denied, then they may fly under Basic Med as long as "not aware of any medical condition, as presently treated, could prevent the individual's ability to safely operate an aircraft" (e.g., the kidney stone has passed). FAA 8700-2 Comprehensive Medical Examination Checklist:
The most recent medical certificate held (including an authorization for a special issuance certificate) must have not been denied, suspended, revoked, or withdrawn.
As far as I am aware, the FAA does not hunt down every airman's current medical records and issue revocations. They will deny a renewal application if there is a disqualifying condition disclosed in the process, hence my original admonition to not make any new applications. In other words, there is a difference between developing a medical condition that renders the FAA certificate no longer applicable, versus having the FAA actually revoke/deny said certificate and thus go through administrative hell to get it back (been there; done that). In the former, you go get Basic Med. In the latter, you have to get a Special Issuance.
In all cases, it's up to the pilot to be honest with themself and not fly if not safe. Basic Med is advisory, FAR Part 67 is administrative in the way that this is implemented.
hope that helps,
-dbh
Exactly - and I think that colloquially, people may use "lost my medical" to refer to either one of those. The effect is the same for non-LSA aircraft, but of course very different here.
Also, note that the BasicMed and Sport criteria relating to previous medicals are subtly different. For BasicMed, the rules are as you quoted: cannot have been denied, suspended, revoked, or withdrawn (FAR 61.23(c)(3)(ii) through (c)(3)(iv) say exactly the same thing). For Sport, the applicable clause is 61.23(c)(2)(ii): "Have been found eligible for the issuance of at least a third-class airman medical certificate at the time of his or her most recent application (if the person has applied for a medical certificate)". My reading of this is that if you're still in paperwork limbo (which can take literal years), then assuming you meet the other requirements, you could operate under BasicMed because you haven't been denied, suspended, revoked, or withdrawn; but you cannot operate under Sport, because you have applied but have not yet been found eligible.
In any case, I'd say check the open pilot clause. Mine doesn't actually require RV-12 time at all, just "500 total logged flying hours of which not less than 25 hours shall have been in a Van's tricycle gear aircraft"... but I would recommend finding someone with RV-12 experience.
I would certainly think that "lost my medical" implies revocation or denial.
But, it's true...the accuracy of a doctor's physical exam relies heavily on the accuracy of the medical history that the patient provides. In that regard, pilots are all pretty much on the honor system. In this case, an applicant could lie and answer "NO" to the questions under section 18 on the CMEC that ask about health history and the examining physician might never be the wiser. Multiple episodes of unexplained loss of consciousness, for example, may very well not be discoverable on a routine physical exam. And/or..that pilot could simply ignore the need to self-report exclusionary medical conditions that would render them unfit to fly an airplane according to the FARs. I'm no fan of the FAA Aeromedical Branch, but their rules and expectations are not unclear, even though not that hard to circumvent.
But, it's true...the accuracy of a doctor's physical exam relies heavily on the accuracy of the medical history that the patient provides. In that regard, pilots are all pretty much on the honor system. In this case, an applicant could lie and answer "NO" to the questions under section 18 on the CMEC that ask about health history and the examining physician might never be the wiser. Multiple episodes of unexplained loss of consciousness, for example, may very well not be discoverable on a routine physical exam. And/or..that pilot could simply ignore the need to self-report exclusionary medical conditions that would render them unfit to fly an airplane according to the FARs. I'm no fan of the FAA Aeromedical Branch, but their rules and expectations are not unclear, even though not that hard to circumvent.
I disagree. I think they're exactly the same thing. One situation is just easier to hide than the other. If the FAA suspends or revokes a medical, well..cat's obviously already out of the bag. As opposed to that week of crushing chest pain or the unexplained episode of unconsciousness that the pilot elected to keep to himself, so that there'd be no way for the FAA to find out and he just checks "NO" in the relevant boxes on the CMEC that ask "have you ever in your life..." when he goes to apply for Basic Med.
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This x 1000.
