Anyone do a Medical Flight Test to get a SODA ?

[Cherokee_Cruiser]

Well, it turns out that I will have to take a medical flight test, and in due process, obtain a SODA for [benign, mostly compensated for] muscular eye imbalance.


Has anyone ever had a medical flight test?

What kind of stuff does the examiner/doctor make you do? Stalls, steep turns, normal takeoff/landings, short/soft field takeoff/landings, is it like a checkride???

Any details and any past experiences are greatly appreciated!


Thanks!

[88MPH]

Hey Cherokee,

I have amblyopia, which is simply lazy eye. The AME gave me the # to the "local" FSDO, I set up an appointment for a guy to take the SODA ride with... I got lucky, he was gonna be in my town, so I just met him at the local airport... He was pretty cool about the whole thing. Basically it was like a 3rd stage PPL stage check. Normal TO, headed out to the practice area, steep turns, a stall, climbing/descending turns, a little basic hood work, unusual attitude recovery, then a short field landing, and that was that!

There's nothing to it! If you have any other questions about it, I'll be more than happy to answer!

[Cherokee_Cruiser]

Thanks!


Was that for the first class medical ?


And about the SODA itself, without going into too many personal details, but what does it say on it?

Does it list amblyopia on it, any restrictions/limitations??


And ballpark, how much did the whole process cost ?



Thanks again!

[88MPH]

Originally Posted by Cherokee_Cruiser

Was that for the first class medical ?

Yep, little more info, if I got the SODA for a 2nd class, it would only apply for 2nd/3rd class operations. If in the future I needed a 1st class, I'd have to get another SODA. So I made sure I had the 1st (current) so that SODA would be the cover all.

Originally Posted by Cherokee_Cruiser

And about the SODA itself, without going into too many personal details, but what does it say on it?

Does it list amblyopia on it, any restrictions/limitations??

I can't remember exactly off the top of my head, but it doesn't show any limitations, and neither does the medical that accompanies it. It does say something about flight test or amblyopia, I'll grab it when I get home tonight.

Originally Posted by Cherokee_Cruiser

And ballpark, how much did the whole process cost ?

All it cost me was the plane rental for .8 or so, and a few phone calls.

[Cherokee_Cruiser]

I can't remember exactly off the top of my head, but it doesn't show any limitations, and neither does the medical that accompanies it. It does say something about flight test or amblyopia, I'll grab it when I get home tonight.

If you could, I'd greatly appreciate it !

All it cost me was the plane rental for .8 or so, and a few phone calls.

But what about the pilot/doctor??? I'm sure he must have cost something! Remember how much by any chance?

[88MPH]

Originally Posted by Cherokee_Cruiser

If you could, I'd greatly appreciate it !





But what about the pilot/doctor??? I'm sure he must have cost something! Remember how much by any chance?

The Pilot was just an FAA dude from FSDO, and he was free. He wrote the SODA, and I took it to the AME, and it served as a waiver for the eye portion of the exam. That's all. I didn't have to pay anything more than a normal medical besides .8 x $70 for the C172.

[88MPH]

And I just looked at the SODA, and it identifies what it's for.

"Statement of Demonstrated Ability - Amblyopia - Right Eye"

That's it!

A technicality though, is that it MUST accompany the medical certificate when the privelages of the medical are being utilized. But it's not noted on the medical, so no one would really know to ask for the SODA. It hasn't come up for me yet, but that's the catch, if it's a catch...

[Cherokee_Cruiser]

Originally Posted by gypsimac

And I just looked at the SODA, and it identifies what it's for.

"Statement of Demonstrated Ability - Amblyopia - Right Eye"

That's it!

A technicality though, is that it MUST accompany the medical certificate when the privelages of the medical are being utilized. But it's not noted on the medical, so no one would really know to ask for the SODA. It hasn't come up for me yet, but that's the catch, if it's a catch...

Thanks very much for your help!


But question, a SODA is not a waiver.

So on an airline application, it says, "Any waivers?"

Do you think you have to admit that you have a SODA on the application ?

[88MPH]

Originally Posted by Cherokee_Cruiser

But question, a SODA is not a waiver.

That's not a question!

Originally Posted by Cherokee_Cruiser

So on an airline application, it says, "Any waivers?"
Do you think you have to admit that you have a SODA on the application?

Part 67.401 outlines SODAs. The website (below) calls them waivers, but the meat of the reg doesn't. I don't have my FAR/AIM infront of me, so it might be categorized as "Waivers" in the Table of Contents.

Just imagine if an incident/accident happened, and they found out that you had a condition that could have contributed to the incident/accident. Once they dig, they'd find out. It sucks to have that strike against you on your application in such fierce competition, but I'd say it would have to be listed.

You might get by on a technicality, so, until a reg is found, it's a judgement call.

http://www.flightphysical.com/part67/67sube.htm