Basic Med Pros and Cons

spiderweb

spiderweb

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Has anyone gone this route? Even if not, I'd like your opinion on the pros and cons.

In my case, the only issue with getting a standard 3rd class was my BP, which had gotten high over the years. On my last medical, I squeaked by on that element. But now my BP averages 120/85 (without white coat), so it shouldn't be an issue.

Would it make more sense for someone like me simply to get the standard 3rd class?
 
I am planning on using BasicMed. I hold SI's for OSA and DM2, and have no current needs to operate aircraft that exceed the limitation.

But for you..... As always: Health First, Fly Later.

With BP creeping up like that, it is more important for long term health to get it in control now than to fret about an aviation medical.

With that said, if you work with your Primary Doc on getting it in control, and he is willing to sign off that he can certify that he is ot aware of any medical condition that, as presently treated, could interfere with the individual's ability to safely operate an aircraft, then you are good to go with BasicMed for an elevated BP.
 
spiderweb said:
Would it make more sense for someone like me simply to get the standard 3rd class?
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BasicMed is good if you qualify. But if you need to fly in the flight levels (FL180 and higher), go 250ktas or faster, want to fly into Mexico or Canada, or need/want to fly a plane over 6k pounds you still need a 3rd class or higher.
 
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But even HTN meds are generally not a problem for a 3rd class medical if you go that route. If I recall, it justs required a letter from your treating physician that it's well controlled. Do a search on here, is been discussed before.

But yeah, BasicMed should be a breeze.
 
citizen5000 said:
BasicMed is good if you qualify. But if you never need to fly in the flight levels (FL180 and higher), go 250ktas or faster, want to fly into Mexico or Canada, or need/want to fly a plane over 6k pounds you still need a 3rd class or higher.
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Which we have, like, known for all along.... why are you continuously flogging this deceased equine?
 
Brad Z said:
If I recall, it justs required a letter from your treating physician that it's well controlled.
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Important that the doctor also adds he is not following you for coronary artery disease.
 
Brad Z said:
But even HTN meds are generally not a problem for a 3rd class medical if you go that route. If I recall, it justs required a letter from your treating physician that it's well controlled. Do a search on here, is been discussed before.

But yeah, BasicMed should be a breeze.
Click to expand...
I'm on high bp meds and my AME didn't even require a letter. It was my first medical exam since starting the medication too. I made sure to point it out to him and he checked my bp and said it wouldn't be an issue.
 
AggieMike88 said:

With BP creeping up like that, it is more important for long term health to get it in control now than to fret about an aviation medical.
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I think I wasn't clear in my original post: I have gotten my BP -down- to those numbers from a year ago, when they were much higher, averaging 145/95.

I knew I wouldn't pass the medical, and that I need those numbers down.

So, as they say, "I took steps. . . ."

I made a deal with my primary care doc--more exercise, switch to vegan, lose weight, less sugar and salt. Six month checkup had to show a significant trend of lowering. She was quite happy, so far, and we are scheduled for another checkup in another six months.
 
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Personally, I worked really hard to get my 3rd class medical. Multiple SIs and such. Took me several years to finally get the SIs removed. I hope to fly higher and faster someday, so I'm not letting go of it...ever.
 
Brad Z said:
But even HTN meds are generally not a problem for a 3rd class medical if you go that route. If I recall, it justs required a letter from your treating physician that it's well controlled. Do a search on here, is been discussed before.

But yeah, BasicMed should be a breeze.
Click to expand...
What's HTN?
 
Thinking I'm going to hold on to my 3rd Class, no issues, see my regular Doc between the visit to the AME.

Basic Med Con's...? can't fly to the Islands, Mexico, or Canada. Only been to the Islands once, but hate to limit myself for the future.
 
My personal situation is no cons and many pros. All the pros have been addressed in one thread or another but 4 years vs 2 and PCP Exam covered by insurance vs AME are the top reasons for me.

Cheers
 
Even if I wasn't flying professionally, Basic Med wouldn't be much good to me since my airplane weighs too much.
 
I am on a SI for OSA. Totally compliant for 8 years on CPAP. My next 3rd class exam is due in Sept 18, so I am going to take a wait and see attitude. No problems for now if I want to stay with 3rd class. See my OSA doctor and get the letter, along with the compliance report and send in to the FAA this year. 2018, AME visit required, so we shall see.
 
Count me as undecided, but leaning toward BasicMed. I presently hold a 3rd Class, flying for the past 13 years on a SI due to lifetime anticoagulation subsequent to unexplained DVT/PE in 2004. Due to my medical/SI exam/report date being at the beginning of the summer flying season, I lost 6 weeks of summer flying 3 yrs ago due to 3 out of 12 INRs being 0.1 out of range on the high side..ie flycr@p in the real world...My PCP always comments that I am one of the best controlled pts he has. In fact, 2 yrs before that, he had extended my blood cks to every 6 weeks instead of every four and I was still well controlled, except for our oversight of the fact that only the FAA physicians could extend the intervals from 4 to 6. On my next yearly report, the AME properly noted that I was controlled, but followed the exact letter of the SI requiring a blood Ck every 4 weeks and deferred to OKC for their decision. Many non flying weeks later, I was notified to stay on 4 wks and the SI was reissued. My bad, but a PIA again over something that had no bearing on my being medically safe for flight.

I personally think the BasicMed limitations are generous. Over the years I have been to the Bahamas, all over Canada several times and to Alaska twice, so I can live with the lower USA limitation. My plane is only 6 seats, but turbocharged, so my biggest limitation/concern would be the few times each year that I have to go into the low 20's for wx. Another issue brought up on another board was insurance coverage. I checked with my broker and was verbally assured that my long time underwriter, USAIG, was not expressing concern at this time.

To not dread the PIA mid summer hassles that can come with my SI renewal, and to let my very competent PCP decide if I am properly anticoagulated and safe to fly would be a good thing, thus the inclination to go BMed. I have to give more thought to the <18k limitation before I decide to make the switch this year.

For all the pilots who will be able to return to the air, ^5 and welcome back! As a pilot community, we all owe a huge thank you to the associations and individuals involved with seeing this finally coming to fruition.
 
Basic med for me. Operating under SI for an arrhythmia. SI calls for a nuclear stress test (Bruce Protocol). Results were normal but the test cost $2400. Cardiologist signed off for basic med, minus a couple of check boxes better checked by general practitioner. Went to usual family doctor who signed off on Basic med. Cheaper and lasts 4 years, instead of two with another treadmill and SI. Good enough for my recreational flying. I actually found the basic med online course valuable, too. Encourages pilots to think about improving their health, rather than avoiding the doc for fear of losing the 3rd class medical.
 
Plus, you do NOT want a nuclear stress test if it's not medically necessary. The radiation exposure is comparable to an abdominal CT scan.

I was lucky in that I was never required to do that by the FAA. Just echocardiograms, both resting and stress - both benign, but expen$$$ive.
 
The only con for me was the international limitations. I'd like to be able to fly out of the country, given the times in which we live.
 
steingar said:
The only con for me was the international limitations. I'd like to be able to fly out of the country, given the times in which we live.
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:confused: ???

Maybe I'm misreading you, but if I intended to expatriate, I think one of the first things I'd do is to sell my airplane. For all of its faults, this country is the only one in the world where I can afford to fly. I certainly wouldn't try to fly my airplane to my new homeland.

But I would love to be able to fly to Canada. Maybe someday a reciprocal arrangement will be worked out between the US and Canada regarding relaxed medical standards. (Or maybe someday I'll be able to get a 3rd class again - but I won't apply unless I'm sure.)
 
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