3rd Class Medical - Jump Through Hoops?

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.

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.

HMM...Has me wondering...should I do some up front work before I go
get a 3rd class medical? I haven't been flying. Since then I have
been taking Methotrexate for psoriatic arthritis. It has been 100%
effective with no side effects. The drug is listed with FAA. Will I
have any issues? Should I get a letter from my Rheumy?

Carl

Carl / KG6YKL wrote:

Should I get a letter from my Rheumy?

I would. The letter should state what you've been taking, what for, the length
of time you've been taking it, and, of course, that you've had no side effects.
You might not need it, but it could make a big difference.

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