nater1978

Taking my 1st class medical for the first time... anyone have any advise?

rickair7777

Avoid booze and very strenuous workouts the day before (OK to go for a jog, just don't run an marathon). Eat a balanced meal for dinner and breakfast.

If you will require an EKG, don't have any caffeine the day of the exam (I always schedule mine for 0830, and hit starbucks on the way home).

If you are an extremely fit endurance athlete do ten pushups or squats immediately before the EKG. This will raise your pulse slightly. Very fit people may have a low resting pulse, with an occasional uneven beat (like a high performance race car engine runs rough at idle). This is most likely harmless, but if it shows up on the EKG you may have to have your heart monitored for 24 hours, an expensive nuisance.

Avoid loud music for a few days beforehand too.

atpwannabe

Yeah....what rickair said.




atp

ufgatorpilot

Do not just randomly pick an AME from a list. Get recommendations from people that you know. For my first medical, I randomly picked a guy from the list. He was fine, but the guy I go to now was highly recommended to me, and I will not go to anyone else.

My sister was in an airport recently waiting for her flight and had some time to spare so she went to the random AME that was at that airport. She was required to put on a gown, which is completely unnecessary! The AME made my sister go stand in the corner and turn around while the AME whispered words to my sister from the other side of the room for the hearing test. Now, from what I understand from the hearing test, so long as you can hear the AME when he/she tells you to grab a cup and go in the bathroom and do a urine sample, then you pass the hearing test. The AME then made my sister hop on one foot and then hop on the other foot!

nater1978

I'm in the Los Angeles area... do you have any recommendations?

ufgatorpilot

No, I am in Florida, but ask your CFI, pilot buddies, flight school, etc. for recommendations.

Also, best to go to an AME that is also a pilot, in my opinion.

nater1978

I asked for a recommendation in LA and someone posted this so I book an appointment with her:

Salila Sharma, M.D.
4835 Van Nuys Blvd., Ste. 105
Sherman Oaks, CA 91403
(818) 906-9805

She does the controller's exams and never gives any trouble with stupid stuff. Other examiners in the area have been known to give the FAA fits as they needlessly ground pilots and controllers.

ufgatorpilot

Ask around about her at your flight school.

ryan1234

There is a guy in our parts who all the older pilots go to... if you can get out of your car and through the front door without a large amount of help - you're good to go.

brownie

Make sure you list thier names since there could be some unfriendly eyes browse this website. UNBELIEVABLE. PILOTS we are our own worst enemy and claiming we know everything.