Flight physical

robinmorgan

robinmorgan

Filing Flight Plan
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Feb 13, 2025
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robinmorgan
If i'm wanting to pursue a basic pilots license, what is the waiting period for previous history of medications to go for an exam? Also, is this a class 3 medical? What's a basic medical and who does that apply to? I feel like due to my age 52, i should get a medical before paying out monies for flight lessons. If i have no intention of pursuing a flying career, how do the medical restrictions look for class medicals? Thanks!
 

Medication Database (Read Disclaimer Before Searching) - AMAS

Airman MEDICATION LIST (ATCS, please see our NATCA page.)
aviationmedicine.com

Put your medications in here and see what it says, as a start. Then you can make an anonymous thread post asking for certain conditions and history.

Also there’s sport pilot / LSA that use your driver license as your medical. You can consider that route as well provided no medical denials on your record, so plan first before any application.
 
Before you make an appointment to do your Class 3 physical, make an appointment for a consultation with an aviation doc. Make sure the doc knows and agrees to do just a consultation. Why? If you take and fail the exam you're done. You can appeal and maybe get a favorable decision. Maybe not. But if not or you don't appeal then you're grounded. And unless something has changed you won't even qualIfy for Sport Pilot.

Think of the consultation as a practice physical. Then you'll know if you can pass the real thing but if you fail then unless you have a debilitating illness you can still likely qualify for Sport Pilot. If your disqualifying medical condition is temporary you can always do another "consultation" down the road and if you pass virtually all of your Sport Pilot training hours will apply to your Private Pilot training.

Good luck.
 
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robinmorgan said:
Thank you for all your suggestions!!
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You must do some reading in the Medical forum. The application for a medical certificate asks questions about your history with the prefix "Have you ever," which when coupled with certain medications, surgeries, and alcohol use, means just that. Some are permanently disqualifying, others require resolution with a path through psychiatrists, cognitive screens, and random alcohol testing.

The advise to see an aviation medical examiner (AME) for a consultation before the actual exam is solid gold. You won't get a do over if something from your past or present renders your dreams of flying moot.

I'm not writing to discourage you. The realities of the FAA's stringent procedures and standards dictate a thorough evaluation of your suitability to receive a medical certificate. The Medical forum will give you the insight needed for success. You have my best wishes for attaining your future goals.
 
BasicMed is a medical to fly, but administered by your personal doc or a non-AME doctor. The exam is similar to a Commercial Driver physical and many people have had them done by such a doc.

The kicker is, you have to have had at least one "normal" FAA physical issued before you can do BasicMed. But much less hoops to jump through for most conditions as you are not trying to deal with the FAA docs in Oklahoma City.

You can fly for fun, but not for hire with BasicMed, the exception that you can be an instructor, and be paid, with a BasicMed medical.
 
I guess doing the faa medical first IS the kicker. I need to do a consultation with a medical examiner before deciding which avenue to go. I just want to fly for fun. Maybe an instructor one day, but no pursuing a career at 52. haha... thank you for your input. i really appreciate your response!
 
robinmorgan said:
I guess doing the faa medical first IS the kicker. I need to do a consultation with a medical examiner before deciding which avenue to go. I just want to fly for fun. Maybe an instructor one day, but no pursuing a career at 52. haha... thank you for your input. i really appreciate your response!
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In which case, Sport Pilot might be an option to consider…no aviation medical or BasicMed required.
 
Bruce Chien, MD Best AME in the biz.

www.aeromedicaldoc.com

Aeromedicaldoc

Difficult Aviation Medical Certification Bruce Chien AME HIMS ADV Senior Peoria
www.aeromedicaldoc.com
 
I believe Bruce will do phone consults. What the op seems to need is some guidance into the process and whether there are any "gotchas" in his medical history, and if, how to navigate around them.
 
Hello Robin,
There have been several great responses to your question.
Here are (hopefully) two more.
1. The FAA does not issue "Licenses." A small point that most ignore or do not know. They do issue "Certificates."
2. No matter how you choose to proceed regarding flight. You must "self-certify" that you are healthy and up to the challenge before every flight. A medical per se, is like an airworthiness certificate. It verifies that you qualify (or the plane) on the date of the approval ONLY. The balance is up to you!

Flying is worth it! Success to you!

Ron
 
Pinecone said:
There was a guy, maybe even here on PoA, that started at like 59 and did get hired by an airline. Not a long career. :D
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As a guy considering retirement at 52, I do wonder if I have a shot at corporate flying or some non-airline cargo/surveillance operations. Or maybe I'll just become a bum flight instructor and local AME.
 
AvNavCom said:
As a guy considering retirement at 52, I do wonder if I have a shot at corporate flying or some non-airline cargo/surveillance operations. Or maybe I'll just become a bum flight instructor and local AME.
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All depends on your hours and the network you can build.

The bigger question is why retire from your current profession? Is there a way you can leverage GA to help pivot your medical practice?

Bruce would be the guy to buy a cup of coffee for.
 
TCABM said:
All depends on your hours and the network you can build.

The bigger question is why retire from your current profession? Is there a way you can leverage GA to help pivot your medical practice?

Bruce would be the guy to buy a cup of coffee for.
Click to expand...
Life goals, mostly. Wanted to be a professional pilot my entire life. Ended up in Medicine due to some life circumstances, world circumstances, and immature decision making. Always regretted the decision to transition out of aviation. This is a decent gig and the pay is good, but I'm totally burned out on clinical care and Medicine has never been a calling. Occupational physicals are totally fine, but the medical system as a whole is a nightmare and there are a lot of docs running for the exits. AME and being a flight instructor seem like a reasonable way of keeping a foot in both worlds. Figure with my experience, I can be that detail-oriented and pro-pilot AME that folks want. We'll see.

Probably I just need to go through the stages of grief that I don't get to be a pro pilot in this lifetime. I'd get some counseling, but then I'd need Bruce's help to get my medical back. ;)
 
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