Pilots urge FAA to pause new medical certification policy changes

The change is reportedly based on an interpretation of Section 801 of the FAA Reauthorization Act 2024, signed into law on May 16. This section pertains to general aviation regulations concerning pilot reexaminations or certificate holders.

"The FAA’s use of denials, in lieu of the currently used deferral, as a routine part of the medical application process will significantly increase unneeded confusion for applicants and introduce unintended consequences for those under initial denial," stated the letter.

The unions and associations voiced concerns about how these denials could affect future medical or employment applications by requiring pilots to disclose previous medical denials. They noted that "the ramifications of an increase in airmen receiving and reporting medical denials on these applications and the need to educate hiring managers about this change are significant and will take considerable time."

Despite acknowledging past improvements made by the FAA's Office of Aerospace Medicine through collaboration with industry stakeholders, they expressed that this policy shift contradicts efforts towards streamlining medical application approvals. "We support your office’s desire to promote submission of complete information at time of initial medical application," they wrote.

The groups also emphasized that modernizing systems and processes to enhance transparency would benefit both applicants and their Aviation Medical Examiners (AMEs). They reiterated their commitment to working collaboratively with regulators while urging a pause on implementing this policy change regarding initial denials instead of requests for more information.