You Can Fly - 2023 Edition - 39

AVIATION PIONEERS
HECTOR SANTA ANNA
Types of medical
certificates
" Life is just like laying out a flight
plan for yourself. Know where
you're going to go. Know the route
that you're going to take. We have a
purpose in life. "
-After flying 35 missions in a B-17 Flying Fortress
over Europe and participating in the Berlin airlift,
Santa Anna worked in aviation for the rest of his life,
including NASA, the FAA, and the Pentagon.
Third class: Recreational pilots, private
pilots, flight instructors. Renewed every
24 to 60 months, depending on the pilot's
age at the time of the certificate issuance.
Second class: Airline first officers, charter
pilots, all other commercial operations
including commercial balloon operations.
Renewed every 12 months.
First class: Airline captains, first officers
(if required by the airline to hold one).
Renewed every six to 12 months, depending
on the pilot's age at the time of the
certificate issuance.
What doesn't require
a medical certificate?
start flight training-or even before. There
are a few reasons for this.
The examination is routine, similar to
what you may have experienced getting a
wellness check in your doctor's office. But
the AME must review your application and
follow up on any current or past medical
conditions or medications that the FAA
could flag for further review. If there are no
concerning conditions or medications, the
AME can issue your new certificate right
then in the doctor's office-and most of the
time, that's what happens.
But sometimes the AME must defer
your application for further review by
the FAA. Unfortunately, this process
can take months to resolve, depending
on whether there needs to be additional
tests, additional paperwork, or whatever
the FAA may deem necessary to render
a final decision. FAA's medical certification
office in Oklahoma City reviews
more than 400,000 medical certificate
applications each year-and the staff are
struggling with a backlog of applications
that shows no signs of being resolved any
time soon. If your application gets stuck
in that backlog, it could delay your solo
(although you can continue flight training
with a certificated flight instructor as
long as necessary.)
Fortunately, you don't have to do this
alone. AOPA has a staff of trained and
Light sport aircraft: Limited to two seats
and 120 knots, LSAs make a fun and
affordable alternative for the pilot who
doesn't want (or need) to obtain a
medical certificate.
Gliders, balloons: No medical required
for glider pilots at all. None required for
balloon pilots unless they are involved in
commercial operations (see above).
BasicMed: Want to fly certificated aircraft
but not planning to go on to the airlines?
Then BasicMed might be your best friend.
Complete a one-time medical certificate,
fly a Cessna, Piper, or Beechcraft (or other
airplane covered by the BasicMed rule),
and work with your personal doctor to
monitor your health and take a recurrent
online course. See aopa.org/basicmed for
more information.
dedicated medical certification experts
who can help you through the process
each step of the way.
Call AOPA at 800-872-2672 before you
AVIATION PIONEERS
BESSIE COLEMAN
" You've never lived till
you've flown! "
-A popular airshow stunt performer in
the 1920s, Coleman was the first African
American and Native American woman
to receive a pilot's license.
start the MedExpress online application.
Walk through the application with one of
our specialists before you submit it to the
FAA, because once you've done that you
cannot change your information.
AOPA is here to help you succeed in
your quest to become a pilot. Know that
you're not facing this challenge alone-we
and thousands of other pilots have been
there and know what you're experiencing.
AOPA can help you get to where you
want to go.
jill.tallman@aopa.org
FLIGHT TRAINING YOU CAN FLY 2023
39
TOP: VOCES ORAL HISTORY CENTER: THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT AUSTIN
http://www.aopa.org/basicmed
You Can Fly - 2023 Edition

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