3rd Class Medical Finally Issued, Good for 49 days?!?

S

Skybound-mg

Filing Flight Plan
Joined
Aug 17, 2021
Messages
27
Display Name
Display name:
Skybound-mg
Without getting into the insane backstory, I've been in the process of getting a 3rd class medical since August 2021 due to a deferral for ADHD and some other bogus diagnoses that came from seeing an ADHD APRN.

I was very excited when I finally got into "Final review" status, and have been obsessively checking MedXpress and the Airmen registry.

Last night I checked, and FINALLY I see my 3rd class medical issued.
Medical Date: 8/2021 NOT VALID FOR ANY CLASS AFTER 02/28/2023

If this was truly issued yesterday, this is valid for only 49 days?! WHAT?

Has anyone ever seen anything like this? Would calling OK get me anywhere if MedXpress isnt even updated yet?
 
Here's a question for you.

Why not just go basicMed at this point? You qualify, in that you have held (are holding) a 3rd class medical.

Yes, it is a bummer that your current 3rd class is only valid for 49 days, but since you qualify for basicMed it is not really an issue beyond the dismay at so much effort for so little reward. Yet, considering it opens the path to basicMed, the reward may be longer lasting than it initially seems.

Oh, and congrats on successfully navigating the process to get that 3rd class. No doubt it was quite involved.
 
I know about BasicMed, and I may go that route. I was worried about it being overly restrictive. I was hoping to be able to fly in Canada, and really wanted to fly in the Bahamas -- come to find out BasicMed is accepted in the Bahamas, and I won't have the financial means to fly or access to a plane that can carry > 5 passengers or go > 250 kts any time in the near future.

I just don't understand the point of issuing a medical that's only valid for 49 days. If there are some requirements to renew it, there's no chance I can turn them around in 49 days by the time they get around to mailing the letter, it taking over a week to get to me, me attempting to make appointments with AMEs/etc that are at least 3 weeks out, and them taking weeks days to process any paperwork.

I can see 3mo or 6 mo, but 49 days? It's just going to lapse and halt my training-- even if I were ready to go for the checkride (I'm not, haven't soloed yet), the soonest the DPE could get me in would probably be later than that date.
 
Last edited:
You can have both a 3rd class and basicMed.

I'd suggest getting the basicMed completed now so that your training is not interrupted, and then you'll have plenty of time to work on getting an updated 3rd class.
 
guest user said:
You can have both a 3rd class and basicMed.

I'd suggest getting the basicMed completed now so that your training is not interrupted, and then you'll have plenty of time to work on getting an updated 3rd class.
Click to expand...

That is actually an excellent point. I will get after it this morning.
 
guest user said:
You can have both a 3rd class and basicMed.

I'd suggest getting the basicMed completed now so that your training is not interrupted, and then you'll have plenty of time to work on getting an updated 3rd class.
Click to expand...
If @Skybound-mg wants to bother. The letter that comes along with the special issuance medical will have instructions on what will be needed for the next time. Might be simple. Might be complicated. Might be cheap. Might be costly.

This is one place where BasicMed truly shines.
 
Yeah, I'm awaiting the letter -- knowing them it won't be here until late next week.

I'm looking at BasicMed-- but getting it before the medical expires is going to be... cute.

Problem is the CMEC. My doctor is 3 months out for non-emergency appointments. My AME is 4 weeks out -- Feb 7. I made an appointment with him to get the CMEC - But even if (best case) he mails it out to them that day -- chances of it getting issued by 2/28 before my medical expires is unlikely.

I'm at about 30 hours without soloing (was ready at 16 hrs) becuase I've been waiting for the medical (obviously) -- so I'm going to take a gamble and book the DPE in like.. early April. And just hope that I can get all of my solo requirements done with a valid medical prior to 2/28 -- and just hope the BasicMed or medical renewal comes in by early April -- and do maintenance flying with my CFI until then if I'm without a valid medical or BasicMed.

It's threading an expensive needle.
 
The medical is always dated from the DATE OF EXAMINATION. As you realized, the incredibly slow issuance of deferred applications can result in a very short active time or even one that is expired. The good news is that the SI letter probably gives you and the AME all that is needed to have the renewal issued in his office. The other good news, as others point out, is you can just go basic med at this point.
 
Your Basic Med becomes effective immediately and does not involve the FAA. You don't need to use your own doctor, and many people find local urgent care centers that will do them. Operating under Basic Med could start today while you sort out the renewal of your class 3 medical, and it's probably a good idea for some people to establish Basic Med as a back-up in case some "mildly disqualifying condition" (e.g. skin cancer) needs to be addressed. The standards for self-grounding are different, and Basic Med gives a lot more leeway.

I'm hoping that Canada realizes soon that permitting Basic Med for U.S. citizens helps tourism in their country. (It also helps Alaska to some extent.)
 
Last edited:
Skybound-mg said:
Without getting into the insane backstory, I've been in the process of getting a 3rd class medical since August 2021 due to a deferral for ADHD and some other bogus diagnoses that came from seeing an ADHD APRN.

I was very excited when I finally got into "Final review" status, and have been obsessively checking MedXpress and the Airmen registry.

Last night I checked, and FINALLY I see my 3rd class medical issued.
Medical Date: 8/2021 NOT VALID FOR ANY CLASS AFTER 02/28/2023

If this was truly issued yesterday, this is valid for only 49 days?! WHAT?

Has anyone ever seen anything like this? Would calling OK get me anywhere if MedXpress isnt even updated yet?
Click to expand...

I was in a similar boat except I had 9 months. From their perspective the short period makes sense because it’s one year from your ame visit (full exam.)
 
Skybound-mg said:
Yeah, I'm awaiting the letter -- knowing them it won't be here until late next week.
Click to expand...

Don't hold your breath. Tell yourself 4 weeks and if it arrives earlier consider it a bonus...seriously.

I think they operate with an independent postal service and their own concept of time. :rolleyes:
 
Skybound-mg said:
…I'm looking at BasicMed-- but getting it before the medical expires is going to be... cute.

Problem is the CMEC. My doctor is 3 months out for non-emergency appointments...
Click to expand...
Go see a doc in a box. My CMEC physician is neither my AME nor my PCP.

Aviation is not a particularly inexpensive hobby, particularly if you’ve got multiple hobbies or certain challenges in your medical history. While you may be frustrated, your history was deemed certifiable by the FAA. Not every history is.

You can make it harder than it has to be, but you don’t have to.
 
https://www.aopa.org/advocacy/pilots/medical/basicmed/doctor-finder


Find a doc to do Basic Med (you might have to travel), get it done, and never play FAA medical roulette again.

In some states, chiropractors are “state licensed physicians” and might be able to give you an appointment sooner than your MD. Also try the “doc-in-a-box” walk-in clinics, but be sure they have a physician and not a nurse practitioner.

This is typical, BTW. My class 3 was only good for 9 months, but I went to Basic Med and never looked back.
 
You say "Go see a doc in a box" -- you mean like a walk in? The CMEC seems to be pretty detailed-- almost like a full physical -- and a lot of walk-ins only have PAs -- i'm willing to do whatever.
 
Has to be a physician, not a PA or NP. It’s a pretty simple exam. Any place that does DOT or sports physicals is capable of doing it.

Try the AOPA link I posted.
 
Skybound-mg said:
You say "Go see a doc in a box" -- you mean like a walk in? The CMEC seems to be pretty detailed-- almost like a full physical -- and a lot of walk-ins only have PAs -- i'm willing to do whatever.
Click to expand...

The CMEC exam took me less time to complete than it took to sign in and wait to be called back.

Any place that does DOT physicals or urgent care, just call first to make an appt and make sure they do basicmed exams; TeamCME is one that allows you to search locations that specifically offer BasicMed.
https://teamcme.com/find-faa-basicmed-examiner/

The AOPA link somebody else posted is also a place to start.
 
Last edited:
Skybound-mg said:
Yeah, I'm awaiting the letter -- knowing them it won't be here until late next week.

I'm looking at BasicMed-- but getting it before the medical expires is going to be... cute.
Click to expand...

Go to a doc-in-the-box that does DOT physicals. Very similar, and many people have reported being able to walk in and get a Basic Med done.
 
TCABM said:
The CMEC exam took me less time to complete than it took to sign in and wait to be called back.

Any place that does DOT physicals or urgent care, just call first to make an appt and make sure they do basicmed exams; TeamCME is one that allows you to search locations that specifically offer BasicMed.
https://teamcme.com/find-faa-basicmed-examiner/

The AOPA link somebody else posted is also a place to start.
Click to expand...
Thanks, you guys are awesome -- I talked to a board chiropractor who is a state certified physician who can do my basic med as soon as I get the 3rd class in the mail, so I'm going that route-- you guys helped out a ton -- really appreciate it.
 
The way the trend is going, it seems like it won't be long before SI medicals are already expired on the day they're issued.
 
Palmpilot said:
The way the trend is going, it seems like it won't be long before SI medicals are already expired on the day they're issued.
Click to expand...


Give the FAA a little more credit. They will arrange for the SI requirements to be past due at date of issuance so that they can send the approval and revocation letters in the same envelope.
 
Skybound-mg said:
. . . do my basic med as soon as I get the 3rd class in the mail . . .
Click to expand...

Unless the provider doing your evaluation asks for it as part of his evaluation, I would suggest you get the Basic Med done without it. There's no need to wait for it and no need for the provider to have it. If for some reason your medical is denied in that letter, then you can't operate under Basic Med (but I'm assuming that there's no reason for a denial). If the letter requires a Special Issuance, you let the SI expire, but that isn't considered denied for purposes of operating under Basic Med.
 
dbahn said:
Your Basic Med becomes effective immediately and does not involve the FAA
Click to expand...
this. The only times the FAA is involved are, they know you got it, if they ask to see it, typically during an investigation for something else or, if for some reason, they think you don't qualify.
 
The woman I talked to said she couldn't (or maybe wouldnt) complete the CMEC / paperwork with without a copy showing proof that I had an active medical at some point (she wants a copy of a medical) -- since I have no certificate, she wants proof of an active medical.

The medical was not denied -- I can see it active on the Airmen registry. I just have to wait for it to be delivered then go to her office. Should be easy enough and I anticipate having it done next week.
 
Skybound-mg said:
The medical was not denied -- I can see it active on the Airmen registry. I just have to wait for it to be delivered then go to her office. Should be easy enough and I anticipate having it done next week.
Click to expand...


Take a screenshot and print it.
 
Skybound-mg said:
The woman I talked to said she couldn't (or maybe wouldnt) complete the CMEC / paperwork with without a copy showing proof that I had an active medical at some point (she wants a copy of a medical) -- since I have no certificate, she wants proof of an active medical.
Click to expand...
"Wouldn't."
 
Skybound-mg said:
The woman I talked to said she couldn't (or maybe wouldnt) complete the CMEC / paperwork with without a copy showing proof that I had an active medical at some point (she wants a copy of a medical) -- since I have no certificate, she wants proof of an active medical.
Click to expand...

Is the provider doing the CMEC under any obligation to verify that the applicant has not had a denial? It seems to me that it's up to the airman to comply with the regulations, including not operating under Basic Med if the a medical is denied.

(For another example, an airman switches to Basic Med then later decides he needs a class 3 certification, which is then denied. It's up to him to self ground under the regulation even though he "has" Basic Med.)
 
Congrats OP, I understand the hoops you have jumped thru. good to hear you made it thru. but valid for 49 days seems like a sick joke. Def do whatever it takes to get the BasicMed. I feel like the aviation community owes anyone who's persevered to the end a huge thank you. You have fought the good fight.

Am going thru all this myself, and may opt for the LSA route for now, mostly due to AME & AOPA advice. I'm pretty convinced the Feds (or at least their lawyers) do not want GA pilots, period.
 
dbahn said:
Is the provider doing the CMEC under any obligation to verify that the applicant has not had a denial? It seems to me that it's up to the airman to comply with the regulations, including not operating under Basic Med if the a medical is denied.
Click to expand...
Nothing obligating the physician to check. Nothing in the physician instructions nor the physician's certification Nor the regulation). Mine never has. But I can see a doctor asking about it. Although it's not mentioned in the instructions for the physician, it is mentioned in the instructions for the pilot. And since the pilot is required to give the pilot instructions to the physician, I can see a doc doing asking about it.
 
Last edited:
That sounds reasonable. I suspect if the applicant gives a thorough explanation of how unnecessarily cumbersome the FAA process is, it may provide the physician more leeway, especially with the instructions on cardiac, mental, and neurological conditions being specified. My own doctors have been mystified when I've explained conditions that require self grounding under the old system.
 
dbahn said:
My own doctors have been mystified when I've explained conditions that require self grounding under the old system.
Click to expand...


Uh huh.

Over the years I've had a few squamous cell carcinoma skin cancers sliced off. Dr. Bruce and I had to submit 140 pages worth of dermatology records. How many plane crashes has the NTSB attributed to a squamous cell? My dermatologist thought it was crazy, but sent me the records.

Basic Med brings a little sanity to the situation by getting the insane FAA out of the way.
 
Petrus_829 said:
Congrats OP, I understand the hoops you have jumped thru. good to hear you made it thru. but valid for 49 days seems like a sick joke. Def do whatever it takes to get the BasicMed.
Click to expand...

Thanks -- I almost just gave up back in 2021, but I figured i'd be no closer to my dream of flying if I kept whining and didn't move forward. So I starting moving forward (but still whine on occasion). :) $6k out of pocket just to get a third class medical sucks, but it is what it is.
 
dbahn said:
That sounds reasonable. I suspect if the applicant gives a thorough explanation of how unnecessarily cumbersome the FAA process is, it may provide the physician more leeway, especially with the instructions on cardiac, mental, and neurological conditions being specified. My own doctors have been mystified when I've explained conditions that require self grounding under the old system.
Click to expand...
My PCP's big question was, "I can do this?" Apparently there was a change in the rules about CDL exams and she had done them. Then the DOT changed the rule to require DOT certification of the people doing it. So she was surprised the FAA was allowing this.
 
Half Fast said:
Uh huh.

Over the years I've had a few squamous cell carcinoma skin cancers sliced off. Dr. Bruce and I had to submit 140 pages worth of dermatology records. How many plane crashes has the NTSB attributed to a squamous cell? My dermatologist thought it was crazy, but sent me the records.

Basic Med brings a little sanity to the situation by getting the insane FAA out of the way.
Click to expand...
Real physicians tend to view a number of FAA medical requirements as ridiculous. I had 5 years of brain MRIs because of a removed melanoma. Fortunately I had a great AME and a superior PCP.
 
midlifeflyer said:
Real physicians tend to view a number of FAA medical requirements as ridiculous. I had 5 years of brain MRIs because of a removed melanoma. Fortunately I had a great AME and a superior PCP.
Click to expand...

I bailed out after three years of brain MRIs for melanoma and went on Basic Med. The oncologists and Medicare all consider MRIs as invalid follow-up tests for melanoma, which means that Medicare won't pay them, so it would have been $5,000 per year out of pocket to meet the qualifications per FAA, even with a great PCP and AME, both of whom are personal friends as well. There's a reason that some 20,000 pilots currently have Basic Med.
 
dbahn said:
I bailed out after three years of brain MRIs for melanoma and went on Basic Med. The oncologists and Medicare all consider MRIs as invalid follow-up tests for melanoma, which means that Medicare won't pay them, so it would have been $5,000 per year out of pocket to meet the qualifications per FAA, even with a great PCP and AME, both of whom are personal friends as well. There's a reason that some 20,000 pilots currently have Basic Med.
Click to expand...
Mine was before BasicMed or I would have bailed then. Fortunately, my PCM managed to convince my insurance company to pay for all five of them (I said he was superior).
 
dbahn said:
There's a reason that some 20,000 pilots currently have Basic Med.
Click to expand...


Closer to 50,000 active, out of about 75,000 who have received Basic Med. And there's no evidence that they're all plummeting to fiery deaths, so why do we need class 3?

I think the FAA could take some lessons from the success of Basic Med and do two things that would shorten the approval process, at least for class 3 medicals:

1) Expand the CACI list. There are only three issues that require an SI before going to Basic Med (mental, neuro, cardio); everything else (sleep apnea, cancer, etc.) can be blessed by any physician. So why not give AMEs the same privilege? If it's not on the list of the big three, let the AME issue the class 3 medical in the office.

2) Let any physician issue a class 3 medical. The use of non-AMEs for Basic Med has proven successful and there's not a huge difference between class 3 and Basic, so why require an AME for a class 3? Only in the event of one of the big three would an applicant need a referral to an AME so he can chase the SI process.​

Expanding the CACI list and expanding the number of physicians who can issue a class 3 would relieve a lot of the current burden on the FAA medical system. Basic Med has given us enough data to believe that my suggestions could be implemented without compromising safety.
 
The FAA doesn't take lessons from anyone. Basic Med was forced on them by Congress, and that is what would need to happen to get your above suggestions realized. And they are good suggestions. Start lobbying!
Jon
 
Old Thread: Hello . There have been no replies in this thread for 365 days.
Content in this thread may no longer be relevant.
Perhaps it would be better to start a new thread instead.
Back
Top