Question about being denied Class III

RBBailey

RBBailey

Pre-Flight
Joined
Jan 1, 2022
Messages
33
Location
Pac NW
Display Name
Display name:
RBBailey
I posted this as part of my introduction as a new user, so I'm copying this over from that thread to here, since this seems more appropriate:

After a 20+ year "break" from flying I'm finally trying to get back to it. But the FAA seems to have other plans. Basically, I ended up getting a biannual checkride two summers, then proceeded to fight the FAA for my medical. I lost. But I'm wanting to try again.

I went to a local doctor and got my physical done for a Class III, and all went well. However, back in 2015, due to being about 10 pounds over-weight, the long-slow stress of my job, and because I was drinking too much alcohol and coffee, I had three episodes where my heart went crazy for a few minutes and left me feeling totally drained. Because of my age, and because nothing like this had ever happened before, I was scared, and I went to the emergency room. I went through a battery of tests. The works. All the tests. And at the end of a year of constant testing, the cardiologist literally told me to stop wasting his time because there was nothing wrong with me--it was all due to lifestyle. Since then, I've changed my diet, my habits, and my weight. I started running again. I'm 47, and I run 6 miles per day at 9 minute miles. It turns out the heart issues were basically just indigestion. No, really. The pressure of the indigestion triggers a particular nerve that causes my heart to beat rapidly and erratically. Since my lifestyle changes, I've not had any of these episodes, I'm in good physical shape, I'm not on any meds (I did take 6mg of metropolol each day for that year of testing.) and my resting heart rate is 47-50 bpm.

However, this was enough for the FAA to tell me NO on my medical. And it was a big NO. They gave me one chance to get the certificate reviewed by having me send in over 150 pages of testing materials that I had had done on my heart (none of it showing any signs of any problems), but they still gave me a negative on the certificate. I can't get them on the phone. I can't get any more tests done because insurance won't allow it, especially with COVID issues at hospitals these days. The one time I did get the FAA on the phone, the guy I talked to told me that I could fake an issue to get insurance to pay for more tests, but that they would see that as another heart episode, and even if the tests showed no problem, it would be another mark against me on my FAA records--Oh, and that they would charge me with fraud. There was a long silence on the line after he said that. Then he asked if I had any more questions, and closed my case.

It's been a year of just being busy with life and not knowing how to proceed. So now I'm hoping that I can get advice. I would love to get back into flying. My minimum goal would be to just go rent a plane for an hour each month and have some fun. But because of all of this, I can't even apply for a light sport license, let alone a Class III medical.

I'd appreciate any advice, because right now I'm relegated to living vicariously through YouTube channels, and it's just not working for me. Especially when half the people I see flying at 20 years older than me, overweight, out of breath just trying to get in the plane, and....... I'm probably a little sensitive about the whole thing, sorry!

Also, last summer, I did call a clinic in Vancouver that seemed to have a good knowledge how to deal with the FAA. They said that the only thing that can be done is to go for a Class I certificate, and to include a letter of recommendation (from them), and see what happens. I wasn't prepared to spend the cash on a gamble, but I'm starting to rethink, and would like to try something. I just need to know that it's more than a gamble, that I have a good shot, then I'd feel comfortable spending the time and effort.
 
The best advice is to contact bbchien (on this board) and follow his advice to the letter. Do not argue with him just do what he says. If he can not get you your medical then it can't be done, period. Good luck.
One other thing, be COMPLETELY honest, leave no pertinent information out.
 
Technically nothing wrong with your heart but:

“ It turns out the heart issues were basically just indigestion. No, really. The pressure of the indigestion triggers a particular nerve that causes my heart to beat rapidly and erratically.”

Vagus nerve. Vagus nerve irritation can potentially cause you to faint unexpectedly. Hence denial. Not sure more heart testing will do you any good. I don’t see the FAA reversing on this one but I’m not the one to say. It’s worth consulting Dr. Bruce.
 
A lawyer. Get a lawyer. You are fighting an ADMINISTRATION, not a medical team...

A good medico aviation attorney will have a medical team that will work with him. But the team should be headed by a lawyer.
 
Tools said:
A lawyer. Get a lawyer. You are fighting an ADMINISTRATION, not a medical team...

A good medico aviation attorney will have a medical team that will work with him. But the team should be headed by a lawyer.
Click to expand...

Really? OP also admits “drinking too much alcohol”, apparently to damage. I’d drop a couple hundred on Bruce before spending thousands on a lawyer. Not sure he can win this one. Seems to indicate he doesn’t have the budget to really go to war anyway.

But, I’m neither a lawyer nor an AME, just SGOTI.
 
This is a guess but, for PSVT, A Fib or for reentrant nodal tachycardia, any heart rate over 150 is considered badly controlled. It drained you, as you note; that would have been an "in flight emergency". Rates between 120 and 150 are very tough to certify but can be.

For ventricular rhythms above HR 150 you can just fuggedaboudit for the near incapacity reasons that you mention.

You're going to have to get to the electrophysiologist.
I would ignore the posts that imply that getting a lawyer is "what to do". You were nearly incapacitated (by your own description).
 
Thanks for the replies. A few things to note:
  • Blood pressure is 120/70.
  • I can't afford a lawyer. I might get my certificate, but that would eat up my budget to fly, so it would be pointless.
  • The reference to too much alcohol is 100% true. When I weighed 175, that excess weight was very much what might be called a "beer gut". I was drinking a beer per day, and as I entered my 40s, that actually started having an effect on my body that I didn't recognize till I took a three week trip to Africa, and although I certainly didn't eat any less, I suddenly lost 15 pounds and felt totally different. It was a combination of the types of sugars and yeasts and grains in beer, and the crap food we have here in America. I still drink beer, but only on occasion, maybe once or twice a week now. Keeping the weight under control, and controlling the amount of food I eat at any given setting is more important (for me) than the specific things that I'm eating. I can still consume just about anything, as long as I control the amounts. That's just me though.
  • My coffee intake was probably more important of a factor than alcohol. I cut my intake of caffeine by about 75% of what it was before these episodes occurred.
  • I never felt dizzy or close to fainting.
  • It is my assessment, agreed with by my doctors, and by each of the emergency room doctors I visited, that the post-event tiredness was mostly the come-down from adrenaline. My vitals were always normal after the heart rate came down -- which would happen almost instantly once I... burped. This is what clued me in to the issue being (as mentioned above) the vagus nerve trigger from being overweight and having too much bloating. Once I figured that out, my issues disappeared. I don't mention the vagus nerve to people because it is a bit of a taboo subject, and I allow them to bring it up instead. Doctors rightly don't want people thinking that all they have is indigestion, when they really might be having heart problems. But for a lot of people, indigestion literally is the thing that makes the heart act like it has problems. In my case (according to my doctors) there is nothing wrong with my heart. Not the muscle, not the electrical. They all agreed that it was tachycardia brought on by environmental stimuli -- my weight and eating and job stress (which includes not sleeping well, which is another thing I have since fixed). I don't have any official diagnosis, just an explanation of why I felt what I felt.
  • I have done several multi-lead EKGs, I've had stress tests, electrocardiograms, two week-long monitors, and one month-long monitor, along with multiple check-ups and visits and other tests, including two blood tests that cleared the FAA's minimums. All tests put me in the green.
  • On my last visit to the cardiologist, after a year of testing, I asked if it was now OK to start exercising. I also asked if I should have a heart rate limit while exercising. He rolled his eyes at me and just said to start easy, then go to where I'm comfortable. When I run, I control my heartrate based on the type of exercise I want for the day. Usually I just cruise at 155-160. But once or twice a week I do a cycle of 130-145 then up to 165-170, then back down every few minutes. I recover to normal 80 bpm within 3 minutes of finishing my workouts.
I think all of you are making good points about the idea that if I had had one of these episodes while in the cockpit, it would not be fun. I don't think I would have crashed, though, unless it was severe while in the landing phase, or something like that. So I do see the concern that the FAA would have from a distance, at the time. But I applied for my medical after I had solved these issues, and the FAA saw my complete medical records. The thing that really bugs me about this is that they never gave me a specific reason for the denial. I was told by the doctor that I should expect a letter asking for complete medical records, so I prepared those ahead of time, and sent them when asked. But I got (I think six) months of silence, then a second letter that said I was denied unless I could provide records that showed that I had no medical issues. They did not explain what specific problems they saw that my own doctors missed. Essentially, it seemed like wanted me to go through all the tests again, which lead to the one phone conversation I had where the guy suggested that I fake an episode so that I could get back into the insurance system to get new tests done to show that there is nothing wrong with me.

In other words, in my view, I'm in a Catch 22 where I have to show them what I already showed them, but I can't show them any more because there is no more to show. It's frustrating to know people who really do have heart problems, who have heart attacks, bypass surgery, and get things fixed -- and can still fly. But I'm grounded because I cannot prove that I've had anything fixed, because there is nothing to fix.

That's my side of the story. But obviously, I'm missing something. I don't fully see the other side of the coin. Your points about being nearly incapacitated or the potential to faint from the vagus nerve issue are valid points. But then.... the people who have had real heart issues actually were incapacitated, and actually did faint. So you can see why I feel like I doing something wrong, as if I don't know the right avenues to take to get the certificate that others have managed to get.

Again, thanks for the feedback. Much appreciated.
 
Last edited:
Your first mistake was applying for a medical without knowing 100% you would be able to get it. Once denied it complicates things. That is water under the bridge and can't be undone. I again urge you to take the advice I gave you in my post #2. Dr. Chien literally wrote a lot of the the regulations concerning heart problems. His fees are quite frankly token in nature. He provides a valuable service for people in difficult situations concerning pilot medicals. Take advantage of it or just move on. No amount of discussion on this board is going to help.
 
Wow, interesting history. The indigestion —> vagus nerve —> arrhythmia might be my problem too; I’m wearing the one month monitor right now. I don’t drink alcohol but I drink coffee like a fiend. And could stand to lose 20 pounds. Well, 26 if you count what I just gained over the holidays. :( I don’t perceive heart symptoms (I’ve got the monitor on for other reasons) but I sure do have uncomfortable indigestion. Giving up coffee would be an extreme lifestyle modification for me.

Sounds like you don’t have alcohol abuse problems if it was only one beer a day and you quit that with no issues and it sounds like the FAA’s problem was the heart, not substance abuse.

“then a second letter that said I was denied unless I could provide records that showed that I had no medical issues. They did not explain what specific problems they saw that my own doctors missed. Essentially, it seemed like wanted me to go through all the tests again”

If it were me, I’d take that letter plus your records and send them all to Bruce per the link AggieMike posted. There’s got to be a clue in there what their problem is. Bruce might have already nailed it in post #6. You need a electrophysiologist specialist, not just a regular cardiologist, to bless you with holy water.
 
RBBailey said:
Thanks for the replies. A few things to note:
  • Blood pressure is 120/70.
  • I can't afford a lawyer. I might get my certificate, but that would eat up my budget to fly, so it would be pointless.
  • The reference to too much alcohol is 100% true. When I weighed 175, that excess weight was very much what might be called a "beer gut". I was drinking a beer per day, and as I entered my 40s, that actually started having an effect on my body that I didn't recognize till I took a three week trip to Africa, and although I certainly didn't eat any less, I suddenly lost 15 pounds and felt totally different. It was a combination of the types of sugars and yeasts and grains in beer, and the crap food we have here in America. I still drink beer, but only on occasion, maybe once or twice a week now. Keeping the weight under control, and controlling the amount of food I eat at any given setting is more important (for me) than the specific things that I'm eating. I can still consume just about anything, as long as I control the amounts. That's just me though.
  • My coffee intake was probably more important of a factor than alcohol. I cut my intake of caffeine by about 75% of what it was before these episodes occurred.
  • I never felt dizzy or close to fainting.
  • It is my assessment, agreed with by my doctors, and by each of the emergency room doctors I visited, that the post-event tiredness was mostly the come-down from adrenaline. My vitals were always normal after the heart rate came down -- which would happen almost instantly once I... burped. This is what clued me in to the issue being (as mentioned above) the vagus nerve trigger from being overweight and having too much bloating. Once I figured that out, my issues disappeared. I don't mention the vagus nerve to people because it is a bit of a taboo subject, and I allow them to bring it up instead. Doctors rightly don't want people thinking that all they have is indigestion, when they really might be having heart problems. But for a lot of people, indigestion literally is the thing that makes the heart act like it has problems. In my case (according to my doctors) there is nothing wrong with my heart. Not the muscle, not the electrical. They all agreed that it was tachycardia brought on by environmental stimuli -- my weight and eating and job stress (which includes not sleeping well, which is another thing I have since fixed). I don't have any official diagnosis, just an explanation of why I felt what I felt.
  • I have done several multi-lead EKGs, I've had stress tests, electrocardiograms, two week-long monitors, and one month-long monitor, along with multiple check-ups and visits and other tests, including two blood tests that cleared the FAA's minimums. All tests put me in the green.
  • On my last visit to the cardiologist, after a year of testing, I asked if it was now OK to start exercising. I also asked if I should have a heart rate limit while exercising. He rolled his eyes at me and just said to start easy, then go to where I'm comfortable. When I run, I control my heartrate based on the type of exercise I want for the day. Usually I just cruise at 155-160. But once or twice a week I do a cycle of 130-145 then up to 165-170, then back down every few minutes. I recover to normal 80 bpm within 3 minutes of finishing my workouts.
I think all of you are making good points about the idea that if I had had one of these episodes while in the cockpit, it would not be fun. I don't think I would have crashed, though, unless it was severe while in the landing phase, or something like that. So I do see the concern that the FAA would have from a distance, at the time. But I applied for my medical after I had solved these issues, and the FAA saw my complete medical records. The thing that really bugs me about this is that they never gave me a specific reason for the denial. I was told by the doctor that I should expect a letter asking for complete medical records, so I prepared those ahead of time, and sent them when asked. But I got (I think six) months of silence, then a second letter that said I was denied unless I could provide records that showed that I had no medical issues. They did not explain what specific problems they saw that my own doctors missed. Essentially, it seemed like wanted me to go through all the tests again, which lead to the one phone conversation I had where the guy suggested that I fake an episode so that I could get back into the insurance system to get new tests done to show that there is nothing wrong with me.

In other words, in my view, I'm in a Catch 22 where I have to show them what I already showed them, but I can't show them any more because there is no more to show. It's frustrating to know people who really do have heart problems, who have heart attacks, bypass surgery, and get things fixed -- and can still fly. But I'm grounded because I cannot prove that I've had anything fixed, because there is nothing to fix.

That's my side of the story. But obviously, I'm missing something. I don't fully see the other side of the coin. Your points about being nearly incapacitated or the potential to faint from the vagus nerve issue are valid points. But then.... the people who have had real heart issues actually were incapacitated, and actually did faint. So you can see why I feel like I doing something wrong, as if I don't know the right avenues to take to get the certificate that others have managed to get.

Again, thanks for the feedback. Much appreciated.
Click to expand...
If you want to proceed, find a "hard case" AME who wants to guide you through the process. If you post your location, you may get specific suggestions. Have a consultation with such an AME to get an assessment of your chances. If you're certifiable, at a minimum, you'll be out of pocket for the AME and likely for additional medical tests insurance won't pay for.
 
Gliders (including motorgliders) and ultralights are still an option...
 
“ They did not explain what specific problems they saw that my own doctors missed.”

This sounds familiar... there was a court decision days ago addressing this problem in the FAA. Geesh.
 
Dana said:
Gliders (including motorgliders) and ultralights are still an option...
Click to expand...

I don't think I want to do ultralights. But gliders would be great. Problem is that there is only one glider port near here, and it is about 1.5 hours drive. Motor glider would be great, but I would love to be able to rent a four seater once in a while to go someplace with friends. I'm leaning towards motorglider, though, if this does not work out. Problem is I know of none in the area to rent.
 
Tools said:
“ They did not explain what specific problems they saw that my own doctors missed.”

This sounds familiar... there was a court decision days ago addressing this problem in the FAA. Geesh.
Click to expand...

Yeah but, I think the consensus is, they’re not going to change their evil ways.
 
I guess I could boil it down to needing to know how to go forward with this. Especially for the few experts I see on here, and those who have been through this type of thing...

  • Is it even worth trying at this point?
  • What is it they want? I provided all of the tests they had on the list in the letter they sent me. The follow-up letter simply asked for more of the same. This is what caused me to basically give up, I was confused, and the one phone conversation I was able to get only added to the confusion.
  • What is the actual difference between me, who has nothing to fix; versus someone who has had a heart attack, gotten it fixed, and can still fly? In my mind, there is a logic fallacy there. But like I mentioned above, I only see one side of it, and I'm trying to learn. That's why I'm here.
 
It appears to me all you want is to convince us you are right and the FAA is wrong. Even if you succeed, so what. You think anybody at the FAA cares what you or the board members here think? You have been given excellent advice yet you do not even acknowledge it. I am finished with this, I do wish you the best of luck in your quest.
 
  • Is it even worth trying at this point?
  • Nobody here can tell you that, not even Dr. Chien, until he sees your actual paperwork. Even then he can’t tell you if the expense is worth it. That’s up to you.
  • What is it they want? I provided all of the tests they had on the list in the letter they sent me. The follow-up letter simply asked for more of the same. This is what caused me to basically give up, I was confused, and the one phone conversation I was able to get only added to the confusion.
  • Nobody here can tell you that, but Dr. Chien can if he sees your paperwork.
  • What is the actual difference between me, who has nothing to fix; versus someone who has had a heart attack, gotten it fixed, and can still fly? In my mind, there is a logic fallacy there. But like I mentioned above, I only see one side of it, and I'm trying to learn. That's why I'm here.
  • Nobody here can tell you that, except Dr. Chien, but only if he sees your paperwork.
You can learn general stuff by reading this forum. There are other threads about cardiac issues, but each case is different. Only by consulting with an expert “hard case” AME will you find out anything more about your specific case. Dr. Chien has already indicated you need more electrophysiology testing. He’s probably right and you might end up paying for that out of pocket but I recommend contacting him in private before going and spending that money. Apologies to Bruce if I’m sending him too much work. :)
 
ronnieh said:
It appears to me all you want is to convince us you are right and the FAA is wrong. Even if you succeed, so what. You think anybody at the FAA cares what you or the board members here think? You have been given excellent advice yet you do not even acknowledge it. I am finished with this, I do wish you the best of luck in your quest.
Click to expand...

I didn't mean for it to come across like that. I'm fishing for examples of what others have been through to clear up my confusion. And it looks like I'm trying to say the FAA (you?) are wrong only because in my mind I fulfilled what the FAA was asking by sending them the clear test results they asked for. Then they asked for the same tests again. To be sure, I'm the one who is confused and missing something, and I don't know what it is. The current advice given is certainly being taken! That's why I'm here!

And when I ask if it is worth it, the valuation isn't the issue as much as just the idea of whether or not it is possible at this point -- I should have phrased the question differently.
 
If you want us to interpret the letters for you, post the letters. How else will we know what they say.

If you want someone to tell you if you've got a chance of getting a medical, you'll need to consult with an AME who has reviewed your records. That could be the AME you used for your exam if you're happy with him (but why would you be posting here), or if you'd like recommendations for one near you, state your location.
 
bbchien said:
This is a guess but, for PSVT, A Fib or for reentrant nodal tachycardia, any heart rate over 150 is considered badly controlled. It drained you, as you note; that would have been an "in flight emergency". Rates between 120 and 150 are very tough to certify but can be.

For ventricular rhythms above HR 150 you can just fuggedaboudit for the near incapacity reasons that you mention.

You're going to have to get to the electrophysiologist.
I would ignore the posts that imply that getting a lawyer is "what to do". You were nearly incapacitated (by your own description).
Click to expand...

Hmmm, this triggered an alarm for me. I am due to have my first third-class medica on the 14th. About 7 years ago I had an episode or two of PSVT. I saw an electrophysiologist, and he performed a catheter radiofrequency ablation on "extra" the pathways. I had no recurrence, and was released from his care.

Is this going to cause me grief? In other words, should I turn my scheduled exam date into a consultation instead?
 
@RBBailey , we’re not the FAA so we can’t tell you what the FAA wants, but...

There are two “difficult case” AMEs on this site, Bruce Chien ( @bbchien ) and Lou Fowler ( @lbfjrmd ). Bruce is in Peoria, IL and Lou is in Pensacola, FL. Contact one or both, provide them the info they request, do exactly what you’re told, don’t try to BS them or argue.

There are probably other AMEs who could also help, but these two gentlemen are well known to us and have very high success rates.

Be prepared to be told you’re screwed. Not everyone can fly.

Keep us posted on your progress.
 
Dr. Bruce:
1C5
Flies a twin Seneca
He is your best shot at this, miracle man.
 
Dry Creek said:
Hmmm, this triggered an alarm for me. I am due to have my first third-class medica on the 14th. About 7 years ago I had an episode or two of PSVT. I saw an electrophysiologist, and he performed a catheter radiofrequency ablation on "extra" the pathways. I had no recurrence, and was released from his care.

Is this going to cause me grief? In other words, should I turn my scheduled exam date into a consultation instead?
Click to expand...
Rule of Thumb - if there are any questions, make it a Consult.
If you have any doubts, make it a Consult.
If you have any questions, make it a Consult.
 
Dr Bruce is the man

but in the future, if people have chest pain, they aren't going to the ER, because the FAA will ground them, the FAA is creating a moral hazard with their policies
 
Several of you have reached out with some good advice and such, thanks for that. Especially bbchien!
Here is an update.
Also, I will send a link to all my medical info/records pertaining to this issue, along with the letters from the FAA to anyone who asks.

After posting here, and talking with some pilot friends who have dealt with things like this before, I decided that maybe the whole thing really isn't such a dead end. I wanted to try again.

The last request I got from the FAA was one year ago, one year after my initial exam, when they asked for a list of items that didn't make sense to me, or that were off-limits at the time (due to COVID restrictions). For instance, they asked for a "cardiology note," in "electronic medical record printout copy..." but not in the format that is available to me from my medical provider. They wanted, in brief, a full assessment for my history, treatment, prognosis, and treatment plan. Some of what they asked for was irrelevant, because there never was a diagnosis or treatment plan, and getting more testing done on request, as mentioned above, was not going to happen with COVID shutdowns.

Bruce gave me some good advice, he knows what he is talking about 100%. But I wasn't able to follow-through because I promptly went down with COVID, then COVID struck where I work, and... it was a mess, and I felt bad about asking him to do stuff long distance when I myself was completely distracted, and he was volunteering his time! Essentially, I had to step back and not think about it for a month or so, but the idea to try again was taking hold.

So I finally got around to contacting a local AME that advertises dealing with special cases. We did a conference video call, and he gave me the sense that this was going to work, and that it might not cost a whole lot. I prepared all the documents and such, and... then nothing. I couldn't get a hold of the office. I sent the docs in email, and waited for a week. Then called. Left a message. They never even sent me a bill for the hour of consultation work and the meeting we had. I finally got in contact with the secretary, and only then realized that although the web site shows their location as being about an hour away from me, that was only a satellite location, and they are actually 3.5 hours from me... so when I never heard from them again, I let it drop... Then another AME in the area never called me back, so on my third try I finally got an appointment with another AME not too far away. My intent here is to get a professional, paid, and on my side, ready to submit the documents on my behalf to the FAA when the time comes.

In the mean time, I reached out to my medical provider (Kaiser Permanente) and just took the chance on asking if it would be possible to get a review with the cardiologist I had seen previously. Oddly, they got right back to me, and got me into the office in two days time. I met with a resident first, who looked at my past records, did some basic tests, and said that he couldn't figure out what the problem was, and didn't know what the FAA was asking for -- he had the letter in his hands. His guess was that the issues I was having were exactly what myself and my previous cardiologist had thought. The cardiologist I had seen before then took me in for an appointment and also ran some basic tests, he gave me a multi-lead EKG, then wrote a letter to the FAA on my behalf: Nothing wrong. No recurrence. No heart problem. No treatment needed. No reevaluation needed. No diagnosis. etc...

So with my new test results and the letter in hand, I went to the AME, he checked me out, then sent the paperwork and a note to the FAA as well.

That was about a month ago. So I'm just waiting...

Anyway, I figured I'd give an update, and thank those who commented and got involved in some way. If you want to see my records, or the letters from the FAA, just send me a PM.
 
Dry Creek said:
Hmmm, this triggered an alarm for me. I am due to have my first third-class medica on the 14th. About 7 years ago I had an episode or two of PSVT. I saw an electrophysiologist, and he performed a catheter radiofrequency ablation on "extra" the pathways. I had no recurrence, and was released from his care.

Is this going to cause me grief? In other words, should I turn my scheduled exam date into a consultation instead?
Click to expand...

Yes...do a consult. Can you just go Basic Med?
 
Cases like this make me wish we could have a "class IV" medical which allows pilots otherwise disqualified to fly as part of a flight crew. If one person has diabetes and the other has a heart issue, neither can fly alone. But if you put them together, the odds of both having a problem at the same time statistically makes them safer than most class III pilots.
 
bbchien said:
First thing we do is FOIA the AME version of the FAA medical record and find out what's what.....
Click to expand...
It's technically not FOIA, but the Privacy Act you're going to invoke. Medical information is not releasable under FOIA. If you send a FOIA request it will go to the wrong office and delay things.


Requesting Medical Records
To protect your identity and the release of the correct records, you are required to submit a completed [URL='https://www.faa.gov/licenses_certificates/medical_certification/media/MedicalRecordsRequestForm.pdf']Medical Records Request Form[/URL] (PDF) authorizing the release of your medical records.

  1. A separate authorization request is required for each record released to any third party (physician, insurance company, employer, etc.) and to yourself.
  2. Please type or print legibly and remember to sign and date the request.
  3. To authorize an electronic copy of your record be released to a third party please include their email address and daytime phone number.
  4. To help ensure delivery of your confidential record to the correct office, verify the mailing address with someone in that office; addresses found online may be incomplete or no longer current.
  5. Hard copy records are mailed regular post via the United States Postal Service. You may choose to pay for expedited mail service through FedEx by providing your FedEx account number.
FAX your completed Request for Airman Medical Records Form to (405) 954-9326.

OR

Mail your completed Request for Airman Medical Records Form to:

FAA AMCD
Privacy Act AAM-331
CAMI, Building 13
P.O. Box 25082
Oklahoma City, OK 73125-9867
 
flyingron said:
FAX your completed Request for Airman Medical Records Form to (405) 954-9326.

OR

Mail your completed Request for Airman Medical Records Form to:

FAA AMCD
Privacy Act AAM-331
CAMI, Building 13
P.O. Box 25082
Oklahoma City, OK 73125-9867
Click to expand...

Can you explain what the purpose is for me to get my own medical records from the FAA? How will I want to use this information?

Just so you know, the last medical certificate I had was a Class I, which probably expired in about 2001. I've not applied for any other certificate till I went for the Class III two years ago.
 
RBBailey said:
Can you explain what the purpose is for me to get my own medical records from the FAA? How will I want to use this information?

Just so you know, the last medical certificate I had was a Class I, which probably expired in about 2001. I've not applied for any other certificate till I went for the Class III two years ago.
Click to expand...

You’re getting to see the FAA’s documented side of the story. Can be informative…when I got mine, I found a photocopy of a handwritten note between two FAA staffers giving the reason why something was wanted.
 
RBBailey said:
  • What is it they want?
Click to expand...

They want you to go away. Far easier to say no than to say yes and bear some responsibility for any future medical incapacitation, regardless the odds of a reoccurrence.
 
We need a medical that does not require a previous 3rd class. Man I wish we lived in a free country. :mad:

The amount of effort, lost time and wages spent on medicals is ridiculous.
 
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