3rd Class Medical - Jump Through Hoops?

Pre-solo students can definitely join. I did and they were and immense help
with problems on my medical.

Chris Ehlbeck

"Dave Butler" wrote in message
news:1110916586.364684@sj-nntpcache-5...
GEG wrote:
I'm a student pilot. I went for my first medical today.
There were 3 issues.

I don't know the answers to your specific questions, but I have a
suggestion:

If you're not a member of AOPA, join. Actually, I'm not sure pre-solo
students
are eligible to join... Anyway, get to the aopa web site and read through
all
the stuff in the medical section. The medical section is in the
members-only
section, so either join AOPA or borrow a member's user id. Maybe your
instructor
is a member and will help you get access to the info. There's a lot of
good
information there about getting through the medical process.

Good luck.

DGB

"GEG" wrote in message
...
He gave me 2 weeks to submit medical information to him, it appears,
to be included in my application. Maybe he's doing me a favor by
covering the bases that the FAA might wish to have additional information
on. That might actually save me time in the end.

Yes, that might explain it. I don't really know whether the FAA actually
gives him that much discretion, but yes...if he's willing to perform that
filtering process, it certainly could save you some time, if it avoids
having you wait on an application deferred to Oklahoma City.

Pete

Anyone is eligible to join AOPA at any time. In fact student pilots
(regardless of point in time of training) can benefit thru many
of the training programs, e.g. Flight Training mag, the Mentor
program, the website. Plus the legal advisor option (an additional
fee) and the medical advisor (comes with AOPA membership).

No, I'm not paid by AOPA. Nor do I get any kickbacks (I wish!)

On Tue, 15 Mar 2005 14:38:55 -0500, GEG
wrote:

I'm a student pilot. I went for my first medical today.
There were 3 issues.
issues snipped
Is that also normal?

The 2 week extension for info is out of the norm, but as others
mentioned he may be doing you a favor...

In practice, your 1st medical will be the most difficult. The Dr. has
no history with you and needs to come up to speed on any conditions.

Subsequent visits to the same doctor should be more expedient -
assuming your medical conditions stay the same or get better.

-Nathan

"GEG" wrote in message
...

I looked at their (AOPA) medication site and didn't expect this.

What can they do.
I'm telling the truth - that's rule #1, right?


No, rule #1 is to cover your ass. That means not lying. There's a difference
between answering questions dishonestly and presenting your particulars in
the best possible light. AOPA can help you figure out where that line is. It
is worth the membership price for the medical advice alone, I've used them
several times and it has saved me money and headaches.

-cwk.

GEG wrote:

The thing that got me was the Bextra has no FAA restrictions
yet he wants medical records specifically on my use of Bextra.
Plus, I only have 2 weeks to get the info.

Is this normal?

Yes. Normally, you can let it go longer than 2 weeks, but then you will be
forwarding everything to Oklahoma City and waiting at least 3 months for your
certificate. I sounds like your examiner is cutting you a deal.

There were a half-dozen other pilots through there, one older
gentleman who seemed as though he could barely walk and he went
right through (I'd imagine he is a professional pilot
and has been going there a long time.)

He probably has been through several situations much like the one you are
facing. After a condition has been reported, all the paperwork has been filed,
and OK City has approved the deal, all you have to do the next time is say
"Condition previously reported - no change."

You'll find this out for yourself in three years.

Do I need to worry? I mean, my hip condition isn't too bad (I did
have some surgery), and I know I can play hockey and lift weights
well beyond what the other pilots there were doing.

Probably not. If the FAA objects to the medication, there's probably another one
you can use.

Oh - he charged me $20 extra because of "extra paperwork" for the
items I need to follow up on and get sent to them.

Is that also normal?

My AMEs have never done this, but, again, it sounds like yours is signing off on
stuff that mine would forward to the FAA. IMO, the extra $20 is a great deal.

George Patterson
I prefer Heaven for climate but Hell for company.

Dave Butler wrote:

If you're not a member of AOPA, join. Actually, I'm not sure pre-solo students
are eligible to join...

They allowed me to join before I got my medical certificate.

George Patterson
I prefer Heaven for climate but Hell for company.

I would say that is exactly what he is doing. If it comes to the FAA with
all the i's dotted and the t's crossed so that they have a form with the
correct entry for every blank on their computer screen it will go right
through without a problem. If they have a blank that doesn't have the
information in the paperwork then the application goes into the "in box" on
someones desk and they write a letter to you asking for the additional
information. Then you get the information and send it to them and they
can't find your application because it isn't filed, it is in someone's inbox
and they went on vacation yesterday.

Seriously, the FAA tries hard, but they can only work with the information
that was sent them. A good AME, if there is ANY possible question, will
help you word the description of the problem to avoid tripping alarms
needlessly and help you make sure that all of the information they will
want if together and in the package when it goes in.

I had a medical condition that required a decision from on high a few years
ago. My AME helped me get all of the medical information and statements
from my doctors together and then routed the application to the right
office. He got it in, through, and cleared with no restrictions on my
medical in three days!

Highflyer
Highflight Aviation Services
Pinckneyville Airport ( PJY )

"GEG" wrote in message
...
He gave me 2 weeks to submit medical information to him, it appears,
to be included in my application. Maybe he's doing me a favor by
covering the bases that the FAA might wish to have additional information
on. That might actually save me time in the end.

Blanche wrote:
Anyone is eligible to join AOPA at any time. In fact student pilots
(regardless of point in time of training) can benefit thru many
of the training programs,

Many years ago you had to be an airplane owner or pilot (i.e., had a student
pilot certificate or better) to join AOPA. I guess they figured it made
there membership numbers look more legitimate. They dropped the question
from the membership applciation at least a decade ago.

George Patterson wrote:

GEG wrote:

The thing that got me was the Bextra has no FAA restrictions
yet he wants medical records specifically on my use of Bextra.
Plus, I only have 2 weeks to get the info.

Is this normal?


Yes. Normally, you can let it go longer than 2 weeks, but then you will be
forwarding everything to Oklahoma City and waiting at least 3 months for your
certificate. I sounds like your examiner is cutting you a deal.

If you get deferred it's a MINIMUM of eight weeks. That's if all the submitted
info passes muster. The key is to get the certificate issued subject to review
(it always is anyhow) by the Joklahoma City debacle.

I can't stress how ****ed up Aeromedical Certfication is in Joklahoma City.
This is one part of the FAA that's backwards from the norm. Usually it's
the Field offices that are hosed up. For medical, the field officers are
by and far superior.