FAA Medical Delays Due to Pandemic?

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Thunderfli

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Thunderfli
Just curious if anyone has heard about delays on deferred medicals, both in DC and OKC. My medical was deferred to DC nearly a year ago and was hoping to get an answer soon. With the pandemic I assume DC and OKC are working on things more important than my 3rd class SI.

Of course, having it in-hand would at least be one less stressor for me!

Stay safe!
 
Thunderfli said:
Just curious if anyone has heard about delays on deferred medicals, both in DC and OKC. My medical was deferred to DC nearly a year ago and was hoping to get an answer soon. With the pandemic I assume DC and OKC are working on things more important than my 3rd class SI.

Of course, having it in-hand would at least be one less stressor for me!

Stay safe!
Click to expand...

in theory things are business as usual, but as you surmised, the virus has caused other issues to bubble up. Things are changing by the hour.
 
Thunderfli said:
Just curious if anyone has heard about delays on deferred medicals, both in DC and OKC. My medical was deferred to DC nearly a year ago and was hoping to get an answer soon. With the pandemic I assume DC and OKC are working on things more important than my 3rd class SI.

Of course, having it in-hand would at least be one less stressor for me!

Stay safe!
Click to expand...

I got someone on the phone today, and it's business as usual. This is bad news for me, since I'm sick and can't comply with the testing they want done in two weeks, but hopefully good news for you.
 
Canada has said that anyone with a good medical today is now good through the end of September at least. I hope the FAA does the same... It's not going to help you get things pushed through the bureaucracy, but at least it'll minimize the delays that will happen if everyone has to get their medical all at once once we're let out of the house again.
 
flyingcheesehead said:
Canada has said that anyone with a good medical today is now good through the end of September at least. I hope the FAA does the same... It's not going to help you get things pushed through the bureaucracy, but at least it'll minimize the delays that will happen if everyone has to get their medical all at once once we're let out of the house again.
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We received an email to the contrary, on Friday.
 
My HIMMS SI file was recently sent from OKC to DC. Called DC and they said its business as usual with the exception that everyone is working from home. I was also told that the current situation isn't helping and that they are still behind due to the gov't shutdown of 2018!!!!!
 
MalibuJim said:
My HIMMS SI file was recently sent from OKC to DC. Called DC and they said its business as usual with the exception that everyone is working from home ....
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My god. Bureaucrats .. and now working from home - abandon all hope .
 
Oh boy here we go. Lazy bureaucrats that already move at a snails pace and now they are working at home? At this point it will be a miracle if they ever get anything done.
 
Actually it's a blessing. They've been losing many many good people and this allows them to keep a few good ones. You do have to show up in the office one day a week but all their work is done on computer. Thank you Roger Bisson, MD, the first medical officer to get to do this.
 
bbchien said:
Actually it's a blessing. They've been losing many many good people and this allows them to keep a few good ones. You do have to show up in the office one day a week but all their work is done on computer. Thank you Roger Bisson, MD, the first medical officer to get to do this.
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So Bruce, what's going to happen for people with SIs or medicals that are coming up to expire and they can't get in to see their AME because the office is closed or the doc has gone to 'virtual appointments'? I'm not sure how you can do an aviation physical virtually.
 
Fearless Tower said:
So Bruce, what's going to happen for people with SIs or medicals that are coming up to expire and they can't get in to see their AME because the office is closed or the doc has gone to 'virtual appointments'? I'm not sure how you can do an aviation physical virtually.
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Can't do it. FAA has already informed us the flight physical is one to ne and in person, no variances. The HIMS AME across town from me went down mid last week...and I worked through the weekend.

Healthy for now but I could go down AT ANY TIME.
 
Jesus Bruce - don’t go down. We need you!

Thank you for the replies everyone!

I’ll let you know if/when I hear from the Feds. Gonna be any day now!
 
OKC 405-954-4821 says they are working a split shift, in the physical office. Their new hours are 6:30 am-10:30pm Central Time.
 
Fearless Tower said:
So Bruce, what's going to happen for people with SIs or medicals that are coming up to expire and they can't get in to see their AME because the office is closed or the doc has gone to 'virtual appointments'? I'm not sure how you can do an aviation physical virtually.
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Oh, it's worse than that. I'm trying to get a cogscreen done, but we're allegedly going into a three week lockdown in my county before it's scheduled (hoping this is a rumor, but...)

FAA told me there are no exceptions to the "one extension" rule because of the pandemic, state of emergency, or lockdown, so looks like I'll have denial on my hands very soon. Absolutely can't believe it.
 
Anonymous said:
...FAA told me there are no exceptions to the "one extension" rule because of the pandemic, state of emergency, or lockdown, so looks like I'll have denial on my hands very soon. Absolutely can't believe it.
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Sometimes I wonder what planet these people were born on.
 
The FAA has given people a pass until June 30 with the caveat that you're not allowed (as always) to fly if you know you have a medical deficiency.
I've attached the letter...
 

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  • 0326_Airman_Medical_Certificate_Policy.pdf
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flyingron said:
The FAA has given people a pass until June 30 with the caveat that you're not allowed (as always) to fly if you know you have a medical deficiency.
I've attached the letter...
Click to expand...

Wish it helped those of us trying to get an SI...my medical expired 3 years ago.
 
I feel like the faa employs people with the sole intent of coming up with creative ways of screwing people over/making simple things as hard as possible. I wish there was actual congressional oversight of these people and they were held accountable for the unnecessary crap they put people thru. It’s borderline criminal with the amount of money they expect people to spend and the ridiculous wait times for them to process paperwork.
 
This might sound paranoid, but I actually feel like this is some big test of my judgment. Like, do I ignore the state and county stay-at-home order and drive four hours for my cogscreen? Or do I stay at home, accept the denial, and apply again when this is all over? The latter isn’t an option since my psychiatrist’s report won’t be current by that point & I can’t keep dumping money into this, but…I do feel like this is some sort of Kobayashi Maru.

Because the other option is that the FAA is really this clueless, and that's terrifying.
 
anonymous said:
This might sound paranoid, but I actually feel like this is some big test of my judgment. Like, do I ignore the state and county stay-at-home order and drive four hours for my cogscreen? Or do I stay at home, accept the denial, and apply again when this is all over? The latter isn’t an option since my psychiatrist’s report won’t be current by that point & I can’t keep dumping money into this, but…I do feel like this is some sort of Kobayashi Maru.

Because the other option is that the FAA is really this clueless, and that's terrifying.
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It’s not a test. The people at the faa don’t give 2 ****s about your medical certification or anyone else’s for that matter. Pretty sad and pathetic but that’s the truth.
 
Fearless Tower said:
The latest update from the FAA.

So basically it sounds like the FAA is saying that of your medical expires and you aren’t able to get into the AME to renew, you can still fly, but you are in violation. But that’s ok beca the FAA wi not take enforcement action.

Seems like a rather odd way of dealing with the issue.....

https://www2.smartbrief.com/redirect.action?link=https://www.aopa.org/news-and-media/all-news/2020/march/27/faa-eases-pilots-worries?utm_source=ebrief&utm_medium=email&encoded=mptvDJoejIsctSsIfDzbegfCyacX
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It's a bureaucracy. And, it provides no relief to the airlines.

Over on the AOPA hangar there's a guy who is a british subject living in the west indies, complaining bitterly that this isn't good enough for him. Grinding an Axe. Now I remember why I left the AOPA board.
 
Fearless Tower said:
The latest update from the FAA.

So basically it sounds like the FAA is saying that of your medical expires and you aren’t able to get into the AME to renew, you can still fly, but you are in violation. But that’s ok beca the FAA wi not take enforcement action.

Seems like a rather odd way of dealing with the issue.....

https://www2.smartbrief.com/redirect.action?link=https://www.aopa.org/news-and-media/all-news/2020/march/27/faa-eases-pilots-worries?utm_source=ebrief&utm_medium=email&encoded=mptvDJoejIsctSsIfDzbegfCyacX
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The real question is, will the insurance companies cover their pilots during this "violation" period?
 
Fearless Tower said:
The latest update from the FAA.

So basically it sounds like the FAA is saying that of your medical expires and you aren’t able to get into the AME to renew, you can still fly, but you are in violation. But that’s ok beca the FAA wi not take enforcement action.

Seems like a rather odd way of dealing with the issue.....
Click to expand...

How would you deal with it? Re-write the regs? :dunno:

Seems like a sensible way to make what needs to happen happen without any delay.
 
flyingcheesehead said:
How would you deal with it? Re-write the regs? :dunno:

Seems like a sensible way to make what needs to happen happen without any delay.
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It appeared to me that the order did a reasonable job of tying it to the President's emergency authority.
 
flyingcheesehead said:
How would you deal with it? Re-write the regs? :dunno:

Seems like a sensible way to make what needs to happen happen without any delay.
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Simple wording. They could just as easily written it in a way that said ‘certificates that expire between these two dates are extended to 30 June.’ Which is what I believe Canada did.

It’s semantics. Both wordings accomplish the same thing, but their choice sounds more ominous. And has some potential negative impacts for commercial operators like Bruce alluded to.

And also, like Sarangan suggested, how will insurance companies react? If a pilots medical expires in March and in early May they have an accident, how will the insurance company handle it? According to the FAA, that pilot was operating the aircraft in violation, they are just choosing to not enforce.
 
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anonymous said:
This might sound paranoid, but I actually feel like this is some big test of my judgment. Like, do I ignore the state and county stay-at-home order and drive four hours for my cogscreen? Or do I stay at home, accept the denial, and apply again when this is all over? The latter isn’t an option since my psychiatrist’s report won’t be current by that point & I can’t keep dumping money into this, but…I do feel like this is some sort of Kobayashi Maru.

Because the other option is that the FAA is really this clueless, and that's terrifying.
Click to expand...

Here is how I would view this: It is a necessary medical appointment for your health. Assuming those (and trips to the grocery store) are on the list of places you may go. It’s necessary for two reasons; first, flying, for a pilot, is necessary for your mental health which affects your physical health. Second; flying GA keeps you off commercial planes and socially distant, if you do find it necessary to travel.

Also, police are going to find it difficult to enforce these travel restrictions. They can’t pull you and ask you where you are going unless you give them cause. If they do, you are within your rights to not answer the question, at least according to Steve Lehto, attorney and YouTube star.

I’m no doctor nor lawyer so if you take this advice and then catch the covid19 while in jail for not cooperating with a LEO, you’re on your own. :)
 
Rushie said:
Here is how I would view this: It is a necessary medical appointment for your health. :)
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I agree with Rushie. All the stay at home orders I have read are restricted to non-essential activities. Going to medical appointments are usually written in the declarations as essential. You can look up the declarations in all the counties you will drive through if you really want to make a substantial argument that you were in compliance with all the orders.
 
Any idea how an expired medical will affect check rides? My 1st class expired March 31st and can't get in to see my AME until this blows over. However I have a CFI initial check ride in a few weeks. Will the DPE discontinue because my 1st class is expired? I've heard conflicting things about whether or not you'd have 3rd class privileges when a 1st class expires (and as a CFI applicant, I really should have that figured out).
 
Fearless Tower said:
The latest update from the FAA.

So basically it sounds like the FAA is saying that of your medical expires and you aren’t able to get into the AME to renew, you can still fly, but you are in violation. But that’s ok beca the FAA wi not take enforcement action.

Seems like a rather odd way of dealing with the issue.....

https://www2.smartbrief.com/redirect.action?link=https://www.aopa.org/news-and-media/all-news/2020/march/27/faa-eases-pilots-worries?utm_source=ebrief&utm_medium=email&encoded=mptvDJoejIsctSsIfDzbegfCyacX
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This is exactly the way our state decided to deal with annual vehicle inspections. Only its one step worse: the instruction "not to enforce" only applies to the State Police - county police can still enforce.

It would have been better if the Governor had used his emergency power to just extend the validity. But he didn't. And I wouldn't be surprised if part of his decision were because the legislature turned down his proposal to do away with the inspections altogether (dealers and mechanics lobby won).
 
Scottman said:
Any idea how an expired medical will affect check rides? My 1st class expired March 31st and can't get in to see my AME until this blows over. However I have a CFI initial check ride in a few weeks. Will the DPE discontinue because my 1st class is expired? I've heard conflicting things about whether or not you'd have 3rd class privileges when a 1st class expires (and as a CFI applicant, I really should have that figured out).
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I just ran across this a few weeks ago:

The table in 14 CFR 61.23(d) spells out, in explicit detail, that the duration of your first class medical certificate depends on what type of operation you are conducting (in addition to your age on the date of examination). It ranges from six months to 60 months.

https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-i...b479439cc&mc=true&node=se14.2.61_123&rgn=div8
 
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Scottman said:
Any idea how an expired medical will affect check rides? My 1st class expired March 31st and can't get in to see my AME until this blows over. However I have a CFI initial check ride in a few weeks. Will the DPE discontinue because my 1st class is expired? I've heard conflicting things about whether or not you'd have 3rd class privileges when a 1st class expires (and as a CFI applicant, I really should have that figured out).
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You don’t need a first class medical to take your CFI ride. In fact, you can even take a checkride without a medical under certain conditions.
 
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