Hints for Your FAA Medical Examination and Keeping Your Pilot Medical Certificate |
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Bring appropriate documentation You must answer questions about your medical history on the front of the medical certificate application. If you have had medical evaluations or treatment since your last FAA physical examination, bring documentation of the treatment and the resolution of the condition to your FAA medical examination. This may help avoid any delays in issuing a new medical certificate if all aeromedically relevant questions are answered. For example, if you have had surgery on a knee or an appendix removed or were hospitalized for an infection, the hospital discharge summary and a signed, dated follow-up note from your treating physician indicating you can return to full activity is usually sufficient. Some conditions, such as cancer, heart disease, neurologic and psychiatric conditions requiring hospitalization require additional documentation and review by the FAA. In general, the more documentation available, the easier it is to make a favorable certification decision. Again, submission of complete information to the FAA is CRITICAL to timely certification decisions. A program instituted by the FAA in 2002, termed "QuickCert" allows AME's to renew Special Issuance medical certificates for 3rd Class privileges only for the following specific medical conditions designated by the FAA:
To be eligible, airmen must bring specific documentation from their treating physicians with a copy of their Special Issuance Authorization letter. If the documentation reflects they have had no adverse change in their medical condition, the AME may renew the Special Issuance and submit the documentation to the FAA. Please note: the FAA article about this program had listed "Diet Controlled Diabetes" as one of the twenty conditions. This no longer requires a Special Issuance, but the FAA has now included "Diabetes Controlled with Oral Medication" as one of the 20 allowable conditions. The above conditions are the ones that require and are eligible for "AME Assisted Special Issuance." |
1. Establish a long term relationship with an AME |
2. Select an AME that you and other pilots are comfortable using. |
3. Understand the three possible outcomes of an FAA medical examination |
4. Take your physical examination early in the month that it is due |
5. DO NOT take a physical examination if you are not medically qualified |
6. Bring appropriate documentation |
7. Bring glasses, contact lenses or hearing aids, if required |
8. Prepare physically for the examination |
9. Understand reporting responsibilities on your FAA medical application |
10. Remember to check the blocks regarding drug and alcohol offenses and other legal encounters |
11. Be prepared to send further information to the FAA upon request |
12. Contact an aviation medicine specialist early for any questions you may have |
13. Interview Portion: Understand in advance the questions you must answer and the declarations you must make. |
14. Exam Portion: Understand how the Examination will be conducted. |