Will FAA Medical Changes Impact You?

FAA is implementing a couple new changes to the airman medical certificate, including different procedures for testing color blindness and classification of medicals that are deferred to the FAA for guidance. Dan talks with Aviation medical Examiner Dr. Drew Sambell to talk about the changes and other medical questions.

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[JosieTube]

Last year after a long layoff from flying, I went to an AME who had to send my records to the FAA after waiting 3 1/2 months I just contacted one of our state‘s US senators office and they put in a call to the FAA and within two weeks. I had my medical in my hands.

Sometimes a squeaky wheel does get the grease especially if it’s coming from a US senator.

[dsyncd]

I'm so glad I can use a basic med. I hated dealing with them.

[davidgreer]

I’m a Senior AME. There is no “on-line” color vision test that the applicant can do. What he’s talking about is the monthly fee the AME has to pay to the company (Waggoner) to use their color vision testing program. And by the way, after the FAA announced this, the company jacked the monthly price up to $45.99. Alternatively, the AME can buy a “lifetime access” for $999. The other 2 options cost multiple thousands of dollars. As AMEs, we have no option but to pass this mandated expense on to the applicants in the way of increased fees.

[kevinpierce]

I had a heart attack in 2007. I have had no other issues since, and I take a blood pressure pill along with a cholesterol pill. Everything else was normal, good BP, pulse, and clear tests. When I went to get my medical the first time in 2020 of course it was deferred. The FAA made me get a heart cath done, as well as a nuclear stress test, and get a letter from my cardiologist stating he thought I was safe to fly before they would clear me. Of course I was only granted for 1yr. At the end of that first year I went back to renew my medical and was told I needed to do both of those tests over again. I ended up just letting my license go. I could kinda see needing a stress test every year but there’s no way I’m going through a completely invasive heart procedure every year to be able to fly. I just couldn’t justify it.

[willjohnson]

Hoping to get my medical back in the spring after a duster crash in June burned me up.

[AllenPortman]

Hey I am 66 and starting back after a long delay to pursue my PPL I may drive up from Houston to see Dr. Sambell for my physical (medical) screening!!! Seems like a great person with a genuine personality!

[EricEsser]

This was useful and interesting, thank you so much! You guys are doing a great job with this channel.

[thomasyuhas]

Dan my son, that got me interested in aviation at the age of 65, had a history of ADHD 18 years prior to his AME application for a Class three medical. This was 6 years ago. He had been treated with medication. It took him almost two years and about $5000 to go through all the hoops . He needed his health history from the pediatrician and none were available since the Dr. had retired. He needed psychological evaluation and cognitive testing which was the big expense. He eventually got his third class medical and got to the point of solo flight and then a wife and three children came along! It was very interesting to hear Dr. Drew say that ADHD is still a big hangup since Covid.

Great video. Thanks!

[Donkey]

Looking for a new flight Doc in DFW area. Glad to see a new doctor before making the appointment. Thanks.

[KevinSAviation]

Excellent podcast Dan. I hope to see more reforms to the FAA medical, as well as expanding Basic Med even more. Keep up the excellent work. Safe skies my friend 🇺🇸🛩️

[glennwatson]

I didn't bother in the end with the FAA medical after they started asking for $3000 worth of tests for having seen a psychologist. CASA in Australia has a very different attitude about mental health, if you tick the box "no never seen anyone" they will prompt "You sure, it's completely normal to have seen someone" and then it was 0 issues getting a medical from them on the mental health front.

Part of the issue having an Australian medical history, doctors document things different. Eg "adjustment disorder" is listed as mild depression here for example which has a very different meaning in the US.

[alyssa.arcane]

I was affected by this new denial change in January. It was so devastating to get that letter. I have submitted my reconsideration letter, so all is well now. Ugh what a journey!

[jeremyhill]

The FAA is extremely heavy handed. My 50 year old dentist had his 3rd class medical yanked because during a routine exam he answered yes he lost consciousness once when he was 17 years old when he was hit in the head with an elbow during a basketball game, he said he wasn’t sure if he lost consciousness, but it was very brief and his medical was yanked. It took him six months to get his medical back. I guess the moral of the story for him moving forward is lie your ass off?? No common sense. He’s just a private pilot too. It is for these reasons that I am so thankful. I am not an airline pilot. You stand to lose your profession at any moment. Also, don’t take viagra within 12 hours of taking that color vision test.

[jamesavery]

It pays not to tell the feds anything! Don’t tell them the last time you had a stomach ache or felt depressed.

[xyzaero]

For all people who don’t fly commercially, medicals should just be a consultation with a medical examiner to be made aware of the risks of your condition and you should be able to decide on your own as an adult and mentally sane citizen if you are fit to fly.

If that is too much to ask, the medical should be at least performance based and certain medications should not just automatically kick you off the ticket.
Just because some medication COULD cause certain severe side effects, it dies not mean that they do so in every person. If I can prove that opioids don’t affect my awareness and reaction time, then I should be allowed to fly! Nobody should be able to tell me if I can or can not fly my MD500 at low altitudes in empty areas like Utah, Montana, Arizona etc.

[WolfPilot]

Thanks for this interesting discussion!

[FlyGuy_Aero]

The #1 issue is AMEs & the FAA not allowing new applicants to cancel the appointment and turn it into a consultation.
In these cases an applicant that is clearly going to be deferred, gets deferred without having their paperwork in order to cut down on back/forth time with FAA.
Just stop the appointment and have them come back after gathering paperwork / maybe getting some tests done and then send all that in with the deferral.
That alone would cut down paperwork & save 3-9months.

My friend has been fighting for his medical for 5 years.
Still flying as a CFI with no issues all that time. FAA is crickets.
They steamrolled Bob Hoover and they steamroll people today.

[TheStingrayDiver]

Maybe the backlog would not be there if the FAA answered the phone or emails

[mrsmith]

If you close your eyes while Dr. Sambell is speaking you'll hear Mr. Garrison, mmmkay, and if you take a shot each time Dan mentions "new changes" you'll never make it to the end!

[johnburgess]

At 16:25, ". . . at Arlington Airport so you can actually fly in to get your medical . . ." Isn't that a bit of a Catch-22? You have to already have your medical before you can "fly in". Though, I suppose, it's handy for doing a renewal.