Well I just completed my medical exam. I did not like the fact that my new Third Class Medical was printed on a heavy card. After trimming and fording I see i will need a bigger wallet. I discussed with the examiner the new law and he said he has not received a thing from the FAA.

We speculated a little about what was going to be my requirements in the future. I just got off AOPA web site and found this: "Your physician will have to certify that he is unaware of any medical conditions that, as presently treated, could interfere with your ability to safely operate an aircraft." What if my doctor has no knowledge of small planes and private pilots. What would convince that doctor to stick his neck out and state that I am healthy enough to fly a plane. What if he/she has had a chat with his malpractice insurance provider and they tell him to not sign such a document unless a higher premium is paid. Then where do I go.

I have had enough dealings with government bureaucrats and seen how the "Law of Unintended Consequence" works to be a little suspicious of what is to come.

Probably wrong but I thought I would throw it out

Tim

amen brother

What if I am being treated for high blood pressure and my doc says "well, I do not think you should be flying". Just arbitrary.

Tim

While you're bored waiting for people to answer, you can just read this.

Zzz wrote:While you're bored waiting for people to answer, you can just read this.

Read it. Still if your doctor is not comfortable sighing an FAA document then you may have to do some doctor shopping.

Tim

I don't see this as a big deal, we sign all sorts of forms like school physicals for sports and they always say something like "I am not aware..." or "the exam did not reveal anything..." which clearly doesn't guarantee that some undetected condition doesn't exist. Liability could arise if for instance you checked off "normal strength and reflexes in both lower extremities" and then after the pilot had a runway loss of control in his taildragger resulting in injury and it was revealed he had been a double amputee for 19 years. To prove fault in such a case the injured patient must show that there was a duty owed to the patient by the doctor, here that there was a doctor patient relationship involving a physical exam for the purpose of FAA "certification"; he must show what the standard of care was and that the doctor deviated from that standard, i.e. that the doctor must actually examine the items listed on the exam checklist, (in this case the doctor failed to notice the missing legs and feet and mistakenly indicated the patient had normal legs and feet); and finally the patient must demonstrate a causal relationship between the deviation and the injury, an expert might, for instance testify that controlling a taildragger in a gusty crosswind would be difficult or impossible and likely dangerous. (unless it was a Rans S7, which clearly anyone, with or without feet, (or skill) could probably fly safely,

S7Paco wrote:I don't see this as a big deal, we sign all sorts of forms like school physicals for sports and they always say something like "I am not aware..." or "the exam did not reveal anything..." which clearly doesn't guarantee that some undetected condition doesn't exist. Liability could arise if for instance you checked off "normal strength and reflexes in both lower extremities" and then after the pilot had a runway loss of control in his taildragger resulting in injury and it was revealed he had been a double amputee for 19 years. To prove fault in such a case the injured patient must show that there was a duty owed to the patient by the doctor, here that there was a doctor patient relationship involving a physical exam for the purpose of FAA "certification"; he must show what the standard of care was and that the doctor deviated from that standard, i.e. that the doctor must actually examine the items listed on the exam checklist, (in this case the doctor failed to notice the missing legs and feet and mistakenly indicated the patient had normal legs and feet); and finally the patient must demonstrate a causal relationship between the deviation and the injury, an expert might, for instance testify that controlling a taildragger in a gusty crosswind would be difficult or impossible and likely dangerous. (unless it was a Rans S7, which clearly anyone, with or without feet, (or skill) could probably fly safely,

Good stuff. Thanks

Tim

Until the regs are published implementing the PBOR2, there's not much point in speculating about what will be required of non-AME docs, and whether the average doc will or won't sign off on the FAA's paperwork. Patience!

Cary

I just got my 3rd as well. I don't know what you are talking about wrt the card stock. That's up to your AME on what they print and sign. Mine was normal printer paper - same as 2 years ago.

I hope this will be my last 3rd ever until I get that call for the $250k/yr dreamliner left seat I'm hoping for. Then I'll enroll in ATP school.

Tim,

Find a new Doc. Preferably a pilot Cardiologist. Nothing gets sent to the FAA.

Just get a 3rd class medical every 24 months. At the end of the day the costs of getting a MD to do the exam will probably be cheaper than the 5 3rd class exams. Couple that with an MD not knowing Jacks*&t about flying and what interferes with it.

Oh, and you cannot fly in Canada without a 3rd class or better, don't know about Mexico.

Still searching really hard for my benefits here.

TD

TomD wrote:

Oh, and you cannot fly in Canada without a 3rd class or better, don't know about Mexico.

Still searching really hard for my benefits here.

TD

So if I am an American pilot flying legally without a 3rd class med I cannot fly in Canada. Hmm

Tim

qmdv wrote:

TomD wrote:

Oh, and you cannot fly in Canada without a 3rd class or better, don't know about Mexico.

Still searching really hard for my benefits here.

TD

So if I am an American pilot flying legally without a 3rd class med I cannot fly in Canada. Hmm

Tim

That's right. We won't let you in Tim! You are welcome to my place, I won't tell anyone.
But it is true that without a 3rd class medical you can't fly into Canada.

You also can't fly into Canada as a recreational or sport pilot.

qmdv wrote:

TomD wrote:

Oh, and you cannot fly in Canada without a 3rd class or better, don't know about Mexico.

Still searching really hard for my benefits here.

TD

So if I am an American pilot flying legally without a 3rd class med I cannot fly in Canada. Hmm

Tim

All this Canada stuff....wow....

A1Skinner wrote:

.
But it is true that without a 3rd class medical you can't fly into Canada.

SoyAnarchisto wrote:

.
You also can't fly into Canada as a recreational or sport pilot.

And.… on top of that….. I thought I heard that the Canadians are going to build a wall and make the United States pay for it.

TomD wrote:Just get a 3rd class medical every 24 months. At the end of the day the costs of getting a MD to do the exam will probably be cheaper than the 5 3rd class exams. Couple that with an MD not knowing Jacks*&t about flying and what interferes with it.

Oh, and you cannot fly in Canada without a 3rd class or better, don't know about Mexico.

Still searching really hard for my benefits here.

TD

I'm with you.

The more I learn and think about it the fewer benefits I see.

I just saw an airman yesterday who came in for a 3rd Class because his insurance company would not cover him without one. I suspect this will be an issue with many of us. Time will tell.

A good idea for most of us would be to see an AME as our regular doctor to sign off on the form (not an official 'Medical') rather than Dr. Joe Schmo.

I just re-read my initial post where I said "At the end of the day the costs of getting a MD to do the exam...." What I meant was the cost of the MD exam could possibly be higher than getting 3rd class exams.

Most probably the "aviation physical", depending on how it is coded, will not be covered by insurance.

TomD wrote:I just re-read my initial post where I said "At the end of the day the costs of getting a MD to do the exam...." What I meant was the cost of the MD exam could possibly be higher than getting 3rd class exams.

Most probably the "aviation physical", depending on how it is coded, will not be covered by insurance.

I know for me in Alberta, my medical for class 1 drivers license costs $140. My flying medical is $120...

Why wouldn't a doc sign off on this as a part of your "normal" physical? You guys do see a doctor once a year, right?

My doc said it would be no problem.

My doc said it would be no problem.

In your case that works. Some of the mega systems (here in seattle you pretty much have only three choices), may or may go for it.

Bottom line we need to see how all this shakes out. For me Canada is next door and I like flying up there; therefore, 3rd class it is.

TD