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A friend of mine was deemed fit to fly by his AME but is being held back by the FAA because of medication that he was prescribed in high school. After going through rigorous psychological testing he was deemed fit to fly by multiple doctors and the FAA still refuses to issue his medical.
Jonathan supported: Safer Skies! Fix the FAA Medical ProcessI am a glider pilot trying to transition to power. I applied for a third class medical over 17 months ago. I am in excellent health and my AME confirmed that there were no problems in me getting approved. However, he was required to defer to the FAA due to a previous lymphoma I had.
In 2007 I was diagnosed and treated for a lymphoma. The treatment was successful and I was completely clear of cancer. I had a very small recurrence in 2017 but again, I was cancer free after treatment and I remain cancer free over 7 years later. I have recent scans that prove there is no cancer.
I also have very mild sleep apnea which is fully corrected with CPAP. I have very complete CPAP usage data that I submitted.
When I sent in my application, my AME said he was "highly confident" that it would be approved and that I shouldn't even need a Special Issuance for the lymphoma since I have been cancer free for a long time. My oncologist and other doctors stated in their Clinical Progress Notes that they saw no medical reason that I shouldn't be a pilot.
The FAA had a couple requests for information, which I responded to as thoroughly and carefully as I could. The last request was to re-send my signed CPAP usage compliance form so it is current, and they also wanted a copy of a sleep test I had in 2014. That was over eight months ago and I have heard nothing from the FAA since then.
I periodically call the Oklahoma office and am told that they have received the information I sent and that I am in the queue for review. They assure me that they will get to it but are just processing other applications that are ahead of me. Recently, at their suggestion, I have begun calling every 10 days to check the status.
So far the process has taken over 17 months with no end in sight. This is far too long, especially since I feel I have no disqualifying or even questionable health issues and that I meet all FAA requirements. Nor has any one ever suggested I may have a health issue that would disqualify me.
Rik supported: Safer Skies! Fix the FAA Medical ProcessThe Medical process takes far too long and many requirements are from the stone ages. The FAA needs to get with the current times and speed up their process. I have to wait at least a month to hear back from them to know if my job is safe. Every 6 months, this is too tedious and inefficient! Not to mention, they make pilots less safe and more unhealthy because of the fear they have of losing their very lively hoods for even the most basic issues.
Rachael supported: Safer Skies! Fix the FAA Medical ProcessI have been a pilot / flight instructor for 47+ years. Last month FAA withdrew my special issuance 2nd class medical after they approved and my AME contacted them.. I have been submitting same paperwork now for 3 years. Nothing adverse in my medical condition or yearly cat scans.. had to resubmit all new information and surrender my medical within 14 days from receipt of letter. My surgeon faxed all results along with her personal notes, She also tries to communicate with FAA, but unsuccessful as FAA stated she was not authorized to receive updates without written approval from me.. ridiculous.
Now, no one can tell me the status of the “review”, whatever that is.. I asked why someone could not take to the decision maker rather than go to some “que”. Ladies in call center are friendly but no one knows or tries to expedite anything.. why is there not an advocacy department or why is there no follow up path? A bureaucratic disaster..
I also see that several legislators were contacted previously but “no response” Who are the legislators that can access decision makers at FAA..? Very frustrating…
Kenneth supported: Safer Skies! Fix the FAA Medical ProcessI have held a Class 1 medical continuously since 1998. This year I was no-fault injured by an auto collision. I'm in month 7 of Long Term Disability from the injuries. Because of my injuries, the AME book has "5 years" from event. That is a SIGNIFICANT loss in pay. I'm thankfully demonstrating WAY AHEAD of recovery and rehab ... I know the FAA needs to insure I'm "good to go" but it shouldn't require processing of documents to do it. Give me the requirements out front and if I can do them, WILL issue (not MAY ISSUE) the medical certificate PROMPTLY. Thank you!
William supported: Safer Skies! Fix the FAA Medical ProcessThe concept of a very few doctors in OKC that can review and make decisions on the thousands of cases that are currently on hold is not a good one. The AME is qualified and given credential to make these basic decisions just like an airplane IA signs off a plane as "Approved for return to service." The current "Date of received" process is actually the cause of the log jam, where any AME could evaluate and return an airman to the skies, and free up OKC of one more case. For me, I broke my leg in June of 2024 and was asked to turn in my First Class medical pending a review of my medical records. Since that time I have been cleared by my doctor, my Physical Therapist, and my AME to return to flight, but FAA at OKC has all of my paperwork and they are telling me I am "in the que" I have ZERO other health problems, my leg is totally recovered. I sit and wait. Just like 10,000 other pilots.
Dan supported: Safer Skies! Fix the FAA Medical ProcessI am a student pilot who should theoretically have graduated in October 2024. However, I have fully controlled high blood pressure with an FAA approved medication, so I wasn’t able to get my Medical Certificate printed out at the AME office. It took the FAA 10 months from my AME appointment to process my 1st class medical. This absolutely ruined the timeline on my student loan and now I will not be able to go to school without working full time and paying back the loan while simultaneously paying for flight school. I am assuming it will now be at least 18-24 months from now before I get all my ratings instead of having already been graduated for 3 months like originally planned. 10 months is far too long to process what was essentially just acknowledgement that I’m on approved medication.
Nicholas supported: Safer Skies! Fix the FAA Medical Process3 years of fighting them myself. I started college after my service in the same month I started trying to get my medical. I’ll be graduating after next spring semester. Now it is ridiculous that getting your medical during a deferral can almost take the same amount of time to get a college bachelor’s degree. Where do I sign?
Shawn supported: Safer Skies! Fix the FAA Medical ProcessI am CFI with a special issuance. I personally had to wait entirely too long for it to be issued. I have students that are on the same hay wagon and should have an answer by now.
I also think it is ridiculous that the FAA refuses to use email amd insists on USPS or fax. I don't have a fax machine and wouldn't know how to use it if I did. The USPS is too slow. Email is the standard for business communication these days.
Matthew supported: Safer Skies! Fix the FAA Medical ProcessYou’re not alone — a community of supporters is ready to back you.
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