3rd Class Medical in Florida Question…

[Bob]

I recently started by Private Pilot training in Daytona Beach and love
it. I actually never thought I would do as well as I'm doing and my
instructor is hounding me about getting my medical as he things I
should be read to solo very soon.

First I'll admit it, I HATE DOCTORS!… What all is involved in a 3rd
class medical? Do they do anything as advanced as any blood tests?
Sorry I can't do needles and if that means not flying then that is
it….

Next if there is no need for needles then how does one find a doctor
who "does as little as possible". I've heard stories where some
doctors really don't like pilots and put them through hell while other
doctors pretty much fill out the paperwork, do a sight and ear test
and that's about it…how do I go about finding one of these?

Bob

[Ron Natalie]

"Bob" > wrote in message om...

> First I'll admit it, I HATE DOCTORS!. What all is involved in a 3rd
> class medical? Do they do anything as advanced as any blood tests?
> Sorry I can't do needles and if that means not flying then that is
> it..

The most invasive thing they do is dip your urine for protein/sugar.
The bulk of the physical is filling out the medical history form (you can find
copies on AOPA's web site if you are a member as well as other places).
The rest of the test involves the eye test (near and distant vision, color
blindnes), a rudimentary hearing test (the doctor will speak to you from a
position where you can't read his lips), and the general pokes and prods
that they do to justify calling it an examination.

> Next if there is no need for needles then how does one find a doctor
> who "does as little as possible".

Ask around local pilots. I'm not so much worried about how much the
doc examines me, I'm more concerned about his attitude. I've had some
that are absolute slugs when it comes to bedside manner. I actually had
to argue with one over just want the vision requirements were for the third
class at the time.

[Robert Borucki]

First of all, CALM DOWN. I am an AME and do this because I love aviation.
We don't make much $$ doing these... I just do it so I can interact with
more pilots... your experience, if you allow it, will be pleasant and very
non-invasive. There are no blood tests required... simply a urinalysis and
an examination.

Bob Borucki

[Dave]

Grow up - if you aim to be a pilot then you are going to have to things you
wont like.

Dave

[GeorgeF]

Dave wrote:
> Grow up - if you aim to be a pilot then you are going to have to things you
> wont like.
>
> Dave

Dave, you must be a hell of person to live with, I feel sorry for your
wife. Bob asked a question which I hear everyday at the airport, in
fact if you talk to students there are many with the same fear of
doctors as Bob has. But to tell him to "grow up" was uncalled for.
Dave, keep your big mouth shut if you don't have something to offer.

Bob, don't feel back you're not alone. However you are more worried
than you need to be. As others kindly pointed out there really isn't
much to a 3rd class medical. Fill out a form, pee in a jar, look at an
eye chart, and listen for a sound (hearing test). Then the final step
is to fork over $50-$100 depending on the doctor...

I just hate it when someone asks a simple question but gets a smartassed
answer. Dave, if you were speaking person to person with someone asking
the same question would you tell them to "grow up"? Probably not, if
you did you would have no teeth left.

George
http://www.MilAirComms.com

[Katherine Rawlins]

I once believed there was no chance I could ever wear contact lenses,
because the very thought of sticking my finger in my own eye made me
squeamish to the point of abject terror.

Then one day I got offered the opportunity to do something I really
wanted to do: a job for a year in Antarctica. "Glasses will fog up in
seconds," they told me. "You'll want contacts."

So what happened? Well, I learned how to stick my finger in my own eye.
It was simply a matter of wanting something badly enough to go through
with it.

I'm sure your medical will go just fine. But remember that people CAN
do things they might think they CAN'T, when they need to, or when it's
for something that is truly worth it.

--Kath

> Sorry I can't do needles and if that means not flying then that is
> it….

[Gig Giacona]

"Bob" > wrote in message
om...
>
> First I'll admit it, I HATE DOCTORS!. What all is involved in a 3rd
> class medical? Do they do anything as advanced as any blood tests?
> Sorry I can't do needles and if that means not flying then that is
> it..

What is it about needles that scares you enough that you would give up
flying?

Is it the sight of blood? If so what would you do if while flying along
after you've gotten you certificate and you cut yourself on a exposed piece
of metal in the aircraft?

[Pat]

> Dave, you must be a hell of person to live with, I feel sorry for your
> wife. Bob asked a question which I hear everyday at the airport, in
> fact if you talk to students there are many with the same fear of
> doctors as Bob has. But to tell him to "grow up" was uncalled for.
> Dave, keep your big mouth shut if you don't have something to offer.
>

Dave's answer was right on. If the OP is such a pussy about little things
like going to see a doctor or getting a shot in the arm, he ought to find
another sport. Whether a 3rd class medical needs a shot isn't the point,
pun intended. He would rather not fly that deal with a needle ? Oh please.

[G.R. Patterson III]

Bob wrote:
>
> First I'll admit it, I HATE DOCTORS!… What all is involved in a 3rd
> class medical?

They ask a bunch of questions, most starting with "have you ever...". If the
answer to one of these is "yes" and there's any chance at all that the FAA will
find that out, answer "yes". Then they test your eyes (vision chart & color
blindness graphics), test reflexes, test hearing ("can you hear me now?"), test
blood pressure and ask you to pee in a cup.

> Do they do anything as advanced as any blood tests?

Nope.

> Sorry I can't do needles ....

I'm the same way. At least, I was until I developed some nasty allergies to some
things that are common in New Jersey. I finally decided that the shots were less
painful than my sinuses. Anyway, don't worry about it; they won't come at you
with any needles.

As for finding a doctor, you might ask the people at your flight school for
recommendations. They have a vested interest in finding you a doc who will pass
you!

George Patterson
You can dress a hog in a tuxedo, but he still wants to roll in the mud.

[Brad Z]

Go easy on him, folks. I've met quite a few instrument students who were
afraid of needles...

> Sorry I can't do needles and if that means not flying then that is
> it..

[Peter Duniho]

"Pat" > wrote in message
.. .
> Dave's answer was right on.

Bull. Flying an airplane has nothing to do with whether one is okay with
needles or not.

[Ben Jackson]

In article <9Benb.43630$e01.101590@attbi_s02>, Brad Z > wrote:
>Go easy on him, folks. I've met quite a few instrument students who were
>afraid of needles...

Maybe he could get the doctor to do the exam partial panel.

--
Ben Jackson
>
http://www.ben.com/

[Dave]

"GeorgeF" > wrote in message
news:3F9D5318.4010207@licensed4funREMOVEBEFOREFLIG HT.com...
>
>
> Dave wrote:
> > Grow up - if you aim to be a pilot then you are going to have to things
you
> > wont like.
> >
> > Dave
>
> Dave, you must be a hell of person to live with, I feel sorry for your
> wife.

Not at all, I am a pussycat and I have told people to grow up especially
when the office politics starts being silly.

I hate needles too, but I wanted to be a blood donor too so I grit my teeth
and give blood. I wear contact lenses. Now that was difficult to get the
hang of but I wanted to pull the babes so I did it. I like travelling too
and going abroad means having the shots. So what's the big deal, if the guy
really wants to fly he would have the needle if it was necessary. I am sure
we all would.

So I am not sorry for what I said or the way it came across.

Dave

[GeorgeF]

Pat wrote:
>>Dave, you must be a hell of person to live with, I feel sorry for your
>>wife. Bob asked a question which I hear everyday at the airport, in
>>fact if you talk to students there are many with the same fear of
>>doctors as Bob has. But to tell him to "grow up" was uncalled for.
>>Dave, keep your big mouth shut if you don't have something to offer.
>>
>
>
> Dave's answer was right on. If the OP is such a pussy about little things
> like going to see a doctor or getting a shot in the arm, he ought to find
> another sport. Whether a 3rd class medical needs a shot isn't the point,
> pun intended. He would rather not fly that deal with a needle ? Oh please.


Sorry I'm the same way as Bob, I've been flying since 1985. If it were
that I had to give blood I would not renew my medial either. You can
say "well you must not really love to fly" if you want, but with nearly
4,000 hours of SEL time logged I think you would be hard pressed to
accuse me of not loving to fly.

But for some people there are things that you simply can't overcome.
Foe me it needles. I have not had a needle in my arm since about 1975
and won't as long as I'm awake.....

Oh, in my case its not the sight of blood, its the thought of that thing
going in and coming back out. My last shot the in 1975 the damn nurse
BROKE THE NEEDLE AS IT WAS IN MY ARM, YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT F***ING
HURTING..... That was when I developed my fear of the needle....

Call my a pussy if you want but that just shows the type of person you
really are.....

George
http://www.MilAirComms.com

[Big John]

Ben

We used to call that (partial panel) "needle, ball and ass hole"
(pardon my english ladies). The pucker factor on PP led to the
acronym.

Big John

On Mon, 27 Oct 2003 20:03:02 GMT, (Ben Jackson) wrote:

>In article <9Benb.43630$e01.101590@attbi_s02>, Brad Z > wrote:
>>Go easy on him, folks. I've met quite a few instrument students who were
>>afraid of needles...
>
>Maybe he could get the doctor to do the exam partial panel.

[Neal]

The paperwork is more painful than any needle.

Besides, no blood test is required for a 3rd class medical. You been
watching the "Gattaca" movie too many times or something? If you're
*that* paranoid..... then maybe they _should_ do a blood test... :-)

You'll have to pee in a cup for a diabetes test.

[Bob Martin]

> Besides, no blood test is required for a 3rd class medical. You been
> watching the "Gattaca" movie too many times or something? If you're
> *that* paranoid..... then maybe they _should_ do a blood test... :-)
>
> You'll have to pee in a cup for a diabetes test.

I don't remember peeing in a cup... got my 3rd class two and a half years
ago... then again, my memory is like swiss cheese, so maybe I did...
whatever...

(I think I'm getting early-onset Alzheimer's or something)

[Ron Natalie]

"Big John" > wrote in message ...
> Ben
>
> We used to call that (partial panel) "needle, ball and ass hole"
> (pardon my english ladies). The pucker factor on PP led to the
> acronym.

I theorized that you can get enough to power the instruments by tapping
the vacuum in the seat caused by the ass puckering of the pilot.

[Ron Natalie]

"Bob Martin" > wrote in message ...

> I don't remember peeing in a cup... got my 3rd class two and a half years
> ago... then again, my memory is like swiss cheese, so maybe I did...
> whatever...

I didn't have to leave urine at my last medical, but I didn't know whether they
changed the rules or the doc just forgot it. My old AME used to dip the thing
while I watched.

[Paul Sengupta]

I went to Wayne Lafferty, in Polk City. He's quite entertaining
with his war stories (WWII). This was in 1996, but he's still there
last time I checked.

http://makeashorterlink.com/?U24F13C56

You're in Daytona Beach? If you come across Bob Geenty, with
his RAF red/white marked Chipmunk and Bulldog, tell him Paul
(with the Bulldog in the UK) says hi.

Paul

"Bob" > wrote in message
om...
> I recently started by Private Pilot training in Daytona Beach
> Next if there is no need for needles then how does one find a doctor
> who "does as little as possible".

[Dave]

Some AMEs just hold a mirror up to the mouth. If it mists up your OK. If not
your dead. A bit like how a girl I knew chose her boyfriends.



"Paul Sengupta" > wrote in message
...
> I went to Wayne Lafferty, in Polk City. He's quite entertaining
> with his war stories (WWII). This was in 1996, but he's still there
> last time I checked.
>
> http://makeashorterlink.com/?U24F13C56
>
> You're in Daytona Beach? If you come across Bob Geenty, with
> his RAF red/white marked Chipmunk and Bulldog, tell him Paul
> (with the Bulldog in the UK) says hi.
>
> Paul
>
> "Bob" > wrote in message
> om...
> > I recently started by Private Pilot training in Daytona Beach
> > Next if there is no need for needles then how does one find a doctor
> > who "does as little as possible".
>
>

[Ron Natalie]

"Dave" > wrote in message ...
> Some AMEs just hold a mirror up to the mouth. If it mists up your OK. If not
> your dead. A bit like how a girl I knew chose her boyfriends.
>
Nope, as long as you can sign the check for their fee, you're considered OK.

I only had one AME that required the payment BEFORE the exam. I should have
realized it as a warning. He was such a *******, I suspect a lot of his patients
run out on him before the exam is done.

[G.R. Patterson III]

Ron Natalie wrote:
>
> I didn't have to leave urine at my last medical, but I didn't know whether they
> changed the rules or the doc just forgot it.

I had to at my last medical this past Spring.

George Patterson
You can dress a hog in a tuxedo, but he still wants to roll in the mud.