Organizations Unite to Stop New Medical Deferral Process

In the letter, the associations requested a “stay in the implementation and consideration of the withdrawal of the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) recently announced change in policy affecting the handling of medical certificate applications,” according to the letter. 

The new policy, which is set to take effect January 1, “will significantly increase unneeded confusion for applicants and introduce unintended consequences for those under initial denial,” stated the letter. 

The new process applies to all career and recreational pilots, including those flying under BasicMed and sport pilots. 

As previously reported, if a pilot receives an initial denial, it will also have to be declared on all medical application forms moving forward, as well as employment applications. “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,” the letter read. 

The letter also recognized Northrup’s leadership in recent accomplishments that have aided the flying public, including changes to medication usage, cardiac conditions, and mental health reform. However, the letter stated, “this change by the FAA of issuing letters of denial early in the process seems contrary to your goal of ‘getting to yes.’“

The letter closed with a final reminder and call to action: “The industry remains committed to working with the FAA on this issue in the collaborative environment that you have fostered and again, we urge the FAA to stay the implementation of this medical certificate policy change.”