StraightnLevel
Line Up and Wait
- Joined
- Dec 8, 2023
- Messages
- 529
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Display name:
StraightnLevel
First, my goal: To complete private pilot cert and instrument rating. Thus, I need Class 3, not BasicMed.
Second: I've never made any prior attempt to get a FAA med cert, so I have no understanding of the process or requirements other than what I can read on the FAA website (which doesn't help much in real terms). I held a SCCA Full Comp license for 20 years so I'm not completely without a clue, but FAA is different.
Third: I'm approaching age 60, but in generally good health and I don't go to doctors very often. My last basic physical came back so normal that it was unusual for my age.....but at my age I have to expect that sooner or later something will crop up. Vision, mobility, cholesterol, hearing, etc. are all fine and I have zero symptoms of anything other than a moderate "beer gut", but it looks like some of the required tests (if I understand them correctly) might pick up things that you wouldn't necessarily know about until tested.
Question 1: How risky is it to go straight in to the AME exam and hope everything's OK without having seen a regular doc in more than a year? Would it make sense to try to talk the doc into a paid consult appointment first, to avoid any surprises giving me an official denial? If not, does finding something new on the initial attempt block me out permanently, or is there a relatively painless way to work around it?
Question 2: Have any of you ever used the AME doc for other licensing physicals (like a SCCA racing renewal)? Are they generally willing, or is it something that I should just bite the bullet and pay a different doc for yet another exam?
Any thoughts or advice would be welcomed - I can use all the help that I can get.
Second: I've never made any prior attempt to get a FAA med cert, so I have no understanding of the process or requirements other than what I can read on the FAA website (which doesn't help much in real terms). I held a SCCA Full Comp license for 20 years so I'm not completely without a clue, but FAA is different.
Third: I'm approaching age 60, but in generally good health and I don't go to doctors very often. My last basic physical came back so normal that it was unusual for my age.....but at my age I have to expect that sooner or later something will crop up. Vision, mobility, cholesterol, hearing, etc. are all fine and I have zero symptoms of anything other than a moderate "beer gut", but it looks like some of the required tests (if I understand them correctly) might pick up things that you wouldn't necessarily know about until tested.
Question 1: How risky is it to go straight in to the AME exam and hope everything's OK without having seen a regular doc in more than a year? Would it make sense to try to talk the doc into a paid consult appointment first, to avoid any surprises giving me an official denial? If not, does finding something new on the initial attempt block me out permanently, or is there a relatively painless way to work around it?
Question 2: Have any of you ever used the AME doc for other licensing physicals (like a SCCA racing renewal)? Are they generally willing, or is it something that I should just bite the bullet and pay a different doc for yet another exam?
Any thoughts or advice would be welcomed - I can use all the help that I can get.