Transition from Class III Special Issuance to Basic Med

[brtsvg1]

First-time poster here. I am a PPL SEL in the Midwest that flies just for recreational purposes, 25-30 hrs a year. After being out flying for 30 years, I got a Class III physical in 2017, 2019, and 2021 with no problems. However, my latest renewal attempt in April 2023 resulted in a very unexpected deferred due to a minor procedure that was successfully completed 18 months earlier with no problems. After 18 months of frustration last week I finally received my Class III Special Issuance (SI) medical certificate and Statement of Demonstrated Ability (SODA) in the mail. It states the following -

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Enclosed is your medical certificate with the restriction "Not valid for any class after April 30, 2025. It requires your signature. This certificate supersedes any previously issued certificates.

This Authorization expires: April 30, 2030

Consideration for continued certification under this Authorization will be contingent on the following:

1. You are required to have your regular Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) medical examination at the frequency prescribed under the provisions of Title 14 of the CFRs, Section 61.23.

2. At 12-month intervals, beginning in February 2025, please have your treating physician complete the attached pre-diabetes or overweight /obesity worksheet.

3. At 12-month intervals, beginning in February 2025, you will be required to submit a current status report from your treating physician regarding your malignant metformin, as outlined on the enclosed specification sheet.

If your FAA flight physical is not required at the time your follow-up reports are due, no FAA physical examination needs to be performed.

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With all the frustration I have experienced over the last 18 months, going forward I would like to transition from the Class III medicals to BasicMed, and simplify my life in the future. I'm in great physical condition and have no problems complying with the BasicMed operating limitations, so this should not be a problem. My GP is very supportive of BasicMed. This SI is new ground for me (never had a SI before), and I have several questions that I hope others here in this site might be able to answer.

1. Can I ignore submitting the item 2) and item 3) requested reports above and just let the current Class III certificate lapse on April 30, 2025, and go on BasicMed effective that date ?

2/ Or am I obligated to submit the item 2) and item 3) requested reports above even though I don't intend to schedule & renew another Class III exam & medical ? I'd like to avoid completing the MedExpress form again.

Thanks in advance for any comments / guidance you may provide.

 

[Brad Z]

In February 2025, send a letter indicating that you are letting your medical certificate expire after April 30, 2025 and transitioning to BasicMed. Do not send any medical information. While your SI letter is good until 2030, your medical expires April 2025. After it expires, follow the process to operate under BasicMed.

While the letter is not required, it removes any ambiguity as to why you haven't sent a status update for your SI.

 

[robin ardoin]

^^^^^ THIS ^^^^^ I did the same and fly on BM now.

 

[Jon Wilder]

In February 2025, send a letter indicating that you are letting your medical certificate expire after April 30, 2025 and transitioning to BasicMed. Do not send any medical information. While your SI letter is good until 2030, your medical expires April 2025. After it expires, follow the process to operate under BasicMed.

While the letter is not required, it removes any ambiguity as to why you haven't sent a status update for your SI.

In previous posts with @bbchien I was under the impression that full information had to be submitted up to the "Not valid for any class after" date on the medical certificate. In my situation, my HIMS Special Issuance Medical Certificate only had 45 days left on it before the NVA date. I ended up submitting medical information to the HIMS AME up to and through the NVA date, but did not fill out another MedXpress application.

You mean to tell me that all I had to do was send them a letter indicating that I am transitioning to BasicMed and will not be renewing my medical certificate?

 

[Brad Z]

In previous posts with @bbchien I was under the impression that full information had to be submitted up to the "Not valid for any class after" date on the medical certificate. In my situation, my HIMS Special Issuance Medical Certificate only had 45 days left on it before the NVA date. I ended up submitting medical information to the HIMS AME up to and through the NVA date, but did not fill out another MedXpress application.

You mean to tell me that all I had to do was send them a letter indicating that I am transitioning to BasicMed and will not be renewing my medical certificate?

You don't need to send additional medical information if you do not intend to extend the medical. See Domingo Interp.

 

[robin ardoin]

In previous posts with @bbchien I was under the impression that full information had to be submitted up to the "Not valid for any class after" date on the medical certificate. In my situation, my HIMS Special Issuance Medical Certificate only had 45 days left on it before the NVA date. I ended up submitting medical information to the HIMS AME up to and through the NVA date, but did not fill out another MedXpress application.

You mean to tell me that all I had to do was send them a letter indicating that I am transitioning to BasicMed and will not be renewing my medical certificate?

You did it as needed to be done....fulfill all obligations up to the expiry date of the SI Medical Certificate. The SI authorization is usually many years and gives the AME authorization to re-issue a medical certificate if you have met the criterion outlined in the authorization. That seems to create some confusion; the difference between the SI authorization and the, usually shorter termed, medical certificate issued under the SI authorization.

 

[Jon Wilder]

You don't need to send additional medical information if you do not intend to extend the medical. See Domingo Interp.

The Domingo Interp mentions "the requirement for an airman to demonstrate that he remains qualified for a new special issuance medical certificate when the current special issuance medical certificate expires." This reads, to me, that the airman is required to demonstrate that they remain qualified (whether they are being reissued or not) for a special issuance medical certificate at the time of expiration of the current medical certificate. Am I misinterpreting this?

 

[bflynn]

In previous posts with @bbchien I was under the impression that full information had to be submitted up to the "Not valid for any class after" date on the medical certificate. In my situation, my HIMS Special Issuance Medical Certificate only had 45 days left on it before the NVA date. I ended up submitting medical information to the HIMS AME up to and through the NVA date, but did not fill out another MedXpress application.

You mean to tell me that all I had to do was send them a letter indicating that I am transitioning to BasicMed and will not be renewing my medical certificate?

Ehhhh…won’t they interpret this as reapplying for a medical? Its happened in the past when a well meaning doctor sent something in.

 

[Jon Wilder]

Ehhhh…won’t they interpret this as reapplying for a medical? Its happened in the past when a well meaning doctor sent something in.

Maybe if I had sent it into the FAA. But I sent it to the HIMS AME, while at the same time revoking in writing all prior authorizations to share my protected health information with any/all outside agencies.

Wondering if I shouldn't just go ahead and send the letter Brad Z mentions to the FAA just in case. I haven't received anything from the FAA, status update requests or otherwise.

 

[Half Fast]

In February 2025, send a letter indicating that you are letting your medical certificate expire after April 30, 2025 and transitioning to BasicMed.

Brad, I’m confused. Since the medical certificate says

Not valid for any class after April 30, 2025.

and the SI says

At 12-month intervals, beginning in February 2025, you will be required to submit a current status report....

Why wouldn’t his medical get revoked in March 2025 if he doesn’t submit the status report? Isn’t he obligated to send that report to keep the medical alive until it expires?

 

[Brad Z]

Brad, I’m confused. Since the medical certificate says


and the SI says


Why wouldn’t his medical get revoked in March 2025 if he doesn’t submit the status report? Isn’t he obligated to send that report to keep the medical alive until it expires?

They want him to send in data in March so they have time to reissue the medical before it expires.

 

[bbchien]

In this case the March submission is not required. There are some for which it IS required but this is not one of them.

 

[brtsvg1]

Thank you all (especially bbchien) for your comments. I will send a letter as Brad Z suggests, to clarify my intentions and position.

 

[phoenix2fly]

In February 2025, send a letter indicating that you are letting your medical certificate expire after April 30, 2025 and transitioning to BasicMed. Do not send any medical information. While your SI letter is good until 2030, your medical expires April 2025. After it expires, follow the process to operate under BasicMed.

While the letter is not required, it removes any ambiguity as to why you haven't sent a status update for your SI.

If I have both a 3rd Class SI and Basic Med currently and they both show on my airman's registry, do I still need to send a letter to the FAA to let them know I will be converting to Basic Med when my 3rd class expires?

 

[robin ardoin]

If I have both a 3rd Class SI and Basic Med currently and they both show on my airman's registry, do I still need to send a letter to the FAA to let them know I will be converting to Basic Med when my 3rd class expires?

No. Just make sure you meet all the requirements of the SI until the date of expiry of the medical certificate.

 

[Jon Wilder]

If I have both a 3rd Class SI and Basic Med currently and they both show on my airman's registry, do I still need to send a letter to the FAA to let them know I will be converting to Basic Med when my 3rd class expires?

Its not required, but some have done it for the purpose of removing ambiguity.

 

[bbchien]

Its not required, but some have done it for the purpose of removing ambiguity.

phoenix2fly- you CAN send in such a letter but I view it as everytime the FAA touches the file they have an opportunity to muck it up. I'd not do so. Or, even more strongly, "why would I do a thing like that?"

Brad is your friendly FAA ops guy. He has no idea how badly messed up medical branch is at this moment. I mean, they sometimes mess up on DOMINGO, from their own General Counsel. (His efforts however ARE APPRECIATED).