New GA medical rule

[WaiexN143NM]

Hi all,
Did you all see the announcement for the BasicMed the FAA is rolling out May 1? Article in www.avweb.com. . Im sure articles on many other aviation websites also. Just caught this over coffee this am in soggy wet norcal.

WaiexN143NM
Michael

[vigilant104]

Here's another link that may work better.http://www.avweb.com/avwebflash/news/FAA-Issues-New-GA-Medical-Rule-228312-1.html

This whole thing is (IMO) ridiculous. It is not at all what the "Pilot's Bill of Rights" (PBOR) was supposed to be, and not even what AOPA and EAA had said they had worked out with the FAA. We were promised that no more medical exams would be required for those flying GA aircraft less than 6000 lbs (if they had a valid drivers license and self-certified that they were fit to fly), instead this new rule requires a medical exam every 4 years. It doesn't matter that "any doctor" can fill out the form.
1) When most of us go for a physical now, we don't even see "a doctor."
2) More importantly--what doctor in his right mind is going to sign this form? What medical practice would allow their employees/partners to fill out the form? The potential legal liability/cost for them would be tremendous.

Nope, despite the evidence that a Class 3 medical does virtually nothing to enhance safety (we have lots of evidence now from the thousands of folks flying LSA), it is apparent that the FAA will not do anything on their own to reduce their grip.

I think it is time to re-energize the political pressure--nothing has changed despite all the press releases and promises.

[Jgibson]

Just an FYI:
Your doctor doeesn't 'fill out' anything. YOU download the list of items to discuss with your doctor. The only thing the doctor certifies is that he and YOU discussed those things on the list. He is NOT certifying that you are fit to fly, YOU are.
That list and recorded doctor's visit is then stashed away in your logbook, only to be seen IF there is a reason for the FAA to request a review of it.
Is it perfect, no. BUT it takes a 'pass/fail' system and changes it to a 'pass/fix' system. Under the new rules, if, for example your doctor catches that your blood pressure is high, rather than outright reject your application for a third class medical, he now recommends remediation methods to get the blood pressure down and a re-visit of the issue later. It MIGHT even save your life.
Now: how the insurance industry reacts to it is anyone's guess. However in the ten-plus years of the Light Sport regs, not one single accident has been caused by a medical event so that may help their decision on risk assessment.

[vigilant104]

Now: how the insurance industry reacts to it is anyone's guess.

Yes, we'll see. But this work by the medical provider is "extra" (won't be seen as needed to keep people healthy), and is nothing but "downside" for insurers.

However in the ten-plus years of the Light Sport regs, not one single accident has been caused by a medical event so that may help their decision on risk assessment.

Exactly. And that's the same reasoning that should have allowed a simple self-certification rather than this thing. Just as with today's Class 3 medicals, more people will be injured in auto accidents going to/from their doctors to meet this bureaucratic requirement than will be "saved" from injuries due to inflight medical issues by this paperwork.

[daleandee]

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[daleandee]

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[WaiexN143NM]

Hi all, mark,
Yea i knew that this was not going to be just open the barn door. Lets see how this shakes out. So if your private doctor wont sign where do you go? To an ame that you went to for years? Hmmm.....maybe.... With some long term history about you. Is that good or bad? Maybe a fly by nite doctor who charges a good fee for this letter, and could disappear tommorrow if something happened, like an incident/accident. Wait till a doctor gets sued, stemming from accident, and word will get around quick. Or like you said mark, may be prohibited from doctors insurers, or medical group. Well, better than a class 3 medical right? Maybe this keeps the LSA's in the hunt.
Moving forward...............
WaiexN143NM
Michael

P.S. Built the portable cooler for the plane , taking it down to tucson next month for some waiex flying.
Fly safe!!

[fastj22]

I asked my AME at my last review if he'd sign the new form. He said sure, for $100. But I think my personal doctor would too. He's ex-Airforce and was really helpful documenting my hypertension for the AME.

[vigilant104]

Under the new rules, a pilot can either choose to go with:
1) The regular Class 3 medical with an AME every 5 years (if under age 40) and every 2 years if age 40 or older.
2) This new "BasicMed" self-certification backed up with a doctor's note every 4 years.

Now, if the FAA is willing to accept a note from any doctor every >four< years, it clearly crazy to continue to demand that folks choosing to go to an AME have to do it every 2 years (if age 40 or older). So, at the very least, the FAA must change the "every 2 years if age 40 or older" requirement to every 4 years, just for internal consistency.

And, can we still fly an LSA aircraft without a current medical if we've never failed a medical exam and have a valid driver's license? I sure hope, for the sake of many Sonex flyers, that this doesn't change now that we have this new FAA "looks-like-it -is-better-but it's-not" rule. I could easily see this new "BasicMed" thing becoming the new standard for LSA, flight, too. "You don't have to get a Class III medical exam, you just get a note from your doctor every 4 years" HA!

1) It's not just a note. The doctor is swearing that he has examined you, interviewed you, and he has determined you are okay to fly.
2) To protect themselves legally, the doc will need some standard of fitness. Otherwise, the first time anyone has a coronary when flying (which happens today with people with Class 3 medical exams just a few weeks old), the ambulance chasing attorneys will be at his door immediately. In the courtroom: "You signed this form attesting to the fitness of Mr Jones to be a pilot. Now Mister and Missus Jones are dead after he had a heart attack in his airplane, and their three orphaned children face a lifetime of poverty. Can you testify as to the extensive training you have received that allowed you to determine the unique physical stresses and fitness required to operate in the aerospace environment?" An AME can quickly do that, and has the FAA's blessing to make these determinations, which provides him/her some cover. Your local doc has no such cover.

[DCASonex]

On bright side, this may help restore some of the value lost on LSA legal aircraft (Like Sonex) when the revamped rule was proposed.

David A.