When you're learning to fly a powered airplane in pursuit of a private pilot certificate, you'll need a medical certificate to solo. And many student pilots don't start the process of obtaining a medical until just before they solo. But that can lead to disappointment if, in the aviation medical examiner's office, you discover that you are one of the minority of applicants with a condition that could preclude you from flying, or delay your first solo until you get the condition treated. Did you know that some medications can ground you, at least temporarily? (See "Medications and Flying," p. 37.)
That's why AOPA's Medical Certification staff developed TurboMedical�, a unique interactive online tool to help you prepare for the medical exam.
TurboMedical takes you step by step through an interactive version of FAA Form 8500-8, the Application for Airman Medical and Student Pilot Certificate. As you type in responses to the questions on the form about current and prior medical history, TurboMedical alerts you to any "red flags" that might cause your aviation medical examiner to defer your application or the FAA to deny it outright. These alerts are accompanied by links to databases and other detailed information.
You can't yet submit TurboMedical electronically to the FAA in lieu of Form 8500-8, but your AME can now submit a TurboMedical report in hard copy to the FAA as long as you sign the completed form in the presence of the AME or one of the medical examiner's office staff. The AME will attach the TurboMedical form to a blank 8500-8 and write the serial number of the FAA form on the TurboMedical page. And, you can save your most recent version of TurboMedical through AOPA's secure server so that you'll have a record for your next exam.
Questions? Call one of AOPA's medical certification specialists at 800/USA-AOPA weekdays between 8:30 a.m. and 6 p.m. Eastern time, or send an e-mail.
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