Basicmed certificate wants doctor's information

pilotod

pilotod

Pre-takeoff checklist
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I think I should just get a flight physical (even though that still requires paperwork) because I don't get and probably didn't read something correctly regarding the Basicmed program.

I passed the online medical quiz on the aopa website and now I need to fill in the certificate but don't know how I can fill it in if I don't have an examining medical doctor's name and associated info. I thought this was self-assessment stuff.
 
Doctor’s name and medical license info is provided by the doctor when he or she signs the examination sheet.

You then transcribe that info from the sheet to the online part.

The online program should allow you to push the pause button, go get examined and doctor signature, then return to complete.
 
AggieMike88 said:
Doctor’s name and medical license info is provided by the doctor when he or she signs the examination sheet.

You then transcribe that info from the sheet to the online part.

The online program should allow you to push the pause button, go get examined and doctor signature, then return to complete.
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pilotod said:
So the AOPA questionaire I took wasn't necessary?
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No, it is necessary and part of the process.

It sounds like you began the process without a full understanding of the "what to do" and "how it all works".

If you review all of the links and details on this AOPA web page, then go back and pick up where you left off, you will be much better equipped to reach successful completion.

And this video may help you too.



If you're still stuck after reading that web page and watching the video, come back here and we will try to help.
 
I guess Basicmed is to avoid going to the AME every 2 years if you're over 40 and to avoid getting a medical physical every 2 years? I think I also read that getting a non AME medical physical would keep any findings from the FAA that might disqualify the applicant from getting a license (renewed in my case). At least that's how I see it.

I really don't see the benefit of Basicmed and am disappointed.
 
pilotod said:
I really don't see the benefit of Basicmed and am disappointed.
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There are significant benefits to many.

I can now fly a much wider variety of aircraft, no longer limited to Light Sport as I was after I let my medical lapse. All without taking the chance of attempting an FAA medical, where failing would mean essentially no more flying.

If you are comfortable getting recurring FAA medicals, there’s not a whole lot of benefit to BasicMed.

BasicMed is not the panacea of “drivers license only” that some had hoped for, building on the success of that standard for Light Sport Pilots. But it’s still nice to have one more option.
 
Under basicmed (this month) I can now get a physical by my family doctor (which pleases my wife who believes my AME physical was a joke ... truth has no bearing in that argument) and that physical is covered by my healthcare insurance with $0 copay. I saw my AME annually for my 3rd class SI and that cost increased significantly every year.
For my recreational flying, basicmed does everything I need.
 
gkainz said:
Under basicmed (this month) I can now get a physical by my family doctor (which pleases my wife who believes my AME physical was a joke ... truth has no bearing in that argument) and that physical is covered by my healthcare insurance with $0 copay. I saw my AME annually for my 3rd class SI and that cost increased significantly every year.
For my recreational flying, basicmed does everything I need.
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I would get my AME exam covered under my medical plan. I just told them to bill it under that code and they would get all their money and I would get my AME physical.
 
SkyDog58 said:
It's amazing that with the vast amount of information on BasicMed put out by FAA, AOPA and EAA that the benefits of the program and how it works is lost on some folks.
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I think the key word is vast. I prefer minimal.
 
SkyDog58 said:
How so?
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I think if I had just read that Basicmed still requires going to a PCP every 4 years, surrendering your DL info to the FAA and still requires paperwork and test every 2 years about topics that don't apply to me specifically (not saying there's not any other good info in the test) just to avoid going to an AME every 2 years....I don't think I would have been confused with all the vast wordy explanation of what Basicmed is for.
 
Nothing is stopping you from retaining your Third Class, and there was no cost for your "education."
 
pilotod said:
I think if I had just read that Basicmed still requires going to a PCP every 4 years, surrendering your DL info to the FAA and still requires paperwork and test every 2 years about topics that don't apply to me specifically (not saying there's not any other good info in the test) just to avoid going to an AME every 2 years....I don't think I would have been confused with all the vast wordy explanation of what Basicmed is for.
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You’re missing the point. The exam is much simpler and covers less stuff. You don’t have some idiot in OKC making a judgment call because you crapped your pants once 3 years ago and now you’re a liver disease candidate.

In other words, a person that is actually qualified to review your fitness for flight gets to evaluate you.

For me this means I can fly again. Before BasicMed I was grounded because the FAA lacks a basic understanding of how Kidney Stones work and why a treated apnea patient is better than an undiagnosed one.
 
SkyHog said:
You’re missing the point. The exam is much simpler and covers less stuff. You don’t have some idiot in OKC making a judgment call because you crapped your pants once 3 years ago and now you’re a liver disease candidate.

In other words, a person that is actually qualified to review your fitness for flight gets to evaluate you.

For me this means I can fly again. Before BasicMed I was grounded because the FAA lacks a basic understanding of how Kidney Stones work and why a treated apnea patient is better than an undiagnosed one.
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I suppose a PCP can apply their knowledge to flying and can be helped with the Basicmed checklist. I get your point that a PCP might do more tests and treatment than getting an AME to just pass/fail you.

mayoclinic says this about kidney stones. I see some things the FAA might be concerned about. Maybe the PCP is not concerned about them the same way because you can pull over in a car. So does your PCP really know about flying?

Symptoms
A kidney stone may not cause symptoms until it moves around within your kidney or passes into your ureter — the tube connecting the kidney and bladder. At that point, you may experience these signs and symptoms (not including any pain meds you might take for the condition):

  • Severe pain in the side and back, below the ribs
  • Pain that radiates to the lower abdomen and groin
  • Pain that comes in waves and fluctuates in intensity
  • Pain on urination
  • Pink, red or brown urine
  • Cloudy or foul-smelling urine
  • Nausea and vomiting
  • Persistent need to urinate
  • Urinating more often than usual
  • Fever and chills if an infection is present
  • Urinating small amounts
 
pilotod said:
I guess Basicmed is to avoid going to the AME every 2 years if you're over 40 and to avoid getting a medical physical every 2 years? I think I also read that getting a non AME medical physical would keep any findings from the FAA that might disqualify the applicant from getting a license (renewed in my case). At least that's how I see it.

I really don't see the benefit of Basicmed and am disappointed.
Click to expand...
The main benefits are to those for whom maintaining a 3rd class is very expensive due to the FAA requiring medically unnecessary tests every 2 years (or sometimes every year) to verify that your condition (whatever it might be, even if it's something you don't really have, but they think you do) is under control.

And there are others, like Nick, who couldn't even get an SI because of the FAA's overly conservative attitude about possible but extremely unlikely incapacitation events.

I never had a problem with going to the AME every 2 years and considered the expense of flight physicals minimal. Back in the day, my insurance even paid for most of the "medically unnecessary" tests. And eventually they even sent me a letter of eligibility. But then things changed, for no reason at all they rescinded the letter of eligibility, and I had a couple of other transient events that landed me some more permanent SIs requiring expensive annual tests. And now with modern insurance, it's all out of pocket and can amount to several $1000s every year.

Many older pilots are in the same boat -- ask around (or ask here)!

Personally I consider this one of AOPA's few success stories that really impacts my ability to fly. No complaints from here!
 
azure said:
The main benefits are to those for whom maintaining a 3rd class is very expensive due to the FAA requiring medically unnecessary tests every 2 years (or sometimes every year) to verify that your condition (whatever it might be, even if it's something you don't really have, but they think you do) is under control.

And there are others, like Nick, who couldn't even get an SI because of the FAA's overly conservative attitude about possible but extremely unlikely incapacitation events.

I never had a problem with going to the AME every 2 years and considered the expense of flight physicals minimal. Back in the day, my insurance even paid for most of the "medically unnecessary" tests. And eventually they even sent me a letter of eligibility. But then things changed, for no reason at all they rescinded the letter of eligibility, and I had a couple of other transient events that landed me some more permanent SIs requiring expensive annual tests. And now with modern insurance, it's all out of pocket and can amount to several $1000s every year.

Many older pilots are in the same boat -- ask around (or ask here)!

Personally I consider this one of AOPA's few success stories that really impacts my ability to fly. No complaints from here!
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I understand. I like flying and don't want to jump through too many hoops either.
 
The medical/physical at the AME was a complete joke compared to anything I do with my PCP, labs, x-rays etc..
Your pcp has your life's history, pretty tough to lie to him, as were the AME has no idea whether you are withholding information or not. Both the FAA and AME are holding you to the honor system.. When/if they find out you lied, only then the hammer comes down.
I do a real physical every couple of years with my pcp and blood work yearly, why see someone else........
 
pilotod said:
So does your PCP really know about flying?
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Probably not. But I do. And I also know enough about myself to know whether I’m safe flying. And I am. And the FAA refused to be reasonable so they had BasicMed shoved down their throats. I’ve never been happier to see a federal agency choke on their own dumb ass decisions
 
1RTK1 said:
The medical/physical at the AME was a complete joke compared to anything I do with my PCP, labs, x-rays etc..
Your pcp has your life's history, pretty tough to lie to him, as were the AME has no idea whether you are withholding information or not. Both the FAA and AME are holding you to the honor system.. When/if they find out you lied, only then the hammer comes down.
I do a real physical every couple of years with my pcp and blood work yearly, why see someone else........
Click to expand...
Thank god you don’t have to lie to anyone anymore. Now you can actually get your maladies treated without having to worry about what the diagnosis means to the FAA.

“Oh snap, I broke my leg. I better let it heal on it’s own lest the FAA get concerned about the possibility of sepsis in the hospital and make me prove that I didn’t get it by submitting to a battery of invasive tests that cost a ton of money!”
 
Going to the AME was never a problem just $$ and an inconvenience, thankfully at my age I'm still in great health. Knock on wood.

Funny how they will let God knows who drive gigantic RV's down the road with no more than a drivers license.
 
For pilots with a PPL and a FFA medical that is no older than July 15, 2006.

1. Take the online test and pass it.
2. Present the checklist sheet to any state licensed doctor to complete.
3. Return to the online test website and enter the doctor info.
4. Print out the BasicMed certificate, which is automatically generated when steps 1-3 are completed.

Fly for 2 years before needing to take the online test again; fly four years before needing to see a doctor again.
 
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tinerj said:
For pilots with a PPL and a FFA medical that is no older than July 15, 2006.

1. Take the online test and pass it.
2. Present the checklist sheet to any state licensed doctor to complete.
3. Return to the online test website and enter the doctor info.
4. Print out the BasicMed certificate, which is automatically generated when steps 1-3 are completed.

Fly for 2 years before needing to take the online test again; fly four years before needing to see a doctor again.
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I can understand that!
 
gkainz said:
Under basicmed (this month) I can now get a physical by my family doctor (which pleases my wife who believes my AME physical was a joke ... truth has no bearing in that argument) and that physical is covered by my healthcare insurance with $0 copay. I saw my AME annually for my 3rd class SI and that cost increased significantly every year.
For my recreational flying, basicmed does everything I need.
Click to expand...
In my case, my PCP is a retired USAF flight surgeon and is even more worried about my health for flying! I had a problem with my eyes back in 2008. When I went for my 3rd class, the AME kept saying I needed this test & report, so handed the report to him. This went on for 3 or 4 tests, until he realized my PCP had anticipated everything. Went in at 11 am, the AME told me to go have lunch, and by 2 pm he had approval from SLC (regional office) to hand me the 3rd class paperwork.

But I went Basic med this year.
 
For pilots with a PPL and a FFA medical that was last valid no longer ago than July 15, 2006

Yes, that's correct and also the problem. There are always exceptions and more precise ways of saying things. So something that starts out simple becomes more complicated.

For instance, I didn't mention the pilot needs a valid driver's license.

For pilots with a PPL and a FFA medical that was last valid no longer ago than July 15, 2006, and who have a valid driver's license.

No, wait. It has to be a valid US drivers license.
 
pilotod said:
I guess Basicmed is to avoid going to the AME every 2 years if you're over 40 and to avoid getting a medical physical every 2 years? I think I also read that getting a non AME medical physical would keep any findings from the FAA that might disqualify the applicant from getting a license (renewed in my case). At least that's how I see it.

I really don't see the benefit of Basicmed and am disappointed.
Click to expand...

It also removes the FAA as an adversarial opponent for people who have relatively minor issues which the FAA assigns to the SI category. To be honest, if you're seeing a doctor regularly, there are many conditions which your doctor has superior knowledge of, but for which the FAA must require the pilot to be on an SI for them to track the health. BM makes that redundant.

If you are disappointed, I suspect it's because you're healthy. Fine, go off and get your 3rd class. One day you're going to get hit with something minor and then BM will be wonderful.
 
tinerj said:
No, wait. It has to be a valid US drivers license.
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That's the joke, the BM checklist does not state from which country the drivers license must be. :)
There are a lot of holes in BM in general, like the DL requirement to begin with. Do they need an ID or an actual DRIVER license? What if a 17-y/o kid doesn't drive but can fly? What about people from big metropolitan areas with public transport? Do they need to pass a driver's test first to be signed off as "healthy" people by their GP? LOL

How soon before the FAA revises their BM? (pun intended)
 
BigBadLou said:
That's the joke, the BM checklist does not state from which country the drivers license must be. :)
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That's what regulations are for. It's covered in 14 CFR 61.113(i), which says "valid U.S. driver's license."

There are a lot of holes in BM in general, like the DL requirement to begin with. Do they need an ID or an actual DRIVER license?
Click to expand...

The regulation cited above says "driver's license," not "driver's license or ID."

What if a 17-y/o kid doesn't drive but can fly?
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Under 14 CFR 61.23(c)(3), in order to be eligible for BasicMed he or she would need to get a traditional medical certificate, which would eliminate any need for a BasicMed signoff until the medical certificate expired.

What about people from big metropolitan areas with public transport?
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Such a person would need to either get a driver's license (in addition to the BasicMed signoff) or get a medical certificate.

Do they need to pass a driver's test first to be signed off as "healthy" people by their GP? LOL
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The regulation cited above requires a valid U.S. driver's license in order to act as pilot-in-command under BasicMed; it doesn't saying anything about requiring a driver's license to get a physician to sign off on your health status.
 
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A valid, unrevoked license isn't intended primarily for identification. The driver's license requirement indicated a basic level of health and if it had been revoked (DUI, or some moving violation) that would indicate the person could not be trusted flying an aircraft.
 
Palmpilot said:
That's what regulations are for. It's covered in 14 CFR 61.113(i), which says "valid U.S. driver's license."



The regulation cited above says "driver's license," not "driver's license or ID."



Under 14 CFR 61.23(c)(3), in order to be eligible for BasicMed he or she would need to get a traditional medical certificate, which would eliminate any need for a BasicMed signoff until the medical certificate expired.



Such a person would need to either get a driver's license (in addition to the BasicMed signoff) or get a medical certificate.



The regulation cited above requires a valid U.S. driver's license in order to act as pilot-in-command under BasicMed; it doesn't saying anything about requiring a driver's license to get a physician to sign off on your health status.
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It’s axtually quite simple. The reg says “you need a drivers license to fly using BasicMed.” How the hell could that mean anything other than a drivers license? How could that mean anything other than that it’s ised to fly.

People seem to overthink the simplest things sometimes.
 
SkyHog said:
It’s axtually quite simple. The reg says “you need a drivers license to fly using BasicMed.” How the hell could that mean anything other than a drivers license? How could that mean anything other than that it’s ised to fly.

People seem to overthink the simplest things sometimes.
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I figure that either people aren't bothering to read the information that's been published on BasicMed, or the information that's published is confusing to some people. I don't know which it is.
 
Palmpilot said:
I figure that either people aren't bothering to read the information that's been published on BasicMed, or the information that's published is confusing to some people. I don't know which it is.
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They ain't reading, just reacting to what other people post.
 
tinerj said:
A valid, unrevoked license isn't intended primarily for identification. The driver's license requirement indicated a basic level of health and if it had been revoked (DUI, or some moving violation) that would indicate the person could not be trusted flying an aircraft.
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DL has nothing to do with "health", it's the DUI tracking they want.
 
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