3rd class private pilot with SI wanting to fly as sport pilot

[midlifeflyer]

So my situation is, i am 49 years old and my 3rd class medical was issued in 2023, then 1 year later i received a letter from the faa saying they could not determine my medical eligability at this time and need more information on my OSA and cpap usage, as apperantly i should have turned in more when I went to the AME (received my pilot license 3 years ago, so i am still new to alot of this). i sent the information to the FAA and 6 months later received a new medical certificate that expired dec. 31, 2025 (same date as the original issued in 2023) and then a special issuance that expires in 2029 stating to have a medical done every year and im sure it states not eligible for any class after 2029 as you mentioned (I dont have papers available to view at this moment). since mosaic came out, i am more than happy to fly as a sport pilot and not have to mess with basic med if i am eligable, however, when i contacted the AME, he said i would need to do basic medical to fly as a sport pilot. (this is all relayed information to him from office assistant and back to me) I am not sure if he is right. i contacted the faa that took my medical information and issued the SI and the lady said that dont deal with sport pilots and gave me another faa sport pilot line, i left a message and hopefully can get a clear answer on what is authorized now. above you mentioned contacting CAMI. My current situation is my medical just expired and my SI is good until 2029, do i need to let them know i wont be using the SI and either doing basic med if required for me to fly as a sport pilot or just using my drivers license. i started preparing my medexpress incase i needed to stay private pilot but it seems everyone recommends basic med. i will look into that but as mentioned, i can fly and do everything i want to do as a sport pilot and if i dont have to do any medical that would be awesome. once again thank you for all the help.

As @Dana mentioned, no, you do not need BasicMed to exercise sport privileges. Bear in mind that AME expertise is in FAA medical examinations criteria. I would not expect an AME to be knowledgeable on pilot privileges and limitations (present company excepted ) than I would a mechanic or air traffic controller. It's just not their field.

Since I have not reviewd your records and do not represent you, I can only say this generally - If in fact your third class expired December 31, 2025 without having been revoked or the SI withdrawn you are eligible for BasicMed or sport privileges. As the sub-discussion indicates, if there is an outstanding information request from CAMI, there may be another risk factor to look at. Bear in mind Bruce's "Helpful Hannah" caution.

BasicMed vs sport privileges: be sure that it's the best choice for you. Not advice, just a thought. Assuming I was willing to accept the limitations of sport privileges, the only reason I (personally) would not go BasicMed is if I did not have a personal physician who was willing to work with it. As it is, my PCP is perfectly comfortable with it and, especially as I get older, I want her input on my decision. If some day she tells me (as I'm sure she will if we are together long enough) she doesn't think I should fly any more, I would have to think long and hard about whether it's a good idea for me to move down to sport privileges. (Hmmm... I'm doing a MOSAIC presentation in a few weeks; maybe I should talk about this aspect.)

 

[WDD]

FWIW - you can get a Basic Med from a local doc in a box that also does DOT exams.

 

[TCABM]

…As it is, my PCP is perfectly comfortable with it and, especially as I get older, I want her input on my decision. If some day she tells me (as I'm sure she will if we are together long enough) she doesn't think I should fly any more, I would have to think long and hard about whether it's a good idea for me to move down to sport privileges. (Hmmm... I'm doing a MOSAIC presentation in a few weeks; maybe I should talk about this aspect.)

I would. In my world (banking & finance) we openly discuss diminished capacity and making plans now for if and when that time comes; one of the beauties of both BasicMed and Sport Pilot privileges is the ability to have a long term relationship with a medical professional to inform our decision(s).

That medical professional might just be able to inform us Day VFR is fine, but night IFR really isn’t. Or flying with a safety pilot/CFI is really the best option to stay engaged. I see it as more of a continuum than the binary AME/medical certificate world.

 

[Greg Bockelman]

1. You are 30 years old and have a third class medical issued in January 2024 (so it expires at the end of January, 2029) and an SI which requires annual reporting. It is now February 2025 and you failed to report. You can expect the failure to report will result in the withdrawal of the SI and revocation of the unexpired medical certificate. That means no sport privileges and no BasicMed. (@Greg Bockelman, is this what you were asking about?)​

​

@midlifeflyer ,Doc Bruce’s post #37 is in line with my understanding of how it works.

 

[js2c]

As @Dana mentioned, no, you do not need BasicMed to exercise sport privileges. Bear in mind that AME expertise is in FAA medical examinations criteria. I would not expect an AME to be knowledgeable on pilot privileges and limitations (present company excepted ) than I would a mechanic or air traffic controller. It's just not their field.

Since I have not reviewd your records and do not rep[resent you, I can only say this generally - If in fact your third class expired December 31, 2025 without having been revoked or the SI withdrawn you are eligible for BasicMed or sport privileges. As the sub-discussion indicates, if there is an outstanding information request from CAMI, there may be another risk factor to look at. Bear in mind Bruce's "Helpful Hannah" caution.

BasicMed vs sport privileges: be sure that it's the best choice for you. Not advice, just a thought. Assuming I was willing to accept the limitations of sport privileges, the only reason I (personally) would not go BasicMed is if I did not have a personal physician who was willing to work with it. As it is, my PCP is perfectly comfortable with it and, especially as I get older, I want her input on my decision. If some day she tells me (as I'm sure she will if we are together long enough) she doesn't think I should fly any more, I would have to think long and hard about whether it's a good idea for me to move down to sport privileges. (Hmmm... I'm doing a MOSAIC presentation in a few weeks; maybe I should talk about this aspect.)

Can you elaborate on the outstanding information request from CAMI or how I could find out? I assume if it happens I would receive another letter from the FAA stating my Special Issuance has been withdrawn? only everything I keep reading on this form had me thinking that if my 3rd class medical expires and i dont apply for a new one, then isnt my SI basically void?

 

[bbchien]

Domingo: "An airman's responibility to comply with the terms of an unexpired authorization incuding a term that requires regular submission of medical informration - teminates when the associated special issuance medical certificate expires."

 

[js2c]

I was looking at the questions for the basic med and question 13 is this

HAS YOUR FAA AIRMAN MEDICAL CERTIFICATE EVER BEEN DENIED, SUSPENDED, REVOKED,OR WITHDRAWN: Select "Yes" or "No." If "Yes” is selected, list the month and year (e.g., 01/1999) of theaction.

I assume i was considered suspended when the faa sent the letter stating they couldn't determine my medical eligibility without sending them more medical information?

 

[flyingron]

I assume i was considered suspended when the faa sent the letter stating they couldn't determine my medical eligibility without sending them more medical information?

That's not a suspension. It would be suspended when the FAA says "We have determined you do not meet the eligibility standards." If they say, "we are unable to determine," it means they want more information and things proceed as they were until they make a "You do" or "You don't" determination.

 

[js2c]

That's not a suspension. It would be suspended when the FAA says "We have determined you do not meet the eligibility standards." If they say, "we are unable to determine," it means they want more information and things proceed as they were until they make a "You do" or "You don't" determination.

Thank you for clearing that up but know that i know that, was i still able to fly while they were making that determination? I was under the impression that i was grounded until a decision was made so i didnt fly for 6 months.

 

[bbchien]

js2c, if your medical just expired (wasn't suspended, denied or Special Issuance Auth withdrawn edited for 4RNB he's right you know) you have no further obligation under Domingo. However if it expired and there was an outstanding demand letter , better fill there squares and then don't go back.

Then get a Basic, or if you don't do night nor IFR, fly LSA and soon to be Mosaic aircraft....

 

[4RNB]

I hate all the abbreviations...

In my world, SI is suicidal ideations (and you ought not fly anything)