Nothing strikes fear into the heart of aging pilots like me as much as that annual trip to the doctor for a medical exam. At some point we’ll all get to where we’re no longer able to pass a Third Class Medical Exam; the minimum required to exercise the privileges of a Private Pilot. If you pre-emptively elect to skip that last medical exam which would have resulted in a denial, and instead ‘self-certificate’ that you are indeed still in satisfactory health to fly a light airplane, you can continue to fly without a medical as a Sport Pilot (LSA, daytime only, < 10,000’ with no more than one passenger). The key is to “kick-back” to Sport Pilot status before you actually fail that last medical exam. If you wait until you are denied a Medical Certificate it’s too late; you no longer have the option available to fly as a Sport Pilot.

Among the many great services AOPA offers members is their TurboMedical program. (Click here) It is essentially a dress rehearsal for your actual medical exam. TurboMedical takes you through the questionnaire you must complete before your physical (either ahead of time; see MedXpress below, or in the doctor’s waiting room). Their system ‘red-flags’ anything you have noted that may be cause for concern. This gives you the chance to gather any additional documentation, ECG’s, X-rays or consultation reports you might need so that you can indeed waltz out of the doctor’s office with a fresh medical.
 
I’ve listed below the pertinent questions that appear on the 8500-8 form. Note that these forms are serialized, so it is not possible for your doctor to just rip up the form if you fail the medical and “pretend this exam never happened”. You will either Pass or Fail the exam (the third option being no certificate issued; deferred for further evaluation).  
 
In addition to your answers to Medical History questions, the doctor will exam you in the following areas: Head, face, neck, nose, mouth and throat, ears, eyes, lungs and chest, heart, abdomen, upper and lower extremities, neurologic and general systemic. He’ll also note whether you pass/fail a conversational voice test at 6-feet, give you a vision test in both eyes and note whether you pass/fail a color vision test. Blood pressure and pulse is generally checked for all levels of certification; urinalysis, ECG tests, etc. may or may not be conducted for 1st and 2nd class medical certification.
 
IT’S NOT OVER ‘TIL IT’S OVER
Although you may leave the AME’s office with a new medical, your doctor still has to submit your 8500-8 to the blue haired gals in Oklahoma City for final review. And there is a small, slight possibility that something might catch their eye that got past your own doctor. In that case, they can always send you a letter of denial or revocation --- sometimes many weeks or a couple months after your exam. Generally when this happens, you are grounded (usually immediately) until whatever the issue is gets resolved. This would be a good time to confer with your AME and possibly sign up for the AOPA’s Medical Services Program to straighten out this mess (Click here)
 
And even after you have a fresh medical in your hot little hands, you’re not home free until the thing expires. Keep in mind Sec. 61.53; you may not act as PIC if you “know of any medical condition that would make you unable to meet the requirements for the medical certificate”. In other words, if you get a new medical certificate on Monday, and then begin to experience atrial fibrillation on Tuesday, you can’t serve as PIC --- it’s just as though you had an exam that day and failed it. 61.53 goes on to discuss taking medicine or receiving treatments that make you unable to pass that same medical certification you now have. Be sure to review the implications of any medicine --- prescription or non-prescription --- that you may be taking, and how it might affect your ability to serve as PIC in an airplane (and yes, AOPA has an app for that; check into their Medical Database at aopa.org)

Don’t make the rookie mistake of discussing Aviation Medical issues with your family doctor, dentist or OB/GYN. Aviation medicine is a whole ‘nother thing. Example: If you have a cold and congestion, your family doctor might say “take some NyQuil tonight, and you should be OK to fly your little airplane tomorrow afternoon”. Your AME will tell you, “No, there is a new ruling that you must now wait 60-hours (almost 3 full days) after taking NyQuil…” (Click here to read more.)