Does a failed 2nd class Medical void my previous (and valid) 3rd class?

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Gordon Freeman

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I have light amblyopia in my right eye, and the distant vision in that eye is only correctable to about 20/40. Vision in my left eye is 20/20, and my combined vision with both eyes is 20/20. However, 2nd class medical requires vision in each eye individually to be correctable to 20/20 (distant vision). Aside from that, I have no concerns over anything else (I'm a healthy, slim, 42yo with no history and no medications, no convictions, no drug/alcohol, etc.).

I am fairly certain they're going to fail me for my right-eye vision, forcing me to get a SODA, which can be a time-consuming process.

My 3rd class Medical is valid until the end of 2024, so I'm curious, if I go and take my 2nd class medical now, and I fail, will that automatically void my existing 3rd class medical?

I know commercial pilots who are fully blind in one eye and have a SODA, so I'm not concerned. I just want to limit my flying downtime to a minimum, which is why I'd like to apply for a 2nd class, and then pursue a SODA while still fly on my existing 3rd class.

Apologies if this has been discussed before, but search didn't show anything relevant.
 
Yes, if you fail a medical exam it will void your current medical. I would recommend that an admin move this to the medical topics forum so one of our resident AMEs can give you more details.
 
DavidWhite said:
Yes, if you fail a medical exam it will void your current medical. I would recommend that an admin move this to the medical topics forum so one of our resident AMEs can give you more details.
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Ah, thank you. I didn't realize there was a medical forum here.

Bummer to hear that it would void any existing medicals. I just took delivery of a plane in order to build time, and I can't imagine having it sit and accrue costs while I get a SODA worked out for such a minor technicality.
 
DavidWhite said:
Yes, if you fail a medical exam it will void your current medical....
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Do you have a reference for that, as applied to seeking a higher-class medical?

The only one I can think of is 61.53(a), but it sounds like he still meets the requirements for his 3rd-class medical.
 
Same condition. Same eye. Correctable to 20/40...maybe. I plan on getting a SODA when my current medical expires.

Wearing an eye patch as a kid thinking I was a pirate was kinda fun.
 
I wish I could still find it, but I came across a thread on reddit a few months ago about a pilot who went in for a second class. He had 20/25 vision in one eye. The AME issued a third class in the office so the pilot could keep flying. The pilot had to contact the regional flight surgeon for authorization to take a medical flight test. Then contact the FSDO to schedule the test.
 
tlglenn said:
I wish I could still find it, but I came across a thread on reddit a few months ago about a pilot who went in for a second class. He had 20/25 vision in one eye. The AME issued a third class in the office so the pilot could keep flying. The pilot had to contact the regional flight surgeon for authorization to take a medical flight test. Then contact the FSDO to schedule the test.
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Interesting, so if I were to fail a 2nd class, the AME might - at his sole discretion - issue a 3rd class, provided I meet the criteria. This would enable me to continue flying under 3rd while obtaining a SODA for 2nd class.

I will go and meet with an AME as a consultation to see if this is how he would process this. This is very helpful, thank you.
 
In 2022, I had cataract surgery. My medical exam happened to occur after one eye was operated on, but the other was waiting. So, I could not meet the requirement for a 2nd class certificate because the prescription eyeglasses were not working under those conditions. The AME issued a 3rd class, and a year later (I have annual exams) I easily passed and got a new 2nd class.
 
Go have a consult with a good AME. Then do what you need to do, then take the medical exam and Bob's your uncle.
 
Jumping into this thread because I'm curious about a similar thing. I have my 3rd class SI and went to get my 2nd class medical but was deferred (because of an ear infection that I don't have). Anyway, does being deferred from the 2nd class make it to where I can't use my 3rd class because of 61.53(a)? My primary thinking for why I can't is that 61.53(a) says "knows or has reason to know," does being deferred make you have "reason to know?"
 
DavidWhite said:
Yes, if you fail a medical exam it will void your current medical. I would recommend that an admin move this to the medical topics forum so one of our resident AMEs can give you more details.
Click to expand...
Actually not, David. The deferred (or FAILED as you say) is for a different and higher class. You continue for vision to meet stds for a 3rd.

You retain your valid 3rd as FAA recognizes you will need that to fly with the pilot examiner/ ASO after the paperwork has been done.

This is the path for many many, in your situation.
 
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