The latest video in the FAA’s 57 seconds to Safer Flying series asks pilots: “Are you gaming the system when it comes to your medical?”
“When it comes to your airman medical status, just how honest and thorough are you when filling out that MedExpress or BasicMed form?” FAA officials ask in the video’s introduction. “Are you telling your AME everything he or she needs to know? If you are gaming the system, it’s time to come clean.”
So in true honesty, who needs an AME or medical, if we are required to self-diagnose and ground ourselves? The FAA requirement for a 3rd class medical is in complete contradiction if we are all truthful.
If you understand that statement, then you will realize the AME is there to catch you lying to yourself, He is not there to perform a true, life-saving or preventative medical exam.
As a nonUS citizen or resident observer from beyond the USA , most “outsiders see the crux of the whole situation is the ludicrous extent EVERY ONE has to go to ensure they are protected against every possible cause ,however remote or ridiculous unlikely, of a claim against them. Cf. the ridiculous state of affairs in e.g. the coffee shops & food outlets where to protect themselves these businesses lable pre heated food / coffee etc as caution may be hot because someone purchased an item and their lack of common sense or caution caused them some kind of problem. Accepting no personal responsibility for the problem that their stupidity caused but looking for someone to blame and make, often, mega $$$$. The answer to the problem faced by US citizens in general, and professionals in particular lies with the over ruling mindset seems to be to screw any one you can any way you can. Maybe teaching personal honesty & responsibility just might meliorate the situation.
Paul
This is a joke, right? The FAA medical system is punitive at best and more likely malicious. When you have to choose between getting proper treatment to be healthy or having an FAA medical, you know you’ve done something wrong. There is a reason that recent FAA mental health videos have been absolutely dragged in the comments. It’s well-deserved criticism but unfortunately it’s almost certainly fallen upon deaf ears.
Yeah … with big bucks tied up in my avaition avocation, I’m gonna use an AME to be my personal physician. I think NOT! Take too many aspiins and they’ll look at you with a jaundiced eye.
If Aero Medical was more reasonable or at least timely with their responses, perhaps pilots wouldn’t feel the need to “game the system”. The AME’s hands are tied.