Thorp Air Command - T18.net

The FAA just issued the new rules for the third class medical. Basically you can keep your third class or opt for the "new" BASICMED which lets you take a online medical and have on file a medical report from your doctor.

I believe it takes effect 1 May 2017 ?

RB

I'm thinking it would be best to continue getting a 3rd class medical as long as you are certain you will pass.

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Scott Emery
EAA Chapter 326
T-18 N18TE

The biggest problem with new medical, you can only fly in the US and Puerto Rico..that means no Island hopping..

How about Wake Island ?

RB
Tiki Daddy

A good friend of mine and our guide to the Bahamas flies Light Sport all over the Islands with his driver's license. Don't know if BASICMED will be accepted or not.

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Bob Highley
N711SH
SN 835
KLAL

No one is ever "sure" they will pass a 3rd class or ANY medical.

So it would seem like unless you fly for compensation or hire (flight instruction) or need to have a medical to fly in other countries. it would seem advantageous to take the simplest and cheapest way to allow you to legally fly.

I still don't get the need to obtain a very first 3rd class medical. Either you have a disqualifying condition which can be listed on the Dr filled out questionnaire or you don't. The only reason it seems like to have this in the regulation is so that there is still some financial reward for some number of Doctors to go through the process to become an AME.

Seems to me there will be a LOT less AME's out there and it will become more and more difficult over time for student pilots to even find an AME to get that very first coveted medical! As current AME's will probably keep their status as AME's but as they retire, ewer and fewer Doctors will go through the hassle to be designated as an AME for fewer and fewer customers needing that small, small portion of the population. It fiscally won't make sense unless they charge and arm and a leg for this specialty service!

Just my opinions of course. Others will have different perspectives.

I am not a doctor , but I did stay in a Holiday Inn Express last nite ! I can see a percentage of AME's that will get out of the FAA Voodo dispensing medicine business for Class III and cater their expertise to the 4 year medical requirement . Just my opinion and that is the only one that counts !

RB
Dr. Gold Finger

Don't forget the thousands of airline pilots that still need an FAA Class I every six months.

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Bob Highley
N711SH
SN 835
KLAL

True airline pilots need medicals. But what percentage of all pilots need a class I medical?

Pilots in general are a VERY small percentage of the population. And now it is subdivided drastically to only class I medicals and initial certification and a few air taxi and CFI's. So the customer has is now DRAMATICALLY smaller than an already small pool.

The AME's will cater to their base such will be almost exclusively airline pilots. Who have no choice and are desperate for the need to get a medical. As such when you have a desperate customer base they can charge an arm and a leg. Because what other choice does the Pilot have, but to go to an equally outrageously expensive AME that is even less convenient than who they found?

I hope I'm wrong.

I vote for that we give each other medical exams at T-18 events !

RB
Dr. Strangelove

You do Fraser.

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Bob Highley
N711SH
SN 835
KLAL

No problem . We can probably do a group rate !

RB
GOLD FINGER

....there is no finger thin enough, nor glove thick enough for the examination of Fraser....

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Fraser MacPhee
N926WM
Serial #279-1
Angel Fire, NM (KAXX)

Will 1230 on Wednesday work for you Frase ? This dude even has a light on the end of his finger ! BOOM !

RB