90. How to abolish the 3rd class medical, with Brent Blue

90. How to abolish the 3rd class medical, with Brent Blue

Author: Sporty's Pilot Shop November 5, 2024 Duration: 38:51

The success of BasicMed proves the third class medical is obsolete—that’s according to senior AME Brent Blue. He covers a wide range of medical topics in this episode, including how to fill out the FAA medical application, what the latest rules are on mental health treatment, and whether new drugs like Ozempic are safe for pilots. Dr. Blue is also a leading advocate for pulse oximeters and carbon monoxide detectors, and he shares his rules of thumb for using both in the cockpit. In the Ready to Copy segment, you’ll hear why patients need to occasionally say no, a simple habit for healthy living, and what it’s like to fly a Canadian bushplane.

LINKS:



There’s a particular kind of conversation that happens in the cockpit or after a flight, where the real stories and honest opinions come out. Pilot's Discretion from Sporty's captures that feeling, sitting down for genuine talks with some of the most compelling people in aviation. You’ll hear from flight instructors breaking down the real challenges of training, alongside airshow performers sharing the moments that truly tested their skill. Each episode goes deeper than the usual hangar talk, aiming to connect with anyone who feels that pull to the sky. Wrapping up every conversation is a favorite segment, “ready to copy,” a rapid-fire round that cuts past the cliches to reveal what each guest truly believes. This podcast, presented by Sporty's Pilot Shop, is built for those who live and breathe flying, offering a mix of grounded advice and unforgettable stories from the people who know aviation best. It’s about the shared language and passion that defines the flying life.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Pilot's Discretion from Sporty's
Podcast Episodes
67. Year in review, with John Zimmerman and Rob Reider [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 46:23
In this special year-end episode, host John Zimmerman sits down with producer Rob Reider for a behind-the-scenes look at Pilot’s Discretion. They talk about what traits make for a good guest, the two rules for podcast ho…
66. Flying like a pro in a Boeing and a Bonanza, with Don Wykoff [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 38:25
From F-16 to 737 to Citation to Bonanza, Don Wykoff has flown a lot of different airplanes in his 50-year flying career. In this episode he explains how he stayed safe by approaching every flight with professionalism, us…
65. Why learning to fly can be lonely, with Patrick Chovanec [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 39:03
After a lifetime of riding on airplanes, economist Patrick Chovanec decided to learn how to fly them. In this episode, he explains how a combination of Covid-19 and Microsoft Flight Simulator started him on a path to ear…
64. Safety lessons learned at the NTSB, with Robert Sumwalt [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 41:24
The point of an accident investigation is “to find out what happened, so that we can prevent it from happening again,” says longtime airline pilot and former NTSB Chairman Robert Sumwalt. He shares what he's learned afte…
63. Epic Cub videos and entitled airline pilots, with Joe Costanza [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 32:54
Mist swirls as a yellow Cub touches down on a grass runway—Joe Costanza (better known as @Bananasssssssss on Instagram) is the man behind those viral videos, and in this episode he takes us behind the scenes. He explains…
62. Why angle of attack is overrated, with Ed Wischmeyer [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 36:03
Loss of control accidents are a problem, but longtime pilot and engineer Ed Wischmeyer says there simply isn’t a miracle cure. He explains why angle of attack indicators, stabilized approaches, and energy management are…
61. Safety theory and restoring a Cessna 172, with Sidney Dekker [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 46:48
As a professor, Sidney Dekker has spent his career studying safety processes in industries like healthcare and mining. As a pilot, both for an airline and in his Carbon Cub, he has put those theories into practice. In th…
60. Surviving a plane crash on a frozen lake, with Tom Comet [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 53:50
When the airplane engine quits over a remote part of Canada, your options are limited. For Tom Comet and his friend, this was just the start of an incredible adventure—one packed with lessons for all pilots. In this rive…
59. A reality check on eVTOL aircraft, with Elan Head [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 36:32
The headlines about eVTOL aircraft are optimistic right now, but veteran aviation reporter Elan Head says there’s a lot of work to be done: "the customers don't really exist." In this episode, she dives deep into the wor…