Preflight your medical

In the past six months, the number of cases pending review has dropped by about 50 percent. As someone who is a fairly consistent critic of the FAA’s process, I must give Northrup and her staff kudos for getting the waiting times for special and standard issuance reviews reduced. Do not think I have had electroshock therapy! The FAA’s process and requirements are overly bureaucratic and unnecessary, but at least progress is being made from a timeliness point of view.

What can pilots and AMEs do to avoid delays since one of the major factors is a submission that does not have all the required documentation? Northrup suggests that pilots “preflight” their medicals, and it is a valid suggestion.

For instance, if a pilot has a cardiac catheterization for heart disease, with or without an actual heart attack (myocardial infarction), the requirements for what needs to be submitted with the deferred medical exam are spelled out in detail online.The FAA’s process and requirements are overly bureaucratic and unnecessary, but at least progress is being made from a timeliness point of view.

Now, it takes some time and a few clicks to find these requirements, but it can be done. When found, read the protocols in detail. For instance, if a lab test is required and the protocol says it must be within 90 days of your AME exam, do not bring in a test that was done 91 days before. The FAA is overly particular about these times and will require them to be redone.

It is critical to look at other limitations. For instance, when a stress test is required, one must go at least nine minutes and reach 85 percent of their maximum heart rate or the test may be cause for denial. However, if the pilot is 70 years old or older, he would only have to go six minutes. As an aside, never go about 100 percent maximum heart rate even if you can, because of the increase in false positives above this level.

AOPA and your AME can help you prepare for your exam by discussing what you need, but it does get frustrating when a pilot calls or writes an email asking for help with routine issues that can easily be found on the internet. Most of those inquiries result in my sending a link to the appropriate page.

Most important, the required materials need to be sent in one complete packet. When records or tests are sent in piecemeal, it becomes less obvious to the FAA when the package is complete, which increases wait time.

Packages go by USPS, but if using traditional services, I prefer FedEx or UPS for better tracking and delivery confirmation. Preferably AMEs can submit everything electronically, but currently, there is a three-megabyte limit. Using Adobe, I have learned how to reduce the size of documents to make them fit, but it isn’t easy. Some hospital records, which may be hundreds of pages, need to be sent as hard copies. The FAA is working on increasing the upload limits.

When a special or standard issuance is granted, read the accompanying letter in detail. It outlines what needs to be done, if anything, on a recurring basis. Many times, the requirement is just an update that needs to be sent in between AME exams. This means a report may be sent directly to the FAA, and they will send out a new medical or the document may be taken to your AME for issuance of a new medical without a new physical exam. The letter will detail the requirements. Do not throw it out.

Some situations do not fall into routine categories. I have one that I just submitted to the FAA for what I think should be a standard issuance. It has to do with a graft on the aorta that was done several years ago on a new student pilot. The condition was found on an incidental exam, and there have been no changes or problems since the preemptive surgery. This seems like it should fall into a quick decision path by the FAA since all the possible required documents have been submitted and it is not a progressive condition.

If the pilot receives his medical prior to this column being published, then I will have confirmation that the accelerated system is working.

[email protected]