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"The true and real problem exists in that people who have had cancer treatments or heart surgeries usually have a hard time with the FAA in keeping their medical. Many of these people are just fine to fly but the FAA acts badly and delays or harasses them by forcing them to get a medical every 6 months with their doctor’s supporting medical information, and they do this every 6 months, again and again. The FAA could resolve this issue by changing their ridiculous medical processes, such as saying once is enough."

Their are flight examiners that specialize in getting the waiver after denial. However like you mentioned cancer, heart surgery etc all this to get your ticket back is very expensive. If I understand what Inhofe said this week is he wants to tie it into a transportation bill. IMHO had he not said anything and did it without fan fare who knows if ALPA would have not said anything.

ALPA is short-sighted IMHO. That person who gets their ticket w/out the 3rd class and then decides to go pro because they like it that much, how many of these folks are they throwing out with the bath water.

I know several ME that specialize but that isn’t the problem. The problem is the FAA issues a 6 month medical and expect the person to go through it all over again every 6 months. I totally agree that is a massive problem that must change.

I have a friend that had heart surgery. Laparoscopic, not open heart, to correct a few extra nerve endings. Easy surgery, he is perfectly fine now. The FAA protocol is to monitor that for 6 months. They did. Then they continued to only issue a 6 month medical instead of issuing a 2 year as the protocol dictates.

It is that kind of nonsense that must be corrected.

“ALPA is short-sighted IMHO. That person who gets their ticket w/out the 3rd class and then decides to go pro because they like it that much, how many of these folks are they throwing out with the bath water.”

If I hear what you are saying, without having a 3rd class medical during initial training they won’t know if they can pass a 1st class medical, which includes EKG, a true hearing exam, etc.? I can certainly see that. When I started training I did a 1st class medical as my first medical simply to ensure I had no blocking issues. I then did 3rd class medicals after that.

A long-time commercial pilot flies a 150 for fun. Has a TIA. Resolves in 48 hours. Personal doctor says no reason not to continue flying. FAA says he has to wait at least two years, then pay out of his own pocket $12,000 in medical tests to prove he is ok for a 12-month special issue 3rd class, to be repeated every 12 months. That is the problem.