Basic Med Advice and Clarification

[bryankloos]

Hi All,

My 3rd Class is up in May 2025. Im 47 years old. I had to jump through a few hoops to get it as I was on a small dose of fluoxitine (anti depressant and anti-anxiety) for a period when my son was on the brink of death fighting a severe head sarcoma (he's doing great). The med was disqualifying so had the option of working with a HIMS or just discontinuing. I chose the latter and was then cleared after a review by the regional examiner. It took 6 months maybe, slooooowwwwww process.

Anyhow, at the advice of many, I had my GP complete the basic med exam and I have all paperwork signed and in my EFB along with my active 3rd class med certificate.

1. Do I need to submit anything to the FAA regarding the potential transition to basic med?
2. If I decided to keep the 3rd class is there any harm in getting a checkup before 5/31 with the AME and seeing if I pass?
3. If I failed 2 above, could I then just default to Basic Med, or does this open a new level of scrutiny?

I'm trying to weight the pros and cons of 3rd class vs basic med. Im a lowly PPL and doubt I'll ever fly more than a 6 seater, but you never know? What am I losing by letting the 3rd class lapse and transitioning to Basic Med?

My helath is generally okay, but I am on a statin and blood pressure meds (all preventative as my father had a stroke in his 50s).

Thoughts?

Bryan

 

[Half Fast]

1 - Nope.

2 - No harm, as long as it’s just a “consultation” and not a live application.

3 - If the medical application has gone live in the system and you fail, you’re screwed for Basic Med. If the exam is merely a consultation and the AME says you would have failed the real exam, then you can just stick with Basic Med.

Im a lowly PPL and doubt I'll ever fly more than a 6 seater, but you never know?

So worry about that if and when the time comes. Why chance things now?

What am I losing by letting the 3rd class lapse and transitioning to Basic Med?

You’re losing the chance to play an exciting game of OKC medical roulette and giving up the opportunity to lose your ability to fly legally. Oh, and you give up the opportunity to overfly the frozen tundra of Canada.

 

[Half Fast]

Addendum to #1 - When you complete the required training course and quiz, the training provider (AOPA or Mayo) submits the training record to the FAA. No personal medical info goes to them at all.

 

[robin ardoin]

As to #2, as mentioned, only get a pre exam consultation. Make it clear with your AME that you DO NOT WANT A MED EXPRESS APPLICATION SUBMITTED. If your future plans don’t involve flying at 18,000’ or above, not flying an aircraft 12,500lbs or greater, and not certified for more than 7 seats, I would strongly consider BM. However, if you should choose to go back to a class 3, expect to have to jump through the HIMS hoops again.

 

[Bryab]

As to #2, as mentioned, only get a pre exam consultation. Make it clear with your AME that you DO NOT WANT A MED EXPRESS APPLICATION SUBMITTED. If your future plans don’t involve flying at 18,000’ or above, not flying an aircraft 12,500lbs or greater, and not certified for more than 7 seats, I would strongly consider BM. However, if you should choose to go back to a class 3, expect to have to jump through the HIMS hoops again.

Silly question probably, but when/why/where will I need more than 6 seats. I may buy a plane, but I’m guessing it will not be a big plane. When would I need to be above 18000?

As mentioned I’m just a 47!year old that want to fly for fun and to get a way for weekends. I don’t see getting any ratings beyond IFR or maybe multi. I’m never going to spend 1M on a plane (maybe 500k….).

I guess what I’m struggling with is why would I want to keep the 3rd class?

 

[bryankloos]

I guess I need to ask myself if I ever plan to fly with more than 5 passengers or above 18000.

I’m just. 47 year old guy that thinks flying is a ton of fun and would like to expand the reach for weeekend adventure with the wife and/or kids.

I’ll never spend 1m on a big plane. 6 seater, sure that may make sense for my mission but more than that?

Why would I ever want to fly above 18000?

Thoughts?

 

[Clip4]

Going basic med does not preclude you from getting a class 3 medical at a later date if you win the lotto.

 

[bryankloos]

I'm starting to sense a theme here....

 

[UTLonghorn_1979]

I'm starting to sense a theme here....

I’m in a similar boat. I’m having to run through all sorts of hoops for a class 3 deferral followed by denial with reconsideration upon meeting several FAA requirements. Been 2 years as of this month in the deferral process. I intend to meet all the requirements for SI then go to basic med as soon as possible.

I’m similar to you. I just love flying, it challenges me as well as relaxes me and it’s less about getting from point A to B, but I’d like that option as well.

Yes, it would be nice to fly at/above FL 180 and go over 250kn, but not really needed for my missions. I might reconsider later, or hope that the FAA just does away with the class 3 altogether but with same privileges. That or they get their sh$t together and learn to process deferrals in under a year.

 

[Jon Wilder]

Why would you want to fly above 18K (Class A airspace)?

Less weather, optimized fuel usage, faster cruising speeds, the ability to avoid turbulence, and more time to plan emergency landings.

You also need an instrument rating to fly in Class A airspace.

Now for your other questions -

1. Do I need to submit anything to the FAA regarding the potential transition to basic med?

It's not a requirement, but some do just to remove any potential ambiguity. @Brad Z has mentioned that Special Issuances typically require periodic status reports from the airman in order to keep the authorization active. AMCD has no idea whether an airman plans to continue his or her medical so the reminders are sent. If you happen to receive one of these letters, the best thing to do is to respond with a letter indicating that the he or she is not intending to renew the medical certificate and transitioning to BasicMed. Otherwise, don't respond to the letter. Sending AMCD medical information when you don't want a medical causes issues- AMCD is obligated to review all medical data they receive. Simply put: don't do it.

It's not a necessity though.

2. If I decided to keep the 3rd class is there any harm in getting a checkup before 5/31 with the AME and seeing if I pass?

As long as you don't fill out a MedXpress application, nothing goes to the FAA. The trick here is finding an AME who will do a consult/exam without an active MedXpress application.

3. If I failed 2 above, could I then just default to Basic Med, or does this open a new level of scrutiny?

How the application gets completed will determine whether your BasicMed eligibility will remain intact. If the application is completed and denied, BasicMed is off the table until you jump through the hoops and get an approval. If your application is deferred, you are still eligible to fly under BasicMed unless the certificate decision reached is a denial.

If you just simply did an exam and consult with no active MedXpress application, this would have no effect on BasicMed.

 

[dragon_soldier]

Just want to share my experience with transition from 3rd to Basic Med. I am a type-1 diabetic, on BP meds and cholesterol meds (not b/c they are bad, but because it is to make sure my ticker stays working from high risk of diabetes).

I got my 3rd with SI, which took 6 months to complete. I am over 40, so I had to go through extra steps (Bruce Stress test, etc.) to get the SI. I started with 3rd and SI. I got tired of having to go through the same hoops every year and waiting to see if my AME would be allowed to proceed. I test with finger sticks while flying and wear a sensor. The AME recommended that I switch to Basic Med at the end of year 3. I let the 3rd with SI lapse and now am Basic Med. It was the best decision I could have made. I only fly for fun and my family. I used AOPA's Basic Med program.

I do not have to do any of the normal med stuff anymore for 3rd class, but I still do it b/c it (without sending to FAA). My health, safety and family are very important for me. The pressure of working with the FAA is not.

With the new Basic Med rules I think I can even fly a Vision Jet or some smaller Citations if someone wants to kindly give me lots of money. Otherwise, I will stick with my 182R.

Now to answer more what you asked.

1. Do I need to submit anything to the FAA regarding the potential transition to basic med?
- No I went to AOPA did the class and they took care of the rest. - I would call them to verify if you happen to be a member.
2. If I decided to keep the 3rd class is there any harm in getting a checkup before 5/31 with the AME and seeing if I pass?
- I went to the AME every year to get a "consultation" prior to starting the real Med Express stuff. It helped me make sure I had everything ready to go. It was during one of the consultations we discussed just going Basic Med.
3. If I failed 2 above, could I then just default to Basic Med, or does this open a new level of scrutiny?
- I am no expert, I think others may have had better nights at the Holiday Inn. I was told if it ever got denied then I was SOL, and I would be a lot of work to even try to get 3rd back. I would talk to an expert on this one.

 

[WDD]

To the OP

Do not talk to, or even speak the name of an AME out loud. Especially three times - you’ll open the gates of the FAA.

Even if the AME does something simple as out of curtesy submit some medial records for you, the FAA will treat that as an application and you’re stuck.

Get your Basic Med from your non AME doc, do the online course, and never speak to an AME or the FAA about anything medial. Ever.