WindOnHisNose
BENEFACTOR
Lino Lakes MN (MY18)
I am attending an FAA AME refresher course today and this weekend and am able to get the skinny on several aspects of aviation medical certification.
Today I became aware of the strategy that is being used to try to significantly modify, if not eliminate, BasicMed.
I was made aware that a date has been set, 2-3 years from now, for interested parties (read FAA Medical, Civil Aviation Medical Association (CAMA), etc) to present criticisms and concerns about BasicMed. While I am not privy to the details, I am convinced from the tone of the remarks that the FAA is gathering any data they can to corroborate their feeling that BasicMed is leading to safety issues for our nation. Specifically, it was mentioned that every Wednesday there is some sort of a meeting (Grand Rounds, in medical terminology) of the FAA folks to discuss accidents that have occurred weekly that are attributed to pilots flying under BasicMed or FAA certification.
Folks, this makes me really nervous. I am pretty sure that Mark Baker and AOPA will also be preparing for this, but have not verified this with him...intend to do so. It is also my feeling that those who oppose BasicMed are quite happy that the language of BasicMed allows chiropractors to perform BasicMed examinations in states where chiropractors are licensed as "physicians". One of the things I get out of these refresher courses is the complexity of medicine as it applies to aviation medicine. Personally, I feel challenged to remain competent to perform aviation medical examinations, be that FAA or BasicMed, and I cannot fathom a chiropractor doing so.
Please stay tuned, remain vigilant and support AOPA. I promise to keep you apprised of developments as I learn of them.
One of the things I have taken from the course so far is that I need to not remain outside of the "AMA" of medical examiners, CAMA. While I don't like their policies, and their stance on BasicMed, it is my feeling that one way to keep my finger on the pulse of what they are doing is to become a member. While it pains me greatly to consider joining, I think I will need to in order to know what CAMA is up to.
That's all for now.
Randy
Today I became aware of the strategy that is being used to try to significantly modify, if not eliminate, BasicMed.
I was made aware that a date has been set, 2-3 years from now, for interested parties (read FAA Medical, Civil Aviation Medical Association (CAMA), etc) to present criticisms and concerns about BasicMed. While I am not privy to the details, I am convinced from the tone of the remarks that the FAA is gathering any data they can to corroborate their feeling that BasicMed is leading to safety issues for our nation. Specifically, it was mentioned that every Wednesday there is some sort of a meeting (Grand Rounds, in medical terminology) of the FAA folks to discuss accidents that have occurred weekly that are attributed to pilots flying under BasicMed or FAA certification.
Folks, this makes me really nervous. I am pretty sure that Mark Baker and AOPA will also be preparing for this, but have not verified this with him...intend to do so. It is also my feeling that those who oppose BasicMed are quite happy that the language of BasicMed allows chiropractors to perform BasicMed examinations in states where chiropractors are licensed as "physicians". One of the things I get out of these refresher courses is the complexity of medicine as it applies to aviation medicine. Personally, I feel challenged to remain competent to perform aviation medical examinations, be that FAA or BasicMed, and I cannot fathom a chiropractor doing so.
Please stay tuned, remain vigilant and support AOPA. I promise to keep you apprised of developments as I learn of them.
One of the things I have taken from the course so far is that I need to not remain outside of the "AMA" of medical examiners, CAMA. While I don't like their policies, and their stance on BasicMed, it is my feeling that one way to keep my finger on the pulse of what they are doing is to become a member. While it pains me greatly to consider joining, I think I will need to in order to know what CAMA is up to.
That's all for now.
Randy