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The ATP and First Class Medicals
When should you get them?
First, should you
get your ATP? The short answer is that if it is convenient, yes. Otherwise don't
worry about it until it is either needed and/or convenient. The ATP is a good addition to your collection of certificates whenever you
qualify and the opportunity exists. There are companies that require the rating,
and it always looks good to those that do not require it. The possession of this
rating can increase your pay grade with certain companies. Of course the actual
need for an ATP will be until later in your flying
since you must accumulate at least 1,500 hours with other varying requirements.
If you don't need it, and the opportunity is not knocking, don't worry about it.
I knew a pilot who
wanted to get his ATP and incorrectly decided that the first step would be to
get his first class medical. In reality, you can get your ATP with only a third
class medical, but to exercise the privileges of that certificate (the ATP), you
need a first class medical. You should know that to obtain any
rating, regardless of the certificate level, the only medical requirement is the
third class medical certificate. The proper grade of medical is required to exercise the privileges
of a particular certificate.
I am surprised at how many pilots I talk to that don't have a clue when it comes
to medicals; I wonder how they passed their oral. Pilot's should care and think
more about the single most important item they will deal with throughout their
flying career. I can assure you that the FAA don't give a damn whether or not
you have your medical, and they will be most eager to assure you go through hell
getting any inadvertent problem corrected should one arise.
You should know that any doctor who desires can get FAA authority if they want
to and provided they take the necessary steps. You should also know that all the
doctors give a damn about is your money; they don't care whether or not you
actually have a medical. In fact, if they can find something wrong with you,
they might be able to skin even more money from you. One of my pet peeves is any
doctor who goes farther than necessary for any level of FAA medical.
I had a student several years ago, and I might add that he was an excellent
student, who went to a doctor who just happened to be an optometrist. He went
there through the advise of a flight instructor who just happened to know of
this doctor who just happened to be located in the Daytona area at a private
airport where they could fly in. Ultimately, the instructor just wanted to fly
in. Since this doctor was an optometrist, he always did the full eye exam on all
student applicants since perhaps he might be able to skin them for glasses
should they need them. My particular 21-year-old student was failed on the
medical for a peculiarity in his eyes which I can not remember. Wow! I had never
heard of such a thing. We contacted Oklahoma City where we fought for the next
6-months getting this error corrected and he was finally issued his medical.
This was completely un-called-for. The instructor later suggested that perhaps
this doctor had something against foreign students; the student involved was
from Colombia.
I recently had the pleasure of working with another pilot whom also had a
similar experience. While getting his medical, the doctor failed him due to
doubt about his color acuity; doubt that is, not certainty. After a long fight
with Oklahoma city, it was determined that the doctor was wrong and the medical
was issued and has been ever since.
The above stories are just some of literally hundreds if not thousands of such
issues that occur each year. Pilot's involved in commercial aviation will know
many pilots throughout their career who's medical has been affected in just such
a way. The bottom line is that no doctor should take the exam beyond that
required per regulations. Of course accordingly, no pilot need seek a medical
beyond that required for the level certificate needed at the time or in the near
future. I would also strongly recommend that pilots take the initiative to
spread the news of doctors whom take the medicals further than necessary and
cause undue problems for pilots, and also to spread the news of where the good
doctors are located.
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