The Fly Good Podcast

Let's talk Aviation Medical Certificate

To get your medical certificate you have to get a physical exam done by an FAA designated Aviation Medical Examiner AME. You will first have to fill out an application on the medexpress website and the you will schedule an appointment with your local AME. 

Before you go for your appointment you will have to complete an application on the FAA MedXPress website: https://medxpress.faa.gov/medxpress/

https://www.faa.gov/pilots/amelocator/

You will need to fill out some preliminary medical questions prior to your appointment. During your examination you will have to meet certain medical standards depending on what class of medical certificate you are trying to get.

Three classes of Medical Certificate

If you want to be an airline pilot, using your ATP certificate, the you will need a first class medical. The first class medical is valid for 12 months and then defaults back down to a second class medical. If you are over the age of 40 you will have to return to your AME (Aero Medical Examiner) every six months to get it renewed.

The second class medical is needed if you want to fly in any kind of commercial capacity. So that means for example pipeline flying, another aerial surveillance, flying tours and other time building gigs in addition to agricultural flying such as crop dusting. Again this medical certificate is valid for 12 moths and then after that this will default back down to a third class certificate.

And that last tier, the third class certificate is needed for private pilots and student pilots. This has the longest validity of 60 months for pilots younger than 40 years of age and 24 months fo those that are older. 

Three outcomes of the examination

- Your medical certificate will be issued- your medical certificate is denied, or- your medical certificate is deferred.

 

There are a few things that could potentially complicate your application for a medical certificate:

- prescription medications- certain physical limitations - any prior hospitalizations- a history with substance abuse- any history with mental disorders

Even if you indicated that you have one of these disqualifying, you might be able to get a medical certificate anyway through a “special issuance authorization” that the FAA issues. In that case your medical is only valid along as your special issuance is valid for which can be shorter than the standard time that specific class of medical is valid for. 

 

“Statement Of Demonstrated Ability (SODA)”. 

This is a waiver that would be issued if you have a condition that is not likely to change. For example upper or lower limb amputees could qualify for  a SODA after doing a flight test. I personally have seen a pilot that was lacking a thumb on his right hand for example, and was able to fly with a SODA. In that case, this statement is part of your medical and you don’t have continue to provide additional documentation any longer.

 

Basic Med

Now there is an alternative to holding a medical which is called BasicMed. BasicMed is an alternative medical qualification to the third class medical so you can be PIC if have held a medical before and if your airplane complies with the following: - not carry more than five passengers- operate under VFR or IFR, within the US, at less than 18000 feet MSL, not exceeding 250 knots- and you can’t fly for hire

In order to be eligible for BasicMed you personally have to:- Hold a U.S. driver’s license.- Hold or have held a medical certificate issued by the FAA at any point after July 14, 2006.- Answer the health questions on the Comprehensive Medical Examination Checklist (CMEC) and complete your examination by any physician – required every 4 years.- Take the online medical education course (required every 2 years) and complete the attestations/consent to the National Driver Register (NDR) check. Keep the course completion document.

I would love to hear from you, let’s have a conversation. Are you planning on getting your med

Today's guest is a Boeing 737 first officer at a Major airline and has also flown the 757. Prior to that, Anthony Zollo flew the Embrarer ERJ145 at a regional airline. An airplane that I’ve flown myself as well. 

 

Check out the FREE guide: Become a pilot without spending a fortune-> https://flygoodaviation.com/become-a-pilot/

Today I’m excited to have Carl Valeri on the show. You might recognize his voice from the stuck mike and the aviation careers podcast. Both super popular podcasts in the aviation world.

During this interview I had my neighbors knocking on some stuff above me and the dogs literally going crazy right outside my office. But that didn’t stop us from having an awesome conversation about Sun N Fun, scholarships, model airplanes and much more.

Carl is an airline pilot that made it his mission to show how awesome aviation is and to help others on their aviation journey.  I learned a lot from this conversation, including that Sun N Fun is not just a once in a year event, put a year round operation.

we'd like to hear from you, let's have a conversation. Have you ever been to Sun N Fun fly in? Did you ever fly in and camp under your airplanes wing? If you haven’t gone yet, is it on your list of fly ins to visit? Leave your thoughts in the comments!

 

Carl's podcasts:http://stuckmicavcast.com/http://www.aviationcareerspodcast.com/

Sun N Fun: https://flysnf.org/

Check out the FREE guide: Become a pilot without spending a fortune-> https://flygoodaviation.com/become-a-pilot/

There are few people out there that fly for a living as well as fly for fun in their off time, Dewey is one of them.

At work he flies airplanes with glass cockpits, autopilots and pressurized cabins, but for fun he prefers steam gauges, hand flying and open cockpits.

Dewey started his aviation journey at 7 years old building model airplanes and he still enjoys the challenge of building and flying rc airplanes. In 1994 he earned his private pilot certificate. Since then he has logged over 10000 hours of flying, earned the ATP certificate and collected 5 different type ratings along the way.

Dewey is a first officer at a corporate company and is the owner and operator of Goodfolk and O’ Tymes Biplane rides

Now we'd like to hear form you, let's have a conversation. What is the flying job that your are aiming for, both in time building and eventual dream job?

If you are looking for information on low time flying jobs then check out this blog: https://flygoodaviation.com/low-time-pilot-jobs/

Goodfolk and O’ Tymes Biplane rides: http://www.gobiplanerides.com/

Dewey’s YouTube Channel:  https://www.youtube.com/user/onedgerc

Check out the FREE guide: Become a pilot without spending a fortune-> https://flygoodaviation.com/become-a-pilot/

For those that don’t know, being a pilot is my second career and I used to be an aerospace engineer making a really comfortable living. I really did enjoy that job, but I love flying more. In this podcast I talk about how to change your career to become a pilot the smart way.

Check out the FREE guide: Become a pilot without spending a fortune-> https://flygoodaviation.com/become-a-pilot/

Today's guest has had an amazing career as a pilot and is about to retire. Captain Samuel Tomanio has over 40 years of aviation experience as a Captain, Instructor/ Check Airman and Curriculum Developer in both the regional and major airline industry. 

@SamTomanio on twitter and Instagram: Samuel tomanio

Today I’m excited to have my friend Ted Greenfield on the show.

His mission is to encourage people to get into aviation, or to pick it back up again at any stage in life. 

Check out the FREE guide: Become a pilot without spending a fortune-> https://flygoodaviation.com/become-a-pilot/

 

Check out the blog: https://flygoodaviation.com/how-to-change-to-a-pilot-career-at-any-age/

Ted’s YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCIa0vkfCnoOdPYriVC98COg

Ted’s Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/groups/714737235922494

The discovery flight is vitally important for you to find out if you really, really want to do this. To find out if you actually want to go through with your flight training plans. It is THE opportunity to ask the flight instructor everything you need to know. Here are five things that are important to ask.

Check out the FREE guide: Become a pilot without spending a fortune-> https://flygoodaviation.com/become-a-pilot/

Read the blog and comment: https://flygoodaviation.com/questions-to-ask-on-your-discovery-flight/

Check out the YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/NancyBradshawCFICommercialPilot?sub_confirmation=1

Every student pilot learns differently. Here are 6 tips to find the perfect flight school FOR YOU.

Check out the FREE guide: Become a pilot without spending a fortune: https://flygoodaviation.com/become-a-pilot/

 Read the blog post: https://flygoodaviation.com/find-your-perfect-flight-school/

 

Check out the YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/NancyBradshawCFICommercialPilot?sub_confirmation=1

I am really happy that she is my very first guest here on the show. Please welcome the one and only fly girl herself: Natalie Kelley

We talk about war birds, scholarships and much more. 

 

https://www.youtube.com/c/NancyBradshawCFICommercialPilot?sub_confirmation=1

Check out the FREE guide: Become a pilot without spending a fortune-> https://flygoodaviation.com/become-a-pilot/

Read the blog: https://flygoodaviation.com/create-a-winning-scholarship-package/

Natalie’s Instagram: @flygirlkelley

Natalie’s YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCParwXtH60ingDTwXr1hHkQ

Fly Girl Store: https://www.sportys.com/apparel-and-gifts/flygirl-store.html