Was my SI approval based partially on piloting intentions?

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I have an expired third class and expired SI for OCD. My neuropysch and psychiatric evals were clear I only wanted to bore holes in the sky with family, because at the time, I was so intimidated by the process that was all I could see myself doing. However, I hold a commercial and CFI, so the option for paid work is always there, though I'm not interested in the airlines or anything (and yes, I know you don't need a medical to instruct, but I mention the CFI because people are always asking CFIs for extraneous commercial help).

I'm happy with BasicMed, but as a thought exercise - did my intent 5+ years ago during those evaluations help with my SI approval? I.e., am I unlikely to receive a second class medical and new SI because the FAA would fear I might exercise my commercial privileges?
 
The FAA doesn't assess "intent." If you ask for a third class, they assume you are not flying commercially. If you ask for a first or second, they assume you will. This is why the requirements for both the regular certificate and many of the special issuances INCREASES as you go up in levels.

If you want to bore holes in the sky or even instruct when you need to be pilot in command or safety pilot, you can do so with either a third or basic med.
 
There is actually, someplace, formal "intent for usage of certification" questionnaire, but it's no longer in the AME guide. Did you fill one out?
 
bbchien said:
There is actually, someplace, formal "intent for usage of certification" questionnaire, but it's no longer in the AME guide. Did you fill one out?
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Interesting! I did not. I'd love to see what that looks like.

Like I said, I can do everything I want with BasicMed. Simply curious. But that also makes me wonder if OKC pays any attention to a class of medical applied for/pilot certificate apparent mismatch. I would assume not since I'm hardly the only CFI flying around without a second class, but it's the FAA, so...
 
bbchien said:
There is actually, someplace, formal "intent for usage of certification" questionnaire, but it's no longer in the AME guide. Did you fill one out?
Click to expand...
Didn't this stuff all go away decades ago when they stopped requiring seconds to take the commercial.
 
Anonymous said:
Interesting! I did not. I'd love to see what that looks like.

Like I said, I can do everything I want with BasicMed. Simply curious. But that also makes me wonder if OKC pays any attention to a class of medical applied for/pilot certificate apparent mismatch. I would assume not since I'm hardly the only CFI flying around without a second class, but it's the FAA, so...
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Many CFIs have at least second class if they plan to do some ferrying. First if they are building time for the airlines. Student pilots who are aiming toward airline careers often go first class from the get-go.
 
midlifeflyer said:
Many CFIs have at least second class if they plan to do some ferrying. First if they are building time for the airlines. Student pilots who are aiming toward airline careers often go first class from the get-go.
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I tell people interested in taking starting to take flying lessons, if you ever plan on earning a buck as a pilot. Start with a 1st class medical BEFORE spending any money flying.

It’s a good Go, No-Go test.
 
rockyfatcat said:
I tell people interested in taking starting to take flying lessons, if you ever plan on earning a buck as a pilot. Start with a 1st class medical BEFORE spending any money flying.

It’s a good Go, No-Go test.
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I have watched three career pilots (over age 35) lose their livelyhood because of curiosity and a class 1 medical. All three were perfectly fine flying under a class 2 but a little "blip" on the EKG is all you need for a failure. If I recall, all three had asymptomatic occasional PVCs that required further investigation.

One pilot retired and the other two spend a couple of years obtaining a special issuance. Until then they couldn't even fly recreationally under basic med.
 
k9medic said:
I have watched three career pilots (over age 35) lose their livelyhood because of curiosity and a class 1 medical. All three were perfectly fine flying under a class 2 but a little "blip" on the EKG is all you need for a failure. If I recall, all three had asymptomatic occasional PVCs that required further investigation.

One pilot retired and the other two spend a couple of years obtaining a special issuance. Until then they couldn't even fly recreationally under basic med.
Click to expand...
And my point is: if they found all that out before they spent their first dime…
 
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