So, should Class 1 privileges be extended for 69 year-old airline pilots?
How about 82 year-old private pilots?
As an AME I used to see too many, in my opinion, 75-85 year old private pilots who “just want to fly,” These people are now, probably, using basic med. Think about it. A 75 year-old private pilot gets a Basic Med certificate from a family physician and is “good to go” for 4 years.
My point is, most of us think giving a reprieve for a 50 year-old private pilot for several weeks would be OK. But how about the 75+ year old who “just wants to fly?”
I am 74 years old, and I think it’s time to hang up the piloting spurs. Over the years, I have seen, maybe, 2 80+ year old pilots who seemed to have it all together to fly. Many 65+ year olds are questionable. Extend the medical certificate for a pilot on 2-3 meds for type 2 diabetes, one medication for hypertension, and sleep apnea? Does anyone really think that is a good idea?
I had one one 85 year-old pilot tell me that he was going to go for Basic Med, “because I don’t think I can pass a 3rd class medical.” Really?
So, if you think there should be a postponement of FAA medical exams for pilots, how long should it be, and who gets the extension? Class 1s? Airlines aren’t going to go for that. 70+ year- olds with class 3s?
About a year ago, I did a class 3 medical on a relatively young internal medicine specialist. He and his partners were doing Basic Med medicals. When I finished his examination, he said it was the “most thorough” physical examination he had ever had. I pointed out to him that a Basic Med exam is ever m ore extensive than a Class 3 with regard to vision testing. and the 50+ blood tests, ECG, and chest x-ray that he does for annual medicals do not substitute for a thorough physical examination.